Canada being deforested? Nope!
Canada being deforested? Nope! Confusion among terms like “disturbance”, “harvesting” and “deforestation” has led some to argue Canada’s forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. In fact, at 0.02%, the deforestation rate in Canada is among the lowest in the world, and has been on a downward trend for 20 years. Deforestation occurs when trees are permanently removed from the landscape to allow other land uses. With harvesting, and natural disturbances like fire, the trees grow back and the forest returns — that’s not deforestation!
Canadians can be proud of their success in maintaining forest cover. With 94% of our forests on public land, Canadian governments have more control over forest management than other jurisdictions. In Alberta and across Canada, forest companies are required by law to ensure regrowth of healthy, multiple-value forests. Millar Western plants an average of three seedlings for every coniferous tree harvested and reforests deciduous stands through natural regeneration. And, our foresters tend those trees until the forest is firmly re-established.
So, the next time someone expresses concern about the state of Canadian forests, you can set the record straight. Maybe refer them to the Canadian Institute of Forestry’s response to the World Resource Institute report on forest cover loss in Canada!