Boreal Forest
- The world’s largest land-based ecosystem, circling the upper part of northern hemisphere and covering 35% of Canada.
- Primarily evergreen forest type (spruce, pine, fir).
- 30% of all the world’s boreal is in Canada.
- Canada retains about 90% of its original forest cover.
- Of the 10% that is gone, most has been lost to agriculture and urbanization not forestry practices. (Canadian Forest Service)
The boreal is Canada’s largest eco-region, accounting for 35% of the country’s land area and 72% of its forests. For decades, AbitibiBowater has worked with governments, communities, Aboriginal peoples and other stakeholders to protect wildlife habitats, breeding grounds, and unique or culturally important eco-systems in the boreal forest.
AbitibiBowater owns or manages 16.9 million hectares (41.8 million acres) of forestland in North America, most in Canada’s boreal. Nearly all of this is certified to globally recognized sustainable forest management standards. We harvest less than ½ of 1% of the forests we manage (same as Canadian average).
AbitibiBowater's forestry operations in Ontario and Quebec occur primarily on publicly owned land under provincial licenses in Canada’s boreal forest, a diverse ecological system that includes forests, wetlands, grasslands, tundra and rivers. Our practices are governed by stringent government environmental standards and regulations designed to promote healthy, sustainable forests, balancing environmental, social and economic values.
As required by provincial laws and regulations, AbitibiBowater prepares 20- or 25-year forest management plans, which are revised every five years. Public participation is a critical part of the process and AbitibiBowater encourages local community groups, individuals and First Nation’s communities to participate in the planning process.
AbitibiBowater's activities are also carried out in conformance with globally recognized sustainable forest management standards, to which we are third-party certified by independent auditors.
Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement
On May 18, 2010, 21 member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), including AbitibiBowater, jointly announced with key environmental organizations the signing of the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. The Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement is a landmark agreement that ushers in a new era of conservation and forest management for Canada’s boreal forest.
The key goals for the accord include:
- faster identification of newly protected areas such as parks;
- the development of comprehensive caribou recovery plans;
- enhanced sustainable forest management practices in the boreal forest; and
- improved global market recognition for Canada’s environmental performance in forestry.
The agreement covers 72 million hectares (178 million acres) of public forests licensed to FPAC member companies. Under the agreement, FPAC members, who manage two-thirds of all certified forest land in Canada, commit to the highest environmental standards of forest management within an area twice the size of Germany, and conservation groups commit to global recognition and support for FPAC member efforts.
For more information on the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement, visit http://www.canadianborealforestagreement.com