With 131 species of trees and about 3,000 other plant species, Canadian forests are home to about 200,000 species of animals and micro-organisms.

About 20% of the world's fresh water flows from watersheds covered by Canada's forests.

Canadian forests provide the means by which one in 17 Canadians earns his/her livelihood. More than 700,000 Canadians are employed in forestry and related industries and for more than 350 towns and villages, a sustainable forest industry is essential.

In Canada, insects, disease and fire affect about 139 million cubic metres of wood each year - equal to about 70% of the amount harvested. Whenever possible, forest companies are required to harvest these affected areas first.

Selective cutting in forestry - removing the oldest and largest trees - is used where stands contain trees of different ages and where the tree species can regenerate in the shade.

Many trees require abundant open sunlight to germinate and grow. For this reason, species such as aspen, black spruce, jack and lodgepole pine, Douglas fir and others are normally harvested through a block cut system known as clearcutting. This method is also used to salvage trees damaged by wind, insects, fire and disease.

About 60% of Canada's forests regenerate naturally. Where necessary, natural regeneration is supplemented by planting and aerial seeding. Over 40 native species are used in Canadian reforestation programs, grown from seeds gathered from the forest that was harvested.

A recent independent audit of the boreal forest of northern Ontario showed that 96% of the area cleared by harvesting or natural causes over a 15-year period was successfully reforested.

Over the past several years, Canada's capacity to recycle paper products has tripled. Canadian pulp mills can now recycle the equivalent of all the newspapers read in the country.

Source: Canadian Council of Forest Ministers