Canada Forest Information and Data

According to the U.N. FAO, 34.1% or about 310,134,000 ha of Canada is forested, according to FAO. Of this 53.3% ( 165,448,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Canada had 8,963,000 ha of planted forest. Canada's forests contain 13,908 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass. Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Canada has some 766 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 1.7% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 5.0% are threatened. Canada is home to at least 3270 species of vascular plants, of which 4.5% are endemic. 5.3% of Canada is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

The following contains data relating to forest cover in Canada

Previous version of this profile (2009)

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Forest Cover | Breakdown of forest types | Change in Forest Cover | Deforestation | Primary forest | Planted forest | Forest designation | Forest ownership | Growing stock | Carbon stock | Disturbances affecting forest land | Removals | Removals Value | Employment | Forest policy | Human resources | Revenue | Agreements | Protected areas | Biodiversity - Wildlife | Biodiversity - Plants | Environment | Land use / Resources | Economy | Population / Demographics | Infrastructure | Health | References | Books

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Canada: Forest Cover, 2010 Total Land Area (1000 ha) 909351 Total Forest Area (1000 ha) 310134 Percent Forest Cover 34 Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) 165448 Primary Forest, % total forest 53 Other wooded land (1000 ha) 91951 Percent other wooded land 10 Canada: Breakdown of forest types, 2010 Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) 165448 53 Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) 135723 44 Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) 8963 3 Canada: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010 TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) 1990 2000 2005 2010 310134 310134 310134 310134 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 0 0 0 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 0 0 0 Canada: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010 FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) 1990 2000 2005 2010 308777 304314 302086 301171 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 -446 -446 -314 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 -0.1 -0.14 -0.1 Canada: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010 PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) 1990 2000 2005 2010 165448 165448 165448 165448 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 0 0 0 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 0 0 0 Canada: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010 PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) 1990 2000 2005 2010 1357 5820 8048 8963 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 446 446 183 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 15.67 6.70 2.18 Canada: Primary designated function (percent) Production Protection of soil and water Conservation of biodiversity Social services Multiple use Other None or unknown 1 0 5 0 87 0 7 Canada: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent) OWNERSHIP PATTERN Public ownership Private ownership Other 92 8 n.s. PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Individuals Business entities and institutions Local, indigenous and tribal communities 84 16 0 HOLDER OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS OF PUBLIC FORESTS Public administration Individuals Business entities and Institutions Communities Other 100 0 0 0 0 Canada: Growing stock in forest GROWING STOCK IN FOREST Total (million m3) Per hectare (m3) Coniferous (million m3) Broadleaved (million m3) % commercial species 32983 106 25336 7647 - GROWING STOCK IN FOREST Total (million m3) Per hectare (m3) Coniferous (million m3) Broadleaved (million m3) % commercial species - - Canada: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010 CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS (million metric tons) 1990 2000 2005 2010 14284 14317 14021 13908 CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS (per hectare in tons) 2000 45 ANNUAL CHANGE (1 000 t/yr) 1990 2000 2005 2010 3 -59 -23 ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE (t/ha/yr) 1990 2000 2005 2010 n.s. n.s. n.s. Canada: Area of forest affected by fire and other disturbances 2005 FOREST FIRE 1000 ha % wild fire (not managed burn) 1230 100 EXCLUDING FOREST FIRE Insects Diseases Other biotic agents Abiotic factors Total (excluding fire) % of 2005 forest area 17273 - - - - - Canada: Trends in removals of wood products 1990-2005 INDUSTRIAL ROUNDWOOD Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) 1990 2000 2005 percent of which from forest 2005 188753 212012 214057 - WOODFUEL Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) 1990 2000 2005 percent of which from forest 2005 7112 3292 3251 - Canada: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005 Value of removals (million US$) Value per ha forest (US$) Industrial roundwood Woodfuel NWFP Total 13425 - 264 - - Canada: Employment in forestry 1990-2005 TOTAL (1000 full-time employees) 1990 2000 2005 - - - IN PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF GOODS-FORESTRY (1000 full-time employees) 1990 2000 2005 73 87 70 IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION (1000 full-time employees) 1990 2000 2005 - - - Canada: Forest policy and legal framework 2008 National forest policy (year): Yes (2008) Sub-national forest policy: Yes National forest program (year) - status: No (-) - National forest law (year): No national forest law (-) Sub-national forest law: Yes Canada: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008 2000 2005 2008 # % female # % female # % female - - - - - - Canada: Forest revenue and public expenditure on forestry 2005 Forest revenue Public expenditure (1000 US$) Domestic funding External funding Total (1000 US$) Operational expenditure Transfer payments Operational expenditure Transfer payments Operational expenditure Transfer payments 1264886 - - - - - - Canada: Status of ratification of international conventions and agreements as of 1 January 2010 CbD: UNFCCC: Kyoto Protocol: UNCCD: ITTA: CITeS: Ramsar: World Heritage Convention: NlbI: [an error occurred while processing this directive] Canada: Environment Environment - current issues air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities Environment - international agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Marine Life Conservation Natural hazards continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of the mountains Canada: Land use / Resources Land use (%) arable land: 4.96% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 95.02% (2001) Natural resources iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower Canada: Economy Economy - overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, in the trillion dollar class, Canada closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and affluent living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. Given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Solid fiscal management has produced a balanced budget, although public debate continues over how to manage the rising cost of the publicly funded healthcare system. Exports account for roughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with its principal trading partner, the United States, which absorbs more than 85% of Canadian exports. GDP - per capita $32,800 (2005 est.) GDP - real growth rate (%) 2.8% (2005 est.) Agriculture - products wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish GDP - composition by sector (%) agriculture: 2.2%, industry: 29.1%, services: 68.7% (2005 est.) Industries transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products; wood and paper products; fish products, petroleum and natural gas Population below poverty line (%) 15.9% (2003) Debt - external $600.7 billion (30 June 2005) Labor force - by occupation (%) agriculture 2%, manufacturing 14%, construction 5%, services 75%, other 3% (2004) Canada: Population / Demographics Population (July 2005) 32,805,041 Population growth rate (%) (2005) 0.90% Population density (people/sq km) (2005) 3.6 Percent rural (2003) 19.6% Median age (years) total: 38.54 years Total fertility rate (children born/woman) 1.61 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups (%) British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26% Largest Cities in Canada Cities and urban areas in Canada with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002. City Country City Population Urban Area Population Toronto Canada 2571400 5462100 Montreal Canada 1038600 3523400 Calgary Canada 864500 870300 Edmonton Canada 693700 913600 Winnipeg Canada 635100 706700 Mississauga Canada 586800 586800 Vancouver Canada 534000 1940100 London Canada 350900 350900 Ottawa Canada 348500 1070300 Hamilton Canada 347500 347500 Laval Canada 337600 337600 Surrey Canada 316300 316300 Brampton Canada 289200 289200 Windsor Canada 213100 213100 Saskatoon Canada 196100 196100 Burnaby Canada 194700 194700 Kitchener Canada 192300 192300 Markham Canada 186900 186900 Regina Canada 182700 182700 Quebec Canada 170900 711700 Richmond Canada 154700 154700 Burlington Canada 147700 147700 Oshawa Canada 144800 144800 Vaughan Canada 142900 142900 Saint Catharines Canada 141100 141100 Oakville Canada 138400 138400 Longueuil Canada 130800 130800 Nepean Canada 124100 124100 Thunder Bay Canada 122500 122500 Cape Breton Canada 118000 118000 Halifax Canada 117100 117100 Gloucester Canada 112100 112100 Richmond Hill Canada 109700 109700 Cambridge Canada 109300 109300 Abbotsford Canada 107400 107400 Coquitlam Canada 105800 105800 Saanich Canada 105300 105300 Guelph Canada 103300 103300 Gatineau Canada 102900 102900 Canada: Infrastructure Telephones - main lines in use 19,950,900 (2003) Telephones - mobile cellular 13,221,800 (2003) Roadways (km) total: 1,408,800 km paved: 493,080 km (including 16,906 km of expressways) unpaved: 915,720 km (2002) Canada: Health Life expectancy at birth (years) total population: 80.1 years male: 76.73 years female: 83.63 years (2005 est.) Infant mortality rate 4.75 deaths/1,000 live births HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) 0.3% (2003 est.) Canada : References & Data Sources  Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005  Forest Cover, Forest types, Breakdown of forest types, Change in Forest Cover, Primary forests, Forest designation, Disturbances affecting forest land, Value of forests, Production, trade and consumption of forest products -- The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS's Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005 & 2010) and the State of the World's Forests (2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2001)  Protected Areas, Plant and animal biodiversity -- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). 2004. World Database on Protected Areas.  Biosphere reservers -- United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Man and Biosphere Program. 2004. UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory.  RAMSAR sites -- The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands . 2005. The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.  World Resources Institute's EarthTrends web site  The 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species  Population Data -- United Nations Population Fund  With additional analysis by Rhett Butler of mongabay.com Select a Country or Region INDEX Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Caribbean Cayman Islands Central African Republic Central America Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Costa Rica Cote d�Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic DR Congo East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea Norway Oceania Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Lucia Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South America South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States United States of America United States Virgin Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Vietnam Virgin Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Tropical rainforest information  World Rainforests  Rainforest Structure  Rainforest Biodiversity  Canopy  Forest Floor  Rainforest Waters  Indigenous People  Deforestation  Global Importance  Rainforest Conservation  Country Reports update soon  References  Deforestation Tables  The Amazon Rainforest update soon  The Congo Rainforest update soon  Deforestation in Brazil  Rainforest Images   Web mongabay.com Mongabay Rainforests Mongabay News Mongabay Photos