Forests

Forests are incredibly complex ecosystems that are an integral part of our human landscape, culturally, spiritually and economically. They are also home to a vast diversity of wildlife-- of the estimated 140,000 species in Canada; approximately two-thirds are thought to occur in forests.

Although 94% of our forests are publicly owned, the vast majority of commercially viable crown forest land in Canada is licensed to industry. Forestry policy varies from province to province to territory, but industrial forestry traditionally manages forests to maximize the amount of wood coming out of a management unit, and doesn’t pay enough attention to leaving behind old trees, a diversity of species composition, and healthy wildlife populations to ensure that ecosystem functioning is maintained for the long term.

Progressive forestry practices (often motivated by community management policies and/or the processes and guidelines of the Forest Stewardship Council...