CPAWS Northern Alberta Chapter

Forests and Forestry in Alberta

How does forestry work within Alberta’s forests?

A paradigm shift is required in the forestry industry.

The legislated goal for commercial forestry should be ecologically sustainable forests, with timber being one of, and not the primary, goal of forest management. Forests need to be managed as healthy ecosystems that promote, among other things, biodiversity, ecological integrity, maintenance of values of importance to the public and Indigenous communities, and economic opportunities. A thriving forestry industry can exist without compromising environmental and social values.

Alberta needs updated Forestry legislation that reflects both contemporary scientific knowledge and traditional Indigenous knowledge on sustainable forest management. With few meaningful updates or amendments since its creation in the early 1970s, Alberta’s Forests Act still reflects the values and objectives that prevailed in that era.

Map of Alberta's Green and White Areas, Parks and Protected Areas, and Forest Management Areas.

For administrative purposes, the province of Alberta is divided into two main zones: green and white. The white area is managed primarily for residential development and agriculture, and only about 25% of this area is public land. The green area makes up the majority of the land area in the province, is predominantly public or “Crown” land, and includes all the forested regions of both Northern Alberta and the eastern slopes of the Rockies. These public lands are managed by the province (or in the case of National Parks, by the federal government), for the public good.

Alberta’s Forest management system: similar to a nesting doll

The Government of Alberta (GoA) manages forested land through a tenure system, whereby forestry companies are granted harvesting rights for specific administrative units called Forest Management Units (FMUs), largely through the signing of a Forest Management Agreement (FMA). FMAs are 20-year, renewable, area-based forms of forest tenure. While other tenure types exist, such as licenses for timber volume, FMAs represent the most secure tenure type in Alberta.

The big picture: Forest Management Plans

One company may retain rights to several FMUs, and several companies may have harvesting rights within single FMUs. All these details, as well as those around how many trees, and what species, can be harvested for a given time, are set out in Forest Management Plans (FMPs). FMPs are long-term (200 year) plans used to outline higher-level management objectives and spatial plans for a Forest Management Agreement area. They are usually updated every 10 years. While longer-term objectives are described in the FMPs, shorter-term goals, such as specific cutblocks, are covered in documents such as Annual Operating Plans and Forest Harvest Plans.

Forestry companies must report on their progress and activities to ensure they are adhering to the stipulations laid out in the various plans, the operating ground rules, and forestry regulations and legislation more broadly. Forest management in Alberta is not straightforward.

How sustainable is Alberta’s forestry industry?

The forestry industry represents a small portion of Alberta’s GDP. The forestry industry, however, is integral to the livelihoods of many Albertans and undoubtedly, the way forests are managed will impact people living in Alberta, and Canada as a whole.

“Sustainable” Forestry certifications

Forests are complex and diverse ecosystems, and unsustainable forestry practices threaten the persistence of intact forest landscapes. Sustainable forestry practices can be dictated through legislation and regulations or encouraged through programs like certification standards, which have been adopted by most of the companies operating in Alberta, however not all programs are created equal

Two standards are used by forestry companies in Canada, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certification. These standards are both meant to set high thresholds and comply with forest management laws and regulations, show customers they are buying products originating from sustainably managed forests, and issue certificates only after a thorough review by third-party auditors. In reality there are significant differences between the two standards.

The SFI, on the other hand, is industry-developed, is only recognised in North America, and the measures reported on are far less stringent, more general and optional. Many of the standards that are required for SFI certification are actually only the minimum requirements under provincial regulations. SFI-certified companies have the option of first-, second- or third-party auditing, Not only do SFI-certified companies not need to be audited by an independent third party, but they get to choose which measures are used to audit their sustainable management practices.

The SFI is, in fact, under investigation (as of July 2024) for greenwashing forest products after a complaint was filed by Ecojustice on behalf of several leading environmental organizations in November 2022. If the SFI are found to be misleading the public, this will fundamentally call into question the apparent sustainability of the entire forestry sector in Alberta, where the SFI is the predominant certification scheme.

Unfortunately, in Alberta, the majority of forestry companies are only SFI-certified and therefore fall well short of any meaningful sustainability standards.

Forestry Sustainability Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Certification areas in Alberta.

