As Canada and the world recognize Earth Day, it is worth noting the important role that climate smart forestry plays in managing complex ecosystems, producing environmentally friendly products, and supporting our move to a net-zero carbon economy.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Canadian government recently recognized the important role of sustainable forest management and forestry workers in our move to a greener, lower carbon economy because of forestry’s many solutions, including its ability to:
- Store carbon in wood-based products;
- Renew forests and reduce land-based emissions by mitigating pest and fire risks;
- Further decarbonize operations and help other sectors access lower carbon fuel options from what would otherwise be wood waste; and
- Make wood-based bioproducts and recyclable products.
Sustainable forest management in Canada’s working forests is built upon a number of key principles including ecosystems-based management and conservation, emulating natural disturbances, securing local input from Indigenous communities, municipalities, and recreation groups, and by annually harvesting less than 0.5% of Canada’s harvestable forests and replanting so we can keep forests as forests forever and provide family-supporting jobs to 230,000 Canadians in over 600 communities.
With over 90 per cent of managed forest areas on public land, Canada’s forests are a shared public resource and are governed by among the world’s most robust laws and regulations. Canadian foresters and scientists work to maintain carbon-rich peatlands and wetlands, support plant and wildlife biodiversity, and protect communities from worsening wildfire patterns.
As Canadians work together to rebuild our post-pandemic economy, Canada’s forest sector workers stand ready to do our part by taking care of our land and water, lowering carbon emissions, and getting more Canadians back to work.
FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an industry with annual revenues exceeding $80B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers operating in over 600 communities, providing 230,000 direct jobs, and over 600,000 indirect jobs across the country.
For more information, contact:
Kerry Patterson-Baker
Vice President, Communications
e : kpatterson-baker@fpac.ca
t : 613-563-1441 ext. 314
Follow us on Twitter: @FPAC_APFC
