Woodlands Operations

Harvest and Haul

ANC's logging and hauling operations are unique in many aspects. ANC does not have a sawmill operation. Instead our mill uses chips which are shipped from various sawmills located throughout the Province. In exchange for these chips, the sawmills receive the sawlogs harvested from ANC's woodlands operations. ANC will ship logs to mills in Slave Lake, Fox Creek, Whitecourt and Grande Prairie, to name a few. The key to these trades is to keep the transportation costs down and to consider the receiving mill prior to harvesting commencing in an area to ensure that their needs are also met.

Harvesting does not commence in a specific area without approval from the Alberta Govt. Areas to be harvested are layed out in the field using GPS technology to ensure accuracy and pre-harvest assessments are done to determine proper harvesting and reforestation techniques.

Silviculture

Silviculture is a forestry term used to describe the science of growing trees and managing the vegetation in a forest environment. Prompt reforestation of all areas harvested is not only required by law, but is also required to ensure that ANC's operations remain sustainable and viable into the future.

Before a site is harvested, field inspections are done to determine the tree species present, ground conditions, topography, soils, drainage patterns and any other factors which may be limiting to successful reforestation following harvesting.

Cones are collected throughout the FMA to supply the necessary seed for growing suitable seedling stock. The seed is germinated and the seedlings tended at contract nurseries until such time as they are ready for planting in the field.

Our responsibility does not end there, however. Provincial regulations stipulate that a company with an FMA monitor and tend the trees for 14 years. This helps ensure reforestation success.

The harvested sites may often require site treatment to ensure suitable ground conditions for planting. ANC utilizes different site preparation techniques depending on eco-region, species and other factors.

Trees are planted at a ratio of two seedlings for every stem cut down. This helps ensure adequate survival against insects, disease and other causes of mortality.

Safety

All phases of our harvesting, hauling and reforestation operations are conducted with safety considered first and foremost. All our contractors and staff undergo the required training necessary for their jobs. ANC undertakes mock drills in the field with our contractors to ensure adequate response times are met and all protective equipment is in.

Environment

Environmental training is essential in all levels of our operations, from management staff to the equipment operator in the field. ANC is committed to following all regulatory requirements for environmental protection. We are also dedicated to further study and research initiatives that can help improve our day to day operations and minimize our environmental impact. Monitoring and improvement of all phases of our field operations are key and a fundamental element of ANC's success.