Over 50 percent of the world's Boreal forests are in Russia. The rest are mainly in Canada, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Alaska. The Boreal region of Canada is 530 million hectares, represents 53 percent of Canada's total land area and includes 75 percent of Canada's forests.
Canada is a leader in sustainable forest management. It retains 92 percent of its original forest area, and has more protected area and more area certified under sustainable forest management practices than any country in the world.
The annual harvest from all of Canada's forests is less than 1/2 of one percent of the total forest area, including the Boreal. All harvested areas, by law, must be regenerated.
The Boreal forest region of Canada is not only trees--it is also wetlands, grasslands, tundra and rivers.
Fire occurs naturally in much of the Boreal forest approximately every 100 years; and in some cases more frequently. The area impacted by fire and other natural disturbances is five times greater than disturbance from harvesting.
What about "old growth"?
Virtually all of the Boreal forest has been regenerated many times over, largely in response to natural disturbance such as fire, windstorms, insects or disease. As a result, the Boreal is a mosaic of stands that are different sizes, shapes, ages and species composition, with few stands reaching 200 years of age.
The boreal forest is one of the earth’s three major forest types and covers over 11 percent of the planet’s surface area. In Canada, 600 million hectares of boreal forest stretch from Newfoundland to the Yukon and comprise 58% of Canada’s total land area. The boreal forest in Alberta covers nearly 35 million hectares which is approximately 52% of Alberta’s total land area. In Alberta, the boreal is located in the northern half of the province and is characterized by mixedwood forests comprised of both coniferous (spruce and pine) and deciduous (poplar and birch) tree species.
The boreal forest is constantly being changed through natural disturbances forces such as fire, insects and disease. Disturbances have been shaping the boreal for nearly 10,000 years and are an integral process that contribute to the overall health and integrity of this dynamic ecosystem.
In addition to its size, the boreal forest has garnered global attention for its biodiversity and ecosystem functions; including oxygen production, nutrient cycling, water filtration, carbon cycling, carbon sequestration, and habitat for a wide array of plants and animals. More than 48 mammals inhabit Alberta's boreal forest natural region, including the Northern Flying Squirrel, Black Bear, Canada Lynx, Moose, and Woodland Caribou.3 The boreal is home to both the largest (woodland bison) and smallest (pygmy shrew) mammals on the North American continent . It also provides important habitat for many migratory songbirds and waterfowl.
Besides the provision of ecological goods and services, the boreal is socially, culturally and economically significant to Canadians, and Albertans in particular. Aboriginals for example, have relied on the boreal region to provide materials for shelter, for food, and for transportations. It is an integral part of their social and cultural tradition.
In addition, the Boreal forest also provides the raw materials for a number of natural resource sectors including forestry, mining, and oil and gas. These industries collectively contribute an estimated $49 billion annually to Canada’s GDP . t. Alberta's boreal forest is a valuable economic resource with oil and gas wells and almost all of Alberta's oil sands located in the boreal.4 . The majority of Alberta's forestry activity occurs in the boreal, with the focus on sustainable forest management and principales. This means following ecologically sound practices that maintain the forest ecosystems' integrity, productivity, resilience and biodiversity.
The boreal forest provides Canadians with far more than jobs and a healthy economy. For millions, it is a recreational and spiritual refuge, a place where they can hike, canoe, camp, fish and take photos. It is even a place just to look around and breathe in the fresh air. Its lakes, trees and rock formations, its birds and animals are the base for hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of tourism.
The boreal forest is a complex and dynamic ecosystem that is only beginning to be understood by scientists. Despite the boreal‘s resilience to 10,000 years of natural disturbance, it would be dangerous to assume that it is immune to irreversible harm that could result from cumulative impacts. This is why a continued adherence to the precautionary principle is necessary. Coupled with an ongoing development of sound science Alberta’s emphasis sustainable forestry and development will allow us to further our understanding of the intricate workings in the boreal forest.
Both the Federal and provincial governments protect significant tracts of forest from industrial activities in national and provincial parks, ecological reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation areas and forest preserves. For example, the Alberta government holds approximately 12% of of the Boreal forest area in parks. These serve to protect the land from further industrial activities. The intent of such initiatives is to foster the concept of shared responsibility and accountability in resource management decisions and minimize the industrial footprint.