Issues Facing Forests

Forest Fires Fire is part of life cycle of forest and can be good allowing new healthy trees to regenerate quickly (but too much not good) 9500 fires burn three million hectares of Canada’s forest every year 48% caused by lightning 52% caused by people

Clear-Cutting Extensive logging began in the late 1800s and the early 1900s. At this time many forests were stripped bare In the past trees were cut down faster than nature or people could replace them In the 1990s the forest industry began to be closely monitored to ensure that the forests are managed in a sustainable way

Acid Precipitation Trees are dying from acid precipitation caused by emissions Trees have weakened and their needles have turned yellow Those that don’t die grow more slowly

Insect Pests and Diseases The forest area damaged by insects and disease every year is larger than the area harvested annually by forest companies - At risk by Canadian pests as well as “imported” insects

A Balanced Approach Canada’s forests are not limitless Goal = Sustained yield forest management – the controlled uses of forest resources at a rate that allows forests to renew themselves There are environmental and human harms to forests Easy way to help = recycle (20-30 trees are saved for every tonne of paper recycled)