Canada s Sustainable Forest Management Practices
Canada s Forests Governance
Canada s Forests Provincial and territorial governments - Responsible for forest management Federal government - Responsible for foreign policy, international trade, Aboriginal affairs, management of federal lands Canadian Council of Forest Ministers - National forum that allows all Canadian jurisdictions the opportunity to discuss and work towards solutions for issues of common concern
Canada is a Forest Nation A vast resource, a special responsibility: 9% of world s forest
Global Forest Area Data source: FAO, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010.
Canadian Forestry Public ownership of forest resources Forests managed for the common good: 94% Public ownership 6% Privately owned
Canadian Forest Forest Policy Policy Sustainability is in is in the public interest Sustainable forest management maintains and enhances the longterm health of forest ecosystems for the benefit of all living things while providing environmental, economic, social, and cultural Forests opportunities are managed for present and future to balance generations the needs of all stakeholders
Sustainable Forestry Rooted in science Science drives policy
Forest Policy Development Achieving a balance All stakeholders must have the opportunity to participate equally
Indigenous People Rights and Reconciliation Indigenous peoples are actively participating in management of resources and decision making
Sustainable Forest Management Regulatory framework Strong regulations and consistent monitoring = legal timber
Forest Practices Legislation High environmental standards Plans requires public input Government approves plans Companies are held accountable Focus on results
Forest Practices Legislation High environmental standards Plans requires public input Government approves plans Companies are held accountable Focus on results
Sustainability Messages Forest Management Comprehensive legislative and regulatory forest management framework Sound research and adaptive management Balance social, economic and environmental values Forest operations compliance program Independent Forest Audits
Sustainability Messages Forests - Part of the solution to Climate Change
Sustainability Messages Fibre Supply / Socioeconomics Significant quantities of available biofibre in Ontario (>10 million tonnes) Ontario supports the pursuit of these opportunities by identifying woody materials forest biofibre Bioenergy helps stimulate rural and regional economic development and employment by providing new, decentralised and diversified income streams from bioenergy and biomass production. Bioenergy technology in the right situation can help achieve greater cost savings than using fossil fuels Energy security, reliability
Regeneration By regulation and policy, all harvested areas in Canada must be regenerated within a specified timeframe Planting Natural regeneration Maintain species diversity Average of 600 million seedlings planted each year
Monitoring Tough compliance and enforcement by government agencies: Highly trained staff Focus on high risk activities Forest practices and revenue Effective enforcement ensures risk of illegal logging in Canada is negligible Voluntary third-party forest certification
Studies on Forest Regulation 2009 study by the Finnish research company Indufor Oy compared 11 forest regulation and certification standards around the world. Canada (British Columbia and Ontario) and Australia (New South Wales) are the countries with the most demanding legislation on the studied elements. According to the summary results, the strength of the legislation contributes to the strictness of the standard more than does the type of the standard (FSC or PEFC). The Indufor Oy study reaffirmed the fact that Canada continues to be a world leader in practicing sustainable forest management. The Canadian provinces have some of the most stringent regulatory regimes in the world.
Canadian Forest Products The sustainable source Buying with confidence
Canadian Forestry A leader in forest certification
Summary Canada manages its forests sustainably, ensuring they are there for future generations to be used for the many things that society values; including recreation, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and forest products Rigorous legislative supervision provides assurance that Canadian forest products are made from timber originating from legal sources Independent studies confirm that Canada has one of the most stringent regulatory regimes in the world and world-class sustainably managed forests All major forest certification programs in North America are recognized by companies and governments around the world
Canadian Forestry Sustainable by nature, today and tomorrow Thank you Faye Johnson, R.P.F. Director, Forest Tenure & Economics Ontario Ministry of Natural Resource and Forestry Faye.johnson@ontario.ca Photographs courtesy of: The Forests of Canada collection, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, 2003. Forest in Mind Program Forestry Innovation Investment