Distinctly Canadian silviculture and forest management

Abstract

In contrast to most other countries, Canada uses a leasing system for provincial Crown forests. It is unlikely this will change. Canadian forestry has been characterized by a struggle between landlord and tenant over the silviculture and forest management obligations of the tenant and the right of citizens as owners of the forest resource to know what is going on. Forest companies do not have equity in timber and are reluctant to invest in long-term management. Also, Canada is characterized by a broad band of boreal forest across the country with remarkable little contact between the provinces on forest management. Add to this new drivers for change due to customer demands for certification, and the practice of sustainable forest management and notions and concepts from conservation biology, particularly about emulation of historical disturbance. The reality of the present situation is that the price of access to Crown timber that costs nothing to grow is becoming more complex and expensive as demands for better inventories and monitoring increase.Canadian forestry is becoming more rigorous and accountable and under much more NGO scrutiny. Professional foresters have to be accountable, up-to-date, and behave like professionals. The challenges today are outlined for this new complex situation.