Canada, the World’s Leader in Sustainable Forest Management

Forests are an essential part of the solution to many global challenges. Trees mitigate the effects of climate change, provide renewable wood products and energy, and contribute to a greener economy. Covering 347 million hectares, Canada’s forests comprise nearly 9% of the world’s total forested land, and Canada is the world’s leader in forest certification. Canadian forestry management practices are held in high regard by international customers and scientists alike, and Canada is known around the world as a trusted source of legally sourced and sustainably harvested forest products.

Canada’s forests at glance:

• 77% of Canada’s managed Crown forest land is certified to third-party standards of sustainable forest management. (2019)
• Canada is home to 347 million hectares of forest land, 90% of which is publicly owned.
• 9% (30 million hectares) of Canada’s forests are in established, legally protected areas — meaning they will not be harvested (2019).
• Canada is the third-most forested country in the world, replacing the harvested trees by planting 440 million seedlings annually in order to ensure the future of the country’s forests (2018).
• In 2018, the forest sector directly employed 204,555 people.
• In 2019, Canada’s forest sector contributed $23.7 billion to Canada’s nominal GDP.