Abstract

Forests sustain hundreds of economies across Canada. The forest industry is an active player in the conservation and sustainability of forested ecosystems. Forests are managed from a legal perspective by provincial and territorial legislation. The primary objective of forest management is timber production, which is achieved through harvesting and regenerating areas that have been harvested or damaged by fire or insects. Clearcutting has been the main method of harvesting in Canada. However, selective cutting methods are being promoted and investigated as alternatives where clearcutting may have negative impacts on wildlife habitat or water resources. Forested areas are managed for timber production, mostly in the Boreal Shield, Atlantic Maritime, Montane Cordillera, and Pacific Maritime ecozones.