Overview of Ontario’s Forests Chris Walsh Manager, Forest Evaluation & Standards March 31, 2009 Chris Walsh Manager, Forest Evaluation & Standards March 31, 2009

Overview Ontario in perspective Ontario’s forests State of the Forest Vision for the Future

Ontario in perspective

Ontario within North America 5% total area 1.5 x size of Texas

Ontario in perspective

Ontario’s forests million ha (266 million acres) 71 million ha (66%) forested 26.9 million ha of forest ‘managed’

Ontario’s forests 87% public land million ha parks and protected areas

Ontario’s forests Forest Management Units 46 units 240,000 to 1,966,650 ha in size

State of the Forest Forest Certification Endangered Species Climate Change Aboriginal Involvement Wood Supply Forest Industry

Forest Certification Ontario recognizes 3 Certification Systems In 2008, 85% of Ontario’s Crown managed forest certified (26.3 million hectares)

Endangered Species

Over 180 species at risk in Ontario and increasing (most in S. Ontario) New Endangered Species Act effective June 2008 –automatic protection of species at risk and their habitats –Recovery strategies within specified timelines –species-specific habitat regulation provision

Climate Change

OMNR engaged in climate change work for decades Work focused in following areas: –Understanding & mitigating impacts –Adapting to anticipated change Ontario Government action plan

Climate Change

Red Lake Blowdown 2008

Climate Change Sioux Lookout Fire 2006

Aboriginal Involvement Aboriginal communities face significant economic and social challenges Government required to negotiate for more equal participation

Wood Supply vs Demand (2008) 2008 harvest

Ontario’s Forest Industry

Ontario’s Forest Economy 2005 Value of Shipments – $18.8 billion 2005 Value of Exports - $8.4 billion – USA: 97% 2005 Direct Employment –84,500

Forest Industry Jobs - Mills 146 “Crown wood consuming” facilities (>1,000 m 3 /annually for past 5 years) 76 are major consumers (>25,000 m 3 /yr for 5 yrs.) –29 are closed temporarily/indefinitely –13 closed permanently –17 on reduced shifts –17 still operating normally

Forest Industry Jobs Ontario Total Jobs 60,000 65,000 70,000 75,000 80,000 85,000 90,000 95, , Total Jobs

Forest Industry Jobs - Mills Forest Dependency by Community StatsCan 2006 data

Vision for the Future Healthy forests adapting to and mitigating climate change Protection/restoration of species at risk (woodland caribou) Community economic & social stability Enhanced aboriginal involvement and benefits Healthy investment climate Bio-economy investment captured Competitive Forest Industry

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