Canada's privately owned forest lands: Their management and economic importance

Canada has the third largest area of forest in the world after Russia and Brazil. About 89% is in public ownership; 11%, or 23 million ha, is privately owned. The comparatively small area of forest in private ownership has been largely overlooked. If it were a national forest, it would be the 11th largest in the world, between Japan and Finland, with the 8th largest production of industrial roundwood, between Finland and Germany. Canada's privately owned forest lands produce 19% of our wood supply, some 36 million m3 per year. There are about 425 000 owners with an average of 45 ha each. Their objectives vary greatly. They own a high percentage of the Deciduous, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence and Acadian Forest Regions. These forests are very important environmental, economic and social resources. We should understand their value better and set in place management programs to ensure their health and productivity. Landowner's rights and management objectives must be respected.