The Value of Our Forests

Forests are an important part of the landscape, not only because of their environmental service and value to stakeholders, but also because of their direct benefits for individuals and communities. The use of forest resources (both timber and non-timber) significantly impacts the livelihoods of populations, particularly in rural, northern areas. Management of forest resources for commercial purposes represents an important source of income and enjoyment for Ontario. Our forests are important for education, research and recreation.

From an economic perspective, Ontario's forests play a highly important role in this province's prosperity.  In addition to providing jobs to approximately 200,000 people in over 260 Ontario communities, Ontario's forestry sector products generated $15.3 billion in revenue in 2007 alone.  As well, 40 of the 260 Ontario communities in which forestry work occurs are classified as being areas where citizens are highly dependent on the forestry sector for employment.  Overall, Ontario's forests provide employment, socio-economic benefits for Ontario residents and government revenue.

Ontario's forests cannot only be valued by the products and employment it creates, a fairly new idea of ecological goods and services, suggests our forests provide more to us than we could possibly imagine. Ecological goods and services are defined as the benefits that are produced from the ecological functions of healthy and robust ecosystems.  Furthermore, these benefits are experienced by humans, plants and all other living organisms.  Examples of ecological goods include clean air and fresh water, while examples of ecological services include maintenance of biodiversity and the generation and renewal of soil and vegetation.  Forests, in particular, provide a wide range of ecological goods and services including helping air quality, carbon storage and sequestration, soil formation, and biological control just to name a few.

In November 2009, the Ministry of Natural Resources released the paper- "Estimation of Ecosystem Service Values for Southern Ontario". In this paper it was estimated that the value of Southern Ontario's non-urban forests is equal to $4 billion dollars per year. That equals over $4000/ ha/ year! It is important that we are aware of the value of our forests since they play such a critical part in our daily lives.

For more information on Ecological Goods and Services, click here.

Looking at our forests with the concept of ecological goods and services in mind is to acknowledge that healthy, properly managed forests work to provide many other crucial natural resources including water, wildlife, and fish.

As well, we receive further immeasurable benefits from our forests as a source of recreational enjoyment and aesthetic value. Numerous people use Ontario's forests to camp, hunt, vacation, relax and to just enjoy nature. Forests hold an important spiritual value for many, leading many Ontarians to seek peace and adventure in nearby woods.

Ontario's forests are home to approximately 85 billion trees! Ontario has 69 million hectares of forest land, which is about 65% of the total area of 107 million hectares. The province owns 88% of the forest land, and 11% is privately owned, with the remaining 1% under federal ownership. Although populations are high, much of the population resides in southern Ontario. Ontario forests are extremely diverse, from the Carolinian forests in the south to the boreal in the north. There are 4 forest regions in Ontario, with species diversity in trees decreasing as you move north in the province.

The value of our forests mean different things to different people. Forests play an important part in Ontario's economy, not only providing us with goods but also immense recreational value. Our forests are a key part of Ontario's future. This is why it is crucial we value our forests through properly managing and sustaining our existing forests.