Forestry Sector Overview

• Author: Elaine L. Hughes, Arlene J. Kwasniak, Alastair R. Lucas
• Pages: 321-349

321

CHAPTER 16

FORESTRY SECTOR

OVERVIEW

Arlene J Kwasniak and Nonye Opara*

A. ABOUT CANADA’S FORESTS

Canada contains nearly 400 million hectares of forest, of which about

68 percent are coniferous, 16 percent mixedwood, and 11 percent broad-

leaf. Canada’s forestry resources represent 10 percent of the world’s

forest cover, 30 percent of the world’s boreal forest, and more than 25

percent of the world’s temperate rainforests.1 An estimated 8 percent

of Canada’s forest area is located in parks and other formally protected

areas.2 Chapter 13 provides an overview of parks and protected areas,

and so these will not be covered here.

Canada has more publicly owned forest land than most other coun-

tries wit h a commercial forestry industry.3 These public land forests are

owned and managed by various levels of government.4 The federal gov-

ernment owns 4 percent while the provincial and territorial govern-

ments own 90 percent.5 By virtue of the split ownership of public land

* Nonye Opara (LLM, C algary) is a Research Fellow w ith the Canadian In stitute

of Research L aw at the Faculty of Law, University of Cal gary, and the Program

Manager of Pro- Bono Law Alberta.

1 Natural Res ources Canada, “Forestr y in Canada,” online: ww w.nrcan.gc.ca/for-

ests/canada/13161.

2 Ibid,and Natura l Resources Canada, “Ke y Facts about Canada’s Forests,” online:

www.nrcan.gc.ca/forests/measuring-reporting/key-forest-facts/17643.

3 Of Canada’s forest la nd, 94 percent is publicly owned wh ile 6 percent is classi-

f‌ied as privately ow ned. See Natural Resourc es Canada, “Forest Land O wner-

ship,” online: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/forests/canada/ownership/17495.

4 Ibid.

5 Ibid.

PUBLIC LANDS AND RESOURCES LAW IN CA NADA322

forests in Canada, governments have specif‌ic management responsibil-

ities of public forests as well as shared responsibilities for matters such

as science and technology.6 Details of these roles and shared respon-

sibilities are highlighted in subsequent sections.

Canada’s forests present an array of ecological, environmental, eco-

nomic, and other benef‌its. They purify water and air, capture and store

carbon dioxide, and help reduce pollution and mitigate the effects of

climate change.7 They are habitat to almost two-thirds of Canada’s spe-

cies and are a source of recreational, cultural, and spiritual values.8

Canada’s forestry and forest products industries provide consider-

able economic value. The production in the forest sector in Canada in

2013 contributed 19.9 billion dollars to Canada’s real gross domestic

product.9 About 66 percent of Canada’s forests are managed for timber

production or other uses.10 With over $31 billion generated in 2014

in export of forest products, the country ranks as the world’s leading

exporter of softwood lumber, news print, and wood pulp.11 Clearly

Canada’s forests and forest industry are of considerable importance to

Canada’s economy and society.12

Money made from Canada’s forests is not generated without en-

vironmental, ecological, and s ocial impacts. There are numerous issues

regarding the management of Canada’s forests. They include clearcut-

ting practices, in contrast to more selective harvesting that better pre-

serves diverse forest ecosy stems and old growth trees; replacing diverse

forests with monoculture forests or tree farms; lack of full considera-

tion of and accounting for watershed and ecological impacts such as

increased runoff, erosion, and water pollution; carrying out forestry

operations without proper heed for destructive impacts on animal

6 Ibid.

7 Natur al Resources Canada , “Forest Ecosystem Products and S ervices,”online:

www.nrcan.gc.ca/forests/canada/ecosystem-products-services/13177.

8 Ibid.

9 Natural Res ources Canada, “Over view of Canada’s Forest Industr y, Canada’s

Forest Industr y by the Numbers,” online: Natural Re sources Canada www.

nrcan.gc.ca/forests/industry/overview/13311.

10 Naturally:wood, Forest Practices in Canada, at 1, onli ne: www.naturallywoo d.

com/sites/default/f‌iles/Building-Green-With-Wood-Toolkit-Forest-Practices-

Canada.pdf.

11Natur al Resources Canada , “Economic Benef‌its of the Forest Indust ry,” online:

www.nrcan.gc.ca/forests/report/economy/16517.

12André H Rous seau, “Sustainable Forest s: A Canadian Journey, Citiz en Engage-

ment and Implication s for Rural Communities” (Paper deliver ed at Rural Matters,

Canadia n Rural Revitali zation Foundation Rural Univers ity, 27 October 2002),

online: www.slideserve.com/jacob/sustainable-forests-a-canadian-journey-

citizen-engagement-and-implications-for-rural-communities-presentation-to-r.