Forestry Management Areas in Alberta. Alberta-Pacific Forestry Industries Inc. is the only FSC certified FMA in the province.

Why Sustainable Forestry Falls Short

Alberta’s Forests

Forests cover approximately 60% of Alberta and are generally associated with the cooler parts of the province that receive more rainfall than the warmer, drier prairies. Alberta’s forests are predominantly in the Boreal Natural Region, although significant patches occur within the Foothills and Rocky Mountain Natural Regions to the west and southwest of the province.

The makeup of Alberta’s forests

Alberta's forests are characterized by a mix of coniferous trees (needle-like leaves, evergreen), which dominate in the north and at higher elevations, and deciduous trees (broad-leafed, drop their leaves in fall), which are more dominant in the southern range, but are also important aspects of the boreal forest.

The presence of natural disturbances, largely wildfire, means that Alberta’s forests do not grow as old as some of the forests in temperate areas like British Columbia. Older stands in Alberta seldom survive more than 100 years before the next wildfire sweeps through. Although it is not the norm, some trees have been found to live up to 200 years.

Though this is now becoming more nuanced with the severity of wildfires seen in Alberta, naturally occurring fires can act as a regenerative force for Alberta’s forests, promoting landscape and species diversity. Some tree species in Alberta even require fire (but not TOO hot) for their seed cones to open for germination!

Forests Rich in Biodiversity

Intact forests support a huge diversity of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, many of which are yet to be discovered. Forests that have not been subject to logging practices, or other significant habitat modification, have a robust canopy structure, complex understory, and a varied landscape including wetlands, fens and bogs. This all creates a multitude of ecosystems and niches which support a diverse species assemblage. Biodiverse forests are also better able to support human health and well-being, and provide essential ecosystem services including carbon storage, pollination, soil formation, water retention, and mitigation against floods and drought.

Natural subregions in Alberta. As you can see, much of Alberta is within the Boreal region.

Indigenous Forestry Practices

Though forests have only been “formally” managed in Alberta for about a century, the forests were not void of communities with their own management methods prior to industrial forestry practices. Indigenous Peoples have been shaping forested landscapes for millennia, and one example of their stewardship is cultural burns.

Fires open up landscapes, encouraging new growth of not only harvestable plants, but also fodder for game species like bison and deer. Indigenous knowledge passed on through the generations ensures that these fires are well controlled to deliver specific objectives. They are often lit under low-risk conditions in early spring or late fall and therefore burn at low intensity, moving slowly through the understory, ensuring that culturally important species that may be killed by higher intensity fires are not harmed.

This is significantly different from wildfires that generally burn a lot more quickly at higher intensity, and are more likely to burn out of control. Indigenous forest stewardship in Canada is a vital aspect of the country's approach to environmental sustainability and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. It represents a blend of ancient wisdom and modern practices, aimed at ensuring that forests remain healthy and vibrant for generations to come.

As awareness of the importance of Indigenous stewardship grows, there are increasing opportunities for collaboration between Indigenous communities, governments, NGOs, and the private sector. Support for capacity-building, legal recognition of Indigenous land rights, and funding for conservation initiatives are critical for advancing Indigenous forest stewardship.

Helpful Forestry Terms to Know

A Brief History of Forest Management in Alberta

People and forests in what is now known as Alberta have been inextricably linked since time immemorial, but more commercialized forest use began in the late 1800s with the establishment of the first commercial sawmills. While early forestry activities in the 19th century were localized, increased industrialization during the early to mid-20th century resulted in increased demand for timber and the expansion of logging operations across Alberta.

Clear-cut logging was prevalent during this early expansion with no formal management and little to no regard for practices that centered sustainability. A shift would only begin to take hold toward the end of this period.

How did we get to what we know as modern-day forestry?

Alberta assumed control of its forest resources from the federal government in 1930, changing the way that public forest areas were leased, and creating the systems that have ultimately evolved into the Forest Management Areas we have today. Recognizing a need for sustainable forest management resulted in the implementation of more formal regulations and the practices such as forest inventorying, fire suppression, reforestation, and wildlife habitat management.

Increased awareness around conservation and environmental concerns within the forestry industry is a fairly new concept. Progress has been made within practices, trending towards an industry that wants forests to thrive. And yet, that does not mean an industry that prioritizes biodiversity and ecological health.

