Outlook

Outlook for Canada Yew

The demand for cancer-fighting drugs is expected to increase by about 10 per cent per year for the next 10 years. Thus, some demand for wild Canada yew foliage is likely over the next three to five years. While paclitaxel is being obtained from other yew species, Canada yew provides one of the most economical sources because of the relatively high levels of paclitaxel and two other taxanes found in its foliage.

There currently appears to be general compliance with the ministry's voluntary management system for Canada yew on public land and existing sustainable harvesting guidelines.

Both the European Union and the United States Food and Drug Agency regulations require that plant material used for drug production be harvested in a sustainable manner. Most companies comply with the ministry's management system, in part so they can sell yew to pharmaceutical companies in the international market.

What Can the Public Do to Help?

Uncontrolled harvesting of wild Canada yew may affect the local and perhaps more widespread environment. The public can help ensure that Canada yew is harvested sustainably by:

Contacting your local ministry district office to report instances of unsustainable harvesting on public land (e.g., where large branches or entire plants are destroyed). Call 1-800-667-1940 to determine the office neaest you. 

Some yew supply companies operating in Ontario are voluntarily seeking an independent certification which confirms that their yew harvest practices are sustainable. Supply companies that are not certified may find themselves at a disadvantage in the international market.

An audit was conducted by an independent consultant to assess Canada yew harvesting practices of the primary yew harvesting company operating in Ontario. The results of that audit confirmed that the company was in compliance with Ontario's sustainable harvesting practices.

The expected demand for wild Canada yew over the next three to five years should not pose a risk to Ontario's wild Canada yew resource. The Ministry of Natural Resources believes that the sustainability of the Canada yew resource is not a concern at this time because the industry in Ontario is small, its future is uncertain, and it continues to comply with voluntary provincial harvesting requirements. The ministry will review its options for managing Canada yew if increasing or long-term demand for Canada yew warrants it, or if the voluntary harvesting requirements become inadequate. Over the longer-term, it is possible that most of the Canada yew will be efficiently supplied by yew plantations. This would largely alleviate commercial pressure on Ontario’s wild Canada yew.

The information provided in this document is based on information from commercial companies harvesting Canada yew in Ontario, scientific and business reports, and research scientists.

• Belant, J. L. and S. K. Windels. 2003. Small mammal abundance and diversity in forests with and without Canada yew, Taxus canadensis. Canadian Field-Naturalist 117(3): 389-392.
• Canadian Forest Service and Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture and Forestry. 2002. Ground hemlock harvesting guidelines. (www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/af_hemlock0402.pdf)
• Chatham Biotec. 2004. Business plan on Canada yew. Unpublished report submitted to MNR.
• Chatham Biotec. 2005. Year end report province of Ontario 2004. Unpublished report submitted to MNR. 18 p.
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 2005. Harvesting Canada Yew – Information for Landowners. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Forest Management Branch, Sault Ste. Marie, ON. 2 p.
• Pinto, F. and D. Herr. 2005. Autecology of Canada yew (Taxus canadensis Marsh). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Southern Science and Information Section, North Bay, ON. Technical Note #12. 7p.
• SmartWood. 2005. Yew harvesting verification report for Chatham Biotec in Ontario: Assessment of Chatham Biotec Limited Taxus canadensis harvesting operation in northeastern Ontario in August, 2005. Unpublished report. 13 p.
• Canada yew: developing a new value-added crop for Northern Ontario. Ontario Forest Research Institute, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
• Discovery of Taxol© in yew
  www.research.fsu.edu/researchr/fall2002/taxol.html
• Ontario Regional Poison Information Centre
  www.sickkids.ca./poisoninformationcentre