Products from Mature Saskatchewan Commercial Tree Species

The age of the forest determines the benefits we can derive from it. Early stages offer benefits such as berry picking, mushroom harvests, habitat and food sources for a variety of animals such as deer, birds and rodents. As the forest ages, it still offers many of these benefits, but it is at a certain age that tree species are old / large enough to provide forest products such as lumber, pulp etc. See the blue arrow.

Mature Jack Pine (70 Years) Each tree species has its own rotation age - the age at which its growth begins to decline. This is known as the rotation age and represents the best time to harvest the trees to ensure we have a sustainable forest. This slide shows a Jack Pine stand which is 70 years old – its rotation age. The stand is ready for harvest.

White Spruce (90 Years) White spruce is a longer lived species often found in mixed stands with trembling aspen. By the time the white spruce reaches rotation age much of the aspen has died.

Trembling Aspen (60 Years) Although there are pure stands of aspen this tree species can be found mixed in with white spruce. The rotation age for aspen is 60 Years.

Black Spruce (90 Years) Black spruce generally occurs in wet areas but can be found on drier sites. On the drier sites its rotation age is 90 years but on the wetter sites it can live to over 150 years. It remains small because of its slow growth.

Forest Products and Tree Species Saskatchewan’s forest provides a number of different forest products Different tree species yield specific products but can contribute to all products The main commercial species we will look at include, Jack Pine, White Spruce, Black Spruce and Trembling Aspen

Product One: Pulp Meadow Lake Mill Prince Albert Mill (shut down) Wood used to make pulp is generated from two sources: The tops of large trees (small wood) Smaller trees harvested along with the larger trees Not all trees grow at the same rate. Mature stands with larger trees also have smaller trees which are more suited to pulp. The Meadow Lake mill uses mostly aspen with some softwoods (spruce / Jack Pine) The Prince Albert mill used mostly spruce and Jack Pine with some aspen. There are two pulp mills in the province 1. The bio-chemical thermo- mechanical pulp mill in Meadow Lake 2. The pulp and paper mill in Prince Albert (which is shut down).

Product 2: Lumber Saskatchewan has five large saw mills. These are located in: Meadow Lake Glaslyn Big River Prince Albert Carrot River Sawmills produce a number of different products based on the size of tree harvested e.g. 2X4’s, 2X6’s, 4X4’s, 6X6’s etc. Generally white spruce, Jack Pine and black spruce will provide the size of trees needed to make this products when they reach rotation age.

Moveable small sawmill Small sawmills can access large individual trees for small custom orders without harvesting the whole stand. Small saw mills exist also where individual workers saw wood for their own use or small custom orders. These small operations can be moved to where the wood is.

Product 3: Oriented Strand Board (OSB) Oriented strand board (OSB) is a type of engineered lumber formed by adding adhesives and then compressing layers of wood strands (flakes) in specific orientations Saskatchewan has two OSB mills one in Meadow Lake the other in Hudson Bay Oriented Strand Board is largely produced from trembling aspen.

Product 4: Plywood Plywood is a sheet material manufactured from thin layers or "plies" of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to one another Saskatchewan has a plywood mill in Hudson Bay Plywood is produced from a number of different species particularly spruce for the outside layer with aspen forming some of the inner layers. Plywood requires larger logs as they are easier to peel into thin layers and yield the most layers of veneer. The trees need to be mature for this to be feasible.

Secondary manufacturing in Saskatchewan Saskatchewan has an active secondary manufacturing sector. Cabinets, millwork, and roof trusses make up the largest share of secondary products. There are also treatment plants that produce fence posts, rails, timbers, power poles, and other wood products requiring enhanced durability. The secondary products are made from the products produced previously. The treated products are generally produced from tree tops and small Jack Pine and black spruce trees. Power Poles are made from long large diameter Jack Pine as it absorbs the treatment better.

As we have looked at Saskatchewan’s forest industry is well established and competitive. Lets review some of the products that are made in Saskatchewan. Think back to the mills we have talked about and name some of the products that are produced?

Pulp Lumber Oriented strand board (OSB) Plywood Secondary products like, treated wood examples: poles, posts, cabinets, roof trusses, log homes, firewood etc.

Future products that could be made from our trees may be Wood Pellets for heating homes. Biofuel from wood. Can anyone think of any others? We will be watching a video that will give an idea of how much research is going into uses of wood fibre. http://publications.gov.sk.ca/details.cfm?p=80471

All Saskatchewan Commercial Tree Species Coniferous Trees Deciduous Trees Jack pine White spruce Black spruce Balsam fir Trembling Aspen Balsam popular White Birch Although we have only discussed 4 commercial tree species there are others which are used in producing forest products in Saskatchewan. 8. Tamarack (cone tree that looses it’s needles every fall)

Today’s assignment is to learn more about the commercial trees of Saskatchewan. Each of you will be given a work sheet. You will use a Saskatchewan publication found at http://publications.gov.sk.ca/details.cfm?p=80471 We will concentrate on the size and what are the common products this tree is used in making.