The focus continues to be on sustaining the timber yield and not creating a truly ecologically sustainable industry that genuinely balances environmental, cultural, social and economic values.

Threats to Alberta's Forests

Climate Change

The threats to Alberta’s forests posed by climate change are already being felt across the landscape with more, hotter fires, and increased prevalence of drought. Below are some of the major climate change related threats facing the forests in Alberta.

Addressing these threats requires concerted efforts to mitigate climate change through reducing greenhouse gas emissions, implementing sustainable forest management practices, protecting critical habitats, and supporting the resilience of Indigenous communities.

Many Indigenous communities in Alberta rely on the boreal forest for their livelihoods, cultural practices, and traditional knowledge. Climate change threatens these communities by impacting the availability of resources and disrupting traditional ways of life. As First Nations reserves are often located within the ‘wildland-human interface’, First Nations Peoples are disproportionately impacted by wildfires, which are forecast to increase in both frequency and severity under climate change (see below). In fact, nearly one-third of all wildfire evacuees and evacuation events in Canada in recent decades were from First Nations reserves.

Warmer temperatures and drier conditions make forests more prone to burning. Although Alberta forests are adapted to fire, they are not adapted to very high intensity fires with shorter return-intervals. As such, these fires can result in habitat loss, destruction of wildlife, and significant changes to the composition of the forest, meaning younger, less diverse, and therefore less resilient forest ecosystems. Out of control wildfires also pose a significant threat to people and infrastructure, something Albertans are sadly all too aware of.

A pattern that has been observed globally is that as temperatures rise, some species are forced to migrate to cooler latitudes or to higher elevations in search of suitable habitat. In the case of Alberta, this will force some species further north, or higher up the mountains.

Warmer temperatures can also allow new species, previously limited by the cold, to colonize new areas. This is likely one of the factors leading to a proliferation of deer in the boreal forest. Deer have a significant impact on the landscape. Not least through their impact on wolf populations, which, as their numbers increase, prey more on threatened caribou, particularly in fragmented habitats.

Caribou populations teeter on the verge of collapse across Alberta.

Wildfire

While Alberta’s forests are naturally fire prone, and many of the species that live in them are well adapted to wildfires, the increased severity and intensity of wildfires in an already heavily transformed landscape is having a negative impact on some species and ecosystems. The impacts of wildfires on Alberta’s forests need to be understood within the context of the cumulative impacts faced by forests across the landscape.

Wildfires can, for example, lead to a reduction in available habitat for some species, particularly where this habitat is limited to begin with, and has been heavily impacted by forestry and other industries. This is the case for threatened caribou, whose habitat has been severely diminished. Large wildfires that sweep through their habitat today are having a huge impact on the dwindled caribou herds in the province. They simply are left with nowhere to go.

For more insight into the impacts that wildfires have on Alberta’s wildlife and ecosystems, and what can be done to better manage this threat, see our blog.

While the forestry industry can have a large role to play in mitigating and managing wildfire threats, many of the claims that they make are not supported by the science. In this blog post, we debunk some of the myths propagated by the industry.

Unsustainable practices

Because most of the forests in Alberta are managed, unsustainable forestry practices can have a devastating impact on the forests in Alberta, and the species that live in them.

To address these impacts, it's essential to promote sustainable forestry practices that prioritize ecosystem health, biodiversity conservation, and the well-being of local communities. This includes implementing measures such as selective logging, ecosystem-based management, reforestation, and engaging with Indigenous communities to incorporate traditional knowledge and values into forest management decisions.

Deforestation is broadly defined as a state transition from forest to some other land use. Governments and industry use this definition to claim that, because the forests grow back, there is little to no deforestation in Canada.

This simplistic view does not, however, account for areas that are permanently transformed, or scarred, such as roads and roadside footprints, which are not detected by most monitoring efforts. This view also relies on the relatively untested assumption that forests do always grow back.

The unnatural conditions created through harvesting may, in some environments, limit the ability of the forest to grow back. Because the forestry industry is not required to prove that the forest has returned, it is difficult to know the extent of forest recovery in different landscapes.

Clearcutting and other intensive logging practices can fragment forest habitats, creating isolated patches of forest that are more vulnerable to invasive species and ecological disturbances. Habitat fragmentation can disrupt wildlife migration patterns and decrease genetic diversity within populations.

