While area residents have used the forests in different ways for many years, harvesting is a relatively new concept to the region. This year, some communities are preparing for a potential increase in sustainable harvesting beginning next winter.

In Fort Liard and Nahanni Butte, where the potential is best for medium-sized sawmill operations, leaders have been working on integrated forestry management plans with staff of the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

Regional forest manager Chris Carlisle said the area has 10 million board feet of aspen and a large number of white spruce.

Over the summer, questions such as what areas communities want cut, if any, how to integrate forest harvesting with oil and gas activity and what effect harvesting will have on wildlife such as the bison herds, will try to be answered to pave the way for harvesting projects next winter when travel into forested areas is easier to do.

"It is an on-going process," said Bob Bailey, director of forest management. "Communities will come up with the answers. But we hope to have plans for those two communities redrafted by August."

Last year, though there was no logging done by Fort Liard, there were four southern logging operators in the Fort Liard area clearing forest fire burn areas. The companies have been working with residents to train them for future work and processing.

Under NWT legislation, companies aren't allowed to ship raw logs out without a permit and additional costs are added to encourage local production.

"There is great potential for a good mill that can sustain use of long-term logging," said Acho Dene Band Chief Harry Deneron. "There are many, many spin-offs."

The community of Fort Providence is also working on a forestry management plan proposal focusing on harvesting while reducing fire hazards. The band wants to use small, light forestry equipment and bring in a small saw mill which may be set up this fall.

"We want to attempt to see how it works," said Doug Bryshun, CEO of DIGAA Betterment Corporation. "We have fairly small inventory but it's labour intensive."

Both Trout Lake and Wrigley have recently bought small mills which are used to process wood for their own use. But the Wrigley area is particularly sensitive to harvesting since it lies in a permafrost zone where soil erosion is a concern, Carlisle said.

In the Fort Simpson area, aerial photography has been done to survey potential harvesting areas. And Mackenzie Wood Products will be assembling a $1.5 million sawmill at the junction of the Liard Highway. The plan is to process wood this summer already harvested from a forest fire nearly two years ago. But the sawmill won't be processing newly cut trees since there is a dispute over land rights, which has made its way to the courts.

"There's lots of good logging to be done around here," said yard manager Wayne Mackay. "You don't have to have big trees to make money. But we're going to have to have a lot of co-operation."

Bailey agreed that there is great potential for forestry in the Deh Cho area.

"There is a future," Bailey said. "Not just harvesting but inventory, and community protection, and other aspects of forestry."