Canada is home to some of the world’s largest and most diverse forests, covering 347 million hectares of land – about 9% of the world’s total forest area. These forests are some of the most valuable resources on our planet. They provide a range of benefits, from recreation and tourism to wildlife habitat and biodiversity. They also support a thriving forest sector, which contributes C$75bn of economic output annually and supports more than 205,000 jobs in hundreds of communities across the country.
But perhaps most importantly, our forests can play a critical role in mitigating the effects of climate change.
As the next generation of Canadians are increasingly looking for renewable and sustainable answers to economic questions, Canada’s forest sector has a unique opportunity to share our story of economic growth and environmental stewardship.
That’s where Forestry for the Future comes in.
Launched by Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) in 2021, Forestry for the Future is educating Canadians about forestry’s many contributions to our economy, environment and society. Using diverse and creative communications across a multitude of platforms, this effort is focused on increasing awareness of Canada’s forest sector and the essential role it can play in helping resolve Canada’s current and future climate change challenges.
EMPOWERING FUTURE LEADERS
Forestry for the Future recognises the paramount importance of educating emerging leaders who hold the key to shaping our response to economic and climate challenges that rest on the horizon.
Forestry for the Future has employed TikTok to distribute forest facts directly to mobile phones from coast-to-coast, while on another front, our ‘Canadian Forestry Can Save The World’ podcast (www.spreaker. com/show/canadian-forestry-can-save-theworld- 1) has helped promote sector scientists and experts who delve deeper into key forestry themes. By using podcasts and other engaging media, we are building on forestry’s legacy of environmental stewardship by modernising the ways in which we tell our story. And as a result, we are helping empower the next generation of Canadians by fostering a deeper understanding of the critical role forestry plays in a future where sustainable practices, innovation and collaboration become the norm.
MANAGING FOR A SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW
Entering its third year, Forestry for the Future continues to highlight how the sector sustainably manages forests in a way that balances economic, social, and environmental factors to meet the needs of the present, while ensuring that the forests themselves remain healthy and productive for generations to come.
By dispelling some common myths about the sector, the initiative highlights the many ways in which we are committed to sustainable practices. For example, while 25% of Canada’s forests are designated for harvesting, less than 1% are actually harvested annually. Or, that Canada leads the world in third-party forest certification, managing 36% of the world’s certified forests, more than twice the area certified in any other country. By communicating these basic facts, Forestry for the Future is building a foundational understanding that Canadian forestry is in fact sustainable forestry – and that sustainable forestry has a role to play in our collective fight against climate change.
FROM ZERO WASTE TO NET ZERO
That role goes beyond sustainably managing our forests.
Highlighting the sector’s contribution to a net-zero economy also plays a key role in our approach. For example, today nearly 60% of the forest sector runs on bioenergy. By converting wood chips, sawdust, and bark – materials that might otherwise be considered wood waste – our sector has created a lowcarbon energy source that not only powers our operations but can help other sectors reduce their emissions. As we continue to invest in research and development to find new ways to use Canadian forest products, we also need to invest in new ways to promote these environmentally friendly alternatives.
One of these ways is by harnessing the power of video. In 2021, Forestry for the Future released ‘Capturing Carbon’ – a feature-length documentary that showcases the innovative practices that set Canada apart as a forestry leader. From wildland fire management in the BC Interior to innovations in wood building and architecture in Toronto, the documentary drills down on how wood products can create more climate-conscious communities and the role sustainable Canadian forestry can play in putting our country on the path toward meeting our netzero emissions targets.
The documentary has been viewed by millions of Canadians in the past year and was highlighted at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in November 2022.
CANADA’S CLIMATE CHANGE EXPORT
Forests have a crucial role to play in providing multiple nature-based solutions to climate change. But what matters most is how we manage our forests.
Forestry for the Future is helping convey the power of sustainable forest management to Canadians. By equipping them with necessary knowledge about Canada’s forests and our sustainable management practices, we can enhance our prospects of unlocking the potential of our most valuable climate change fighting resource.
Central to this thinking is the importance of upholding biodiversity and maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. This includes preserving wildlife habitats, protecting water quality, and reducing the risk of forest fires and other natural disasters; while working closely with indigenous communities to ensure that traditional knowledge and cultural practices are respected and integrated into forest management plans. We want more Canadians to know that forestry respects the water, soils, wildlife, biodiversity, and partnerships that will keep our forests as forests forever.
CREATING A LEGACY
Forging ahead, Forestry for the Future is embarking on a transformative journey to highlight the significant contributions of Canada’s forest sector to the world. This programme is a catalyst for change and we are seizing the opportunity to help inspire a world where forests are cherished and where the beauty and richness of nature coexist with human progress.
With a balanced approach that considers economic, social, and environmental factors, Canada’s forest sector continues to support a thriving economy. We continue to promote innovation within the sector and beyond, where the development of new products and technologies are driving environmental stewardship while reducing carbon emissions in tandem.
Together, we can promote the benefits of sustainable forest management and position Canada as a global leader in combating climate change.
Canadian Lumber production down since 2017
Canadian combined softwood and hardwood lumber production has fluctuated significantly in recent years, but the broad trend is down since 2017.
According to figures from www.statista.com, monthly output peaked in March 2017 at 6.063 million m3. In April 2020, as the pandemic hit, it dropped to 3.55 million m3, but then recovered to 5.6 million m3 in March 2021. The monthly high in 2022 was also in March at 5.06 million m3, but it then fell to 3.25 million m3 in December 2022, before recovering to 3.93 million m3 in January 2023.
According to Lesprom Analytics, Canada’s exports of lumber contracted 10.3% to 33.6 million m3, while export value fell 20% to C$10.8bn. The average price of lumber was down 11% to C$321/m3.
Canadian lumber exports to the US fell 6.5% to 30.4 million m3, while exports dropped 40% to 1.1 million m3. Exports to Japan were down 37% to 947,000m3.
