Nature Labs reached out to forest industry associations across Canada and only Forests Ontario had the time to share with us why forests and forestry matters. By planting trees and through education, Forests Ontario – a quasi-industry-government hybrid – is working to help leaders, young and old, find new ways to use forests as a tool to sustain both people and the economy. By email, Forests Ontario shared why their mission matters and why balance can be struck between logging and conservation.
Why do forests matter?
Forests have environmental, economic and social benefits – they clean our air and water, provide wildlife habitat, and support a healthy economy.
What role do forests play in the geographical make-up of Canada?
Canada’s forest cover represents 30 per cent of the world’s boreal forest cover and ten per cent of the world’s overall forest cover. There are 347 million hectares of forest in Canada – that’s 35 per cent of our country’s land mass. Ontario has 85 billion trees – which is 6,000 trees per Ontarian.
What’s the state of our forests? Are we doing a good job managing them?
Canada has some of the best sustainable forest management practices in the world.
Public consultation is an important part of our forest management process and sustainability is paramount.
The Canadian Council of Forest Ministers say that the laws and regulations governing our forested public land are amongst the most stringent in the world and that forestry is a critical tool in advancing conservation, as well as combating climate change. Why?
Forests and trees will eventually burn or otherwise die, and their carbon stores will return to the atmosphere. Forestry can ensure that we always have healthy, growing forests that actively sequester and store carbon. In addition, the sustainable production of wood-based products creates an additional carbon storehouse that increases our ability to keep carbon out of the atmosphere. It should be noted that Canada has approximately 10% of the world’s forests but almost 40% of the world’s certified forests (meaning they meet the standards of internationally recognized, third-party standards). Ontario has 2% of the world’s forests and 6% of the world’s certified forests. These achievements demonstrate our commitment to sustainable forest management.
Some policy experts we’ve interviewed have said “beware of any solution that begins with a chainsaw”. What’s the counterpoint?
Forest management requires a diverse range of approaches. In regions where we actively combat natural disturbances, we still need to maintain an appropriate level of disturbance in order to mimic natural conditions. To arbitrarily eliminate one strategy that has been scientifically proven to have important applications would be inappropriate. Any active operations require years of planning before they are implemented. It never starts with a chainsaw!
Why is forestry so important to Canada’s economy?
According to Natural Resources Canada’s ‘State of Canada’s forests’ report, the forest industry contributed $24.6 billion (1.6%) to Canada’s gross domestic product. The forestry industry also directly employed 209,940 people in 2017. Forests Ontario’s 50 Million Tree Program supports more than 300 full-time seasonal forestry jobs and generates a total GDP impact of over $12.6 million per year.
All of Canada’s political parties agree we need to protect more of our land-base to safeguard our biodiversity. Some are suggesting we need to protect upwards of 50% of the country. What do you think?
Increasing forest cover is critical to ensuring healthy forests for our future. An Environment Canada study states that Canada needs at least 40 per cent forest cover on a watershed level in order for our forests to maintain their resiliency and health. This is of increasing importance, given the impacts of climate change on our forests.
How can students help?
Forests Ontario is built on three pillars: tree planting and restoration, forest education, and awareness. There are various ways that young people can help us to achieve our mission of increasing forest cover in Ontario. Some of these ways are donating money or time, becoming a member, participating in events, keeping informed and adding their voices to the conversation on social media. Ontario also has a shortage of forest sector employees. Considering a forestry career is a powerful and rewarding way to contribute to sustainable forest management.
What do you think?
Important insights from Forests Ontario. You don’t have to agree with them, but you have to understand that all advocates – from every side of a debate – don’t argue a position for the fun of it. Each perspective is built on a foundation of research and experience that, in turn, forms opinion. You can disagree with the research process and have an opinion shaped by different experiences, but disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing isn’t good enough. We need to hear different perspectives, come to our own conclusions and defend our opinions with fact.
• To tackle extinction, do we need to protect more forests from logging, or simply be more thoughtful about how we re-plant areas that have been harvested?
• Given the history of forestry, the high management standards of forests in Canada, and the vast tracts of forest on our landscape, should we trust policy makers are striking the right balance or should we be skeptical without being cynical?
• What’s the bias of Forests Ontario? What might be the bias of someone who advocates for increased forest conservation?
• Do we know enough to make informed decisions about the impact of forestry on biodiversity, or do we lack the depth and breadth of research needed to know the right answer?
• By tackling the logging of primary forests, are we addressing the root cause of biodiversity loss and giving ourselves more leeway for creativity in other areas, such as government regulation or environmental taxes? Or are pro-forestry solutions simply creative opportunities to balance people and nature, recognizing we can’t be against everything?
We all likely have knee-jerk answers to these questions, but the better question is: have we really listened to different opinions and done our own research to come to an informed opinion? For many of us, the answer is no. This is where science can help us ask the questions that need to be asked, be skeptical without being cynical, and – in the doing – shape more thoughtful debates. It’s also how we can start finding that better balance for nature and for people.
Over to you.