Awareness
The OFA is dedicated to raising the awareness of Ontario's forests. Ontario's natural landscape is one of rolling hills, forested peaks, rocky shores, and lush wetlands. Forests are an important part of the landscape because of their direct benefits for individuals and communities. Ontario's forests also play a critical role in Canada's natural landscape, with Ontario being the fourth most forested province, containing 58 million ha (or 14%) of Canada's forests.
Facts
- 89% of Ontario's forest lands are owned by the government
- 11% is owned by private landowners
- 1% of privately owned forests are used for production purposes
- In Northern Ontario, 55% of land belongs to the province
- In Southern Ontario, 87% of land belongs to private owners
- Over 10 million people (25% of Canadians) live in Southern Ontario
- Only 24% of the land base south and east of the Canadian Shield is currently forested (MNR, 2002)
- 84% of urban residents see the presence of trees in urban and rural areas as being very important
Forest Ownership in Canada
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The majority of Canada's forests are owned by the government: 71% by the provinces/territories and 23% by the federal government. Only 6% of our country's 417.6 billion ha of forest land is privately owned. The extent and distribution of privately owned lands varies tremendously between provinces (see below) and explains the disparate impact and importance of these in our landscape. |
Percentage of private land ownership across Canada:
| British Columbia | 3% |
| Alberta | 3% |
| Saskatchewan | 6% |
| Manitoba | 3% |
| Ontario | 8% |
| Quebec | 11% |
| New Brunswick | 50% |
| Nova Scotia | 68% |
| Prince Edward Island | 91% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 1% |
| Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut | 0% |
Data Source: The State of Canada's Forests 2009, Natural Resources Canada