The Forest Resources of Canada
Uploaded by lil_dee99 on Nov 05, 2005
The Forest Resources of Canada
The topic that we have been assigned is chapter twenty-three, The Forest Resources of Canada. This extensive chapter covers the many facts of Canadian forests, the types of trees and areas, the necessity of this industry and the methods of harvesting trees. This topic also includes, the different types of mills, the many threats to the forests, changes in the industry and three very controversial topics. The dangers and value of the forests are unknown to many, but are subjects of significant importance.
Forests cover forty-two percent of Canada’s total area, which is 4 187 820 squared kilometres. Canada, along with Brazil and Russia, has more forests than any other country in the world.
Canada’s forests consist mainly of two types of trees: coniferous and deciduous. Sixty-three percent of the forests contain coniferous trees, which are trees with cones and needles such as the pine and spruce. Deciduous trees lose their leaves each year and are mainly poplar and white birch. They cover twenty-two percent of Canada’s trees. The rest of the forests are made up of a variety of different species, which covers fifteen percent.
There are two areas of trees: commercial and non-commercial. Commercial forests are found in warm, wet areas where trees commonly grow rapidly. These areas are close to methods of transportation and are easily accessible by roads. They contain trees that are usually harvested unlike non-commercial forests. Commercial forests have been divided up into five forest regions, which are: boreal, taiga, west coast, montane and mixed.
Non-commercial forests are unlikely to be cut down because they are unreachable since they are located in the northern parts of Canada. They often grow slowly and do not achieve their maximum growth because of low temperatures and low precipitation levels. To harvest them would be impractical, for the costs of travelling to remote areas would be expensive and a profit would not be earned for the trees may not be mature.
The forest industry is greatly relied on, by many Canadians. Approximately one in every sixteen jobs depend on it and it provides three hundred and sixty thousand direct jobs. If these forests were to ever vanish many Canadians...