Report in Brief

The State of Canada’s Forests 2002-2003 provides a glimpse into what Canada’s forest sector may look like in the future based on an exploration of some the latest economic, social and environmental trends and issues in public participation, non-timber forest values, science and innovation, international cooperation, and forest education. While existing policy, institutional and commercial frameworks have served Canada well in addressing aspects of these trends and issues, the way ahead may involve the integration and coordination in managing a broad spectrum of issues regardless of jurisdiction. Taking a strategic look at the sector is in order if Canada is to continue its historical record of success in sustainable forestry.

The report paints a forest future premised on:

• Public participation that takes place in the planning stages of forest management, enlightened by accurate, comprehensive and balanced information with conflicts resolved at the planning stage;
• Greater national and international interest in non-timber uses and products, particularly in the areas of nutrition and medicine;
• Forest policies that have been developed using the best science, that integrate forest management and planning, and that involve a spectrum of specified uses and values, both timber and non-timber;
• A more flexible industry that is able to take advantage of the rapid changes in an increasingly competitive marketplace;
• A holistic, legally binding international forest agreement for all types of forests;
• Indigenous knowledge, values, principles and perspectives incorporated into national and international actions on sustainable forest management;
• Greater forest management capacity developed through strengthened educational opportunities nationwide;
• Greater reliance on private woodlots to provide forest products and a great commitment to sustainability; and
• Results-oriented rather than rules-based regulatory policies.

A series of special articles reveal how Canadian society is addressing challenges with a view to maintaining the economic viability of the forest sector while practising sustainable forest management. The articles discuss the biological diversity of mountain forest ecosystems, the implications of the Species at Risk Act, climate change impacts and initiatives, Canada’s efforts to combat the mountain pine beetle epidemic in British Columbia, international market development activities for Canada’s forest products, and the latest news from the Montréal Process and the new National Forest Strategy.

The report also provides a cross-country summary of major forest-related activities in the sector during the year and the latest forestry statistics and profiles. In addition, forest experts and students from across Canada share their vision of the forest sector in Canada and around the world and their view of the significance of plantations in the future of Canada’s forest sector.

Canada’s Forest Sector–Facts and Figures at a Glance

Diversity

• 180 tree species are indigenous to Canada
• About two-thirds of Canada’s estimated 140 000 species of plants, animals and microorganisms live in the forest
• There are 15 terrestrial ecozones within Canada, containing forest types ranging from the coastal rainforests to sparse and slow-growing forests at the Arctic tree line

Products and Trade

• Canada’s forests are the backdrop for non-timber activities, such as tourism, camping, hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing, worth several billion dollars
• Canada’s forests are the engine behind a forest products industry worth about $74 billion
• Canada netted almost $43 billion in forest products exports (2002)
• Softwood lumber represented 24% of the total value of exports
• Forest products contributed $32.6 billion to Canada’s trade surplus (2002)
• The forest sector contributed $29.9 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) (2002)
• Direct employment was 361 400 (2002)