Unlike other products that deplete the earth’s resources, wood is the only major building material that grows naturally and is renewable. In Ontario, forest management is regulated to ensure our forests are legally harvested and managed to meet long-term demand for forest products.
Reforestation:
North American regulations, legislation and third-party forest certification programs have strict reforestation requirements. Responsible forest management has resulted in more than 50 consecutive years of net forest growth that exceeds annual forest harvests. The deforestation rate in both Canada and the U.S. is virtually zero.
Certified material:
Wood is the only material with third-party certification programs in place to verify that products originate from a sustainably managed resource. North America has more certified forests than any other part of the world. All of the major forest certification programs in North America are recognized globally.
Sustainable:
Sustainable forest management allows us to meet society’s need for forest products and other benefits, respect the variety of values people attach to forests, and preserve forest health and diversity for the future. It means managing the forests for all values -- including water and soil quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and biodiversity, as well as the social, economic and recreational needs of communities.