The practice of replanting predominantly more economically profitable species, and suppressing the untargeted species with herbicides, can also result in significant loss of diversity and, for all intents and purposes, transform biodiverse forests into ‘forest farms.’

Runoff from logging activities, such as sediment and chemicals used in forestry operations, can pollute nearby water bodies, including rivers, streams, and lakes. Water pollution can harm aquatic life, degrade water quality, and threaten the health of ecosystems downstream. Clearcutting and use of herbicides to suppress deciduous plants can also increase evaporation, drying out areas, killing untargeted plant species, and increasing fire risk.

These practices also impede the forests’ ability to absorb water to mitigate floods and keep plants and animals alive during drought.

Insufficient legislation and regulations

The Alberta Forests Act is the primary legislation which governs forestry practices in the province. Developed in the 1970s, the foundation of the Act is embedded within a paradigm that fails to address the threats and challenges faced within forests today. Not only have values around environmental and social concerns, particularly with respect to Indigenous peoples, shifted significantly but the threats faced by forests and the forestry industry have evolved and are far better understood.

Some general concerns with Alberta’s current law and policy framework include a lack of true ecosystem-based management principles; a lack of public participation, and a lack of accountability measures. See here to read more from the Environmental Law Centre.

More specifically, the Act:

Allows for extensive clearcutting, which can lead to habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of ecosystems;
Does not sufficiently involve Indigenous peoples in decision-making processes;
Does not adequately address the impacts of climate change on Alberta's forests, such as increased frequency and severity of wildfires, insect outbreaks, and shifts in vegetation patterns;
Lacks robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with regulations. Without proper oversight, unsustainable logging practices go unchecked;
Prioritizes economic interests over environmental concerns. While forestry can be an important industry for Alberta's economy, prioritizing short-term gains over long-term sustainability harms forests in the long run;
Does not adequately address the issue of habitat fragmentation, which results from road building, logging, and other human activities.
Does not adequately manage for the nature-based climate solutions provided by intact forest landscapes

Key Opportunities for Healthy Forests

There are many threats to Alberta's forests and its biodiversity but there are many opportunities to improve the overall health and management of Alberta's forests.

Land Use Plans

The number one priority under Alberta’s Land Use Framework, introduced in 2008, is to develop seven regional land use plans that cover the extent of the province. In theory, these plans should be developed with all stakeholders in a region, allow for the careful balancing of conservation priorities with economic development needs, and ensure compliance by all land users.

To date, 16 years down the line, only two of these plans (the Lower Athabasca and South Saskatchewan Regional Plans) have been completed. Neither have been fully implemented. Eleven sub-regions were also established in 2019 within caribou range to advise land-use planning at the more local scale. So far, only two plans have so far been developed for these sub-regions. Draft regulations for these plans were only just released in the spring of 2024 and have not yet been finalized. This lack of progress on land use planning has detrimental effects on the biodiversity and people living in the province but, if the process is prioritised, the benefits to industry, people and the environment alike could be huge.

Intentional and careful land use planning can help:

Land use planning can help mitigate habitat fragmentation by identifying and preserving wildlife corridors and connectivity between different forested areas. Maintaining connectivity is crucial for facilitating the movement of wildlife and ensuring genetic diversity within populations. Land use planning can also coordinate access among many industrial interests limiting the need for superfluous roads and access routes through the forests.

Indigenous communities in Alberta have longstanding relationships with the land and forests and possess valuable traditional knowledge about sustainable resource management. Land use planning can support Indigenous land use by recognizing and respecting traditional territories, incorporating Indigenous perspectives into decision-making processes, and fostering partnerships between Indigenous communities and government agencies.

Protected Areas

While not the only tool, well-managed and resourced protected areas have been found to be the most effective way to conserve and protect biodiversity.

Alberta has less intact boreal forest remaining than any other province in Canada. Any intact/ old growth/ primary forest that remains outside of protected areas should be protected and conserved through the creation of new protected areas and the expansion of existing ones. But even areas that are currently fragmented but serve as important habitat for threatened species such as caribou and wood bison need additional protection.

While protected areas do not prevent fire, they do provide habitat where other impacts on