Forestry Geography of Canada www Craig Marlatt comschool

Forestry Geography of Canada www. Craig. Marlatt. com/school Adapted by S. Kopyto

Interesting Facts • Canada has the 3 rd largest land area covered by forests in the world. • Russia (1 st) has the greatest followed by Brazil (2 nd)

Types of Forests • Softwood forests make up 66% of Canada’s forest cover. – They mainly consist of coniferous trees such as fir, pine, and spruce.

Types of Forests • Hardwood forests account for 12% of the forest cover. They are made up mainly of deciduous trees such as poplar, maple, and birch. • The remaining 22% make up mixed forests, both deciduous and coniferous.

Commercial and Non-Commercial forests What’s the difference between commercial and non-commercial forests? • Commercial forests are located in warmer, wetter areas of Canada. • Close to transportation routes: roads, railways, waterways so they can be easily shipped abroad.

Commercial and Non-Commercial forests • Non-commercial forests tend to exist in northern areas, where temperature and precipitation levels are low. • Far from transportation routes.

Activity • Activity: Canada’s commercial / non-commercial forest regions. Due next class.

Boreal Forest Boreal means northern in Russian Boreal Shield

Boreal Forest

Boreal Forest • What type of tree would you expect to find in the Boreal Forest Region? – Hint: think about the climate (temperature and precipitation)

Boreal Forest The northern Boreal Forest is dominated by only two species of trees - Black Spruce and White Spruce. Taiga is the Russian word forest.

Boreal Forest Black Spruce Cedar White Spruce Balsam Fir Jack Pine Tamarack White Birch Poplar

Pacific Maritime Forest Pacific Maritime

Pacific Maritime • What type of tree would you expect to find in the Pacific Maritime?

Pacific Maritime Forest Douglas Fir Sitka Spruce

Pacific Maritime Forest Western Red Cedar Western Hemlock

Montane Cordillera Forest Montane Cordillera

Montane Cordillera Forest Ponderosa Pine Engelmann Spruce Douglas Fir

Economic Impacts: • The forest industry produces lumber, pulp and paper, and other forest products worth about $81 billion per year (2004). Slightly more than half of this amount is exported. • Industry employs more than 360 000 direct jobs. Almost 500 000 indirect jobs are associated with forestry.

Contributions to the Economy • Which province do you think is the greatest producer of pulp and paper?

Value of Forest Industry Pulp and Paper Products Other Provinces $7286 million Quebec $11575 million British Columbia $7514 million Ontario $10018 million

Contributions to the Economy • Which province do you think is the greatest producer of wood products?

Value of Forest Industry Wood Products Other Provinces New Brunswick $780 million $751 million Alberta $1731 million Ontario $3454 million Quebec $5306 million British Columbia $11 234 million

Methods of Harvesting Forests Clear-cutting Shelterwood Cutting Selective cutting

Methods of Harvesting Forests Trees up to 25" in diameter can be cut with the XL 25.

Methods of Harvesting Forests Clear Cutting Loggers remove every tree and leave a barren landscape. When replanted, the new forest grows uniformly in species and size

Methods of Harvesting Forests Shelterwood Cutting Involves clear-cutting only part of an old growth forest Small groups of seed bearing trees are left so the area will regenerate. Shelterwood method is often used in forests that have grown and aged evenly

Methods of Harvesting Forests Selective Cutting Only mature trees of the desired size, type or quality Another shot of the same stand in an area that has been finished-except for picking up a few logs. The stand is about 65 years old.

Forestry Issues Too few trees are replanted? = Soil erosion

Forestry Issues Clogged Rivers

Forestry Issues Water Pollution Air Pollution

Forestry Issues Aerial Spraying Forest Fires

Forestry Issues Destruction of Wildlife Habitat