The Canadian Forest Service initiated the Model Forest Programme in 1991. Ten sites representing the major forest regions of Canada were selected as model forests to provide experimental and nationally applicable examples of sustainable forest management. Various model forests have tested approaches to tenurial arrangements, management for multiple use, monitoring, ecological and socio-economic research, decision support and organisational structure. All the model forests have been managed by partnerships among stakeholders from a broad range of interest groups. The second phase of the programme aimed to build on the successes of these partnerships and in particular to establish a model forest under traditional management by aboriginal people.