Boreal Forest

The boreal (or "northern") forest is a vast area stretching through Canada, Alaska, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. It is home to the world's largest populations of caribou, wolves, grizzly bears and lynx. It is also the breeding ground for an estimated one-third of North America's land birds and 40 percent of its waterfowl. About 70 percent of the boreal forest remains undeveloped, leading to concerns about encroaching human use.

Three-quarters of Canada's forest is in the boreal. The Canadian boreal includes a rich variety of grasslands, tundra, rocky outcrops and extensive wetlands. It is dominated by hardy coniferous trees well suited to the short growing season.

Managing Canada's Boreal Forest is a Public Affair

Most of Canada's forests are publicly owned. Weyerhaeuser licenses land from provincial governments for renewable terms of 20 to 25 years. We hold licenses to roughly 15.2 million acres (6.2 million hectares) of forestland in the Canadian boreal forest, as of Dec. 31, 2008.

Although management of the boreal forest ultimately rests with the provinces, industry and government work together to conduct research and develop forest-management plans. These provincially approved plans are prepared in consultation with others such as aboriginal and local communities, tourist outfitters, trappers, anglers and hunters. Forest management plans have multiple objectives, including sustainable forest management, economic benefits and conserving ecological integrity.

After producing wood products for more than a century, 91 percent of Canadian land that was originally forested continues to support a growing forest. This is more than in any other forested nation. Canada also has the largest area of protected forest in the world, including 69 million acres (28 million hectares) of the boreal forest.

Fire is a Dominant Force in the Boreal Forest

The boreal forest is swept by frequent and large natural disturbances. These include insects and disease, but the primary force is fire, which regularly burns large areas.

Because fire is such a common feature, few boreal forest stands reach 200 years in age. Trees in the boreal are nowhere near the size of their coastal counterparts. In fact, Taiga—the word sometimes used by scientists to describe the boreal ecosystem—is a Russian word meaning "land of little sticks." In some areas, mature trees are often less than 6 inches (15 centimeters) in diameter. Larger trees, usually in southern areas around water, may reach up to 24 inches (60 centimeters) in diameter.

We Harvest Less Than One Percent

Our 2008 harvest in the boreal forest was 0.4 percent of the forest area we manage. We strive to harvest in a way that emulates natural disturbances such as fire. For example, we leave variable edges and clumps of trees in harvested areas. We also leave buffer strips of trees along scenic routes and streams, lakes, other water bodies and additional ecologically sensitive areas.

After harvest, we take three approaches to reforestation: planting seedlings, spreading seed, and leaving trees to drop seed or sprout from roots. For example, black spruce and jack pine will come back quickly from just seeds, whereas white spruce requires planting of young seedlings. These seedlings are grown for a year in greenhouses before being planted in harvested areas. Birch regenerates naturally with sprouts from the stump.

Wildlife Are Considered in Forestry Planning

Most bird and animal populations in the boreal thrive despite wildfires and timber harvests. Different creatures prefer different habitat. Some species move out of an area after fire or harvest, while others—preferring open areas and young plant growth—move in. Wolves, red foxes, moose and elk are examples of animals that prefer forest clearings and shrub-covered areas.

Some species require special attention. Woodland caribou, a threatened species in Canada, feed on lichen in the older-aged boreal stands and require large areas of forest. In 2004, we began a five-year voluntary deferral of timber harvest on 202,000 acres (82,000 hectares) used by caribou in Alberta. This has allowed time for Weyerhaeuser, the provincial government and others to conduct research and develop caribou recovery plans. Mountain pine beetle infestations have presented a new threat, but Weyerhaeuser's revised plan to address the pine beetle continues to incorporate caribou needs. Harvesting strategies to reduce the risk of mountain pine beetle are expected to have minimal impact on high-value zones within known caribou habitat.

Joining Forces to Conserve Boreal Wetlands

Weyerhaeuser is working with the Forest Products Association of Canada, a partner in the Canadian Boreal Initiative, and Ducks Unlimited Canada to support habitat and wildlife conservation efforts.

Through our FPAC membership, Weyerhaeuser has committed to supporting several boreal conservation projects, such as the development of science-based tools to identify priorities for conservation, including additional protected areas. Establishing new protected areas and adopting forest-management policies require public support and government action, so Weyerhaeuser is also working to engage governments, communities, and indigenous peoples in these efforts.

In 2006, Weyerhaeuser and Ducks Unlimited Canada agreed to jointly fund and conduct research focused on migratory bird habitat on 12 million acres (4.9 million hectares) of Weyerhaeuser-managed land in Alberta.