Project Blue - Roots & Shoots Canada Water Campaign

Canada’s Forests

Canada has the third largest area of forest in the world, after Russia and Brazil. Forests play a central role in Canada’s economy, culture, traditions and history, and are an essential component of our landscape and life support systems.

Unfortunately, Canada’s forests are under increasing pressure from human development, while only 8% of our forests are protected by legislation – far less than what is scientifically recognized as necessary to sustain forest ecosystems over time.

Keep reading to learn more about Canada’s forests.

Canada has 402.1 million hectares of forest and wooded land, covering almost half (45%) of the country’s land surface. This represents 10% of the world’s forest cover, 30% of the world’s boreal forests, and 20% of the world’s temperate forests.

The Boreal forest circles the Northern Hemisphere and is part of the largest source and filter of water on the planet. It is home to thousands of species and covers 35% of Canada’s land. Every year, over 400,000 hectares of Canadian boreal forest are logged. Little of this ancient forest remains undisturbed; 30% is less than one kilometre away from a road or access route.

The oil sands underlie 21% of Alberta (an area the size of Florida), most of which is underneath the boreal forest. In addition to the current 530 square kilometres of oil sands developments, an area larger than the province of New Brunswick has been leased to companies for future development. In 40 years of oil sands operations, no affected land has been even closely restored to its natural state.

Temperate rainforests represent some of the rarest ecosystems in the world. Since the climate is favourable, tree growth in temperate rainforests occurs year-round, which accounts for the presence of enormous trees. British Columbia has the world’s largest tract of intact temperate rainforest, 50% of which has already been logged.

93% of Canada’s forests are publicly owned – 77% under provincial jurisdiction and 16% controlled by the federal government. The remainder are on private land.

Old-growth forests are critically important to ecosystem functions because their unique mix of young, mature and dead trees act as an important carbon sink (i.e. they store carbon dioxide), which mitigates climate change. Old-growth forests store more carbon than immature forests because they have lived longer to accumulate more carbon in their standing (woody) biomass; also because their decomposing matter, such as leaves and logs on the forest floor, decompose slower relative to the recruitment of new growth. Unfortunately, 90% of Canada’s timber harvest comes from old-growth forests.

Canadian forests are home to about two thirds of Canada’s 140,000 species,6 including black bears, grizzly bears, caribou and grey wolves, as well as a diversity of flowers, plants and many different tree species, such as fir, birch and oak trees.

Canada’s forests also purify our water, stabilize soil, and regulate water flow.2 With the third largest renewable freshwater supply in the world, Canada’s forests have a key role to play in global water protection. Sadly, 95% of our forested watersheds already contain roads, mines, settlements or other human developments.

Forests provide wilderness areas for the cultural, spiritual and recreational benefit of all Canadians and visitors to Canada, and they support a recreation and tourism industry worth many billions of dollars.

Canada has 28.1 million hectares of forest certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – 25% of the world’s FSC-certified forests and more than any other country. FSC is an international certification system that ensures that the forest resources used in certified products is sustainably harvested.

The forestry sector is an integral component of Canada’s economy; it provides direct and indirect employment for 864,000 Canadians, and about 300 Canadian communities rely on forests for at least 50% of their economy.Canada is also the world’s number one exporter of timber products.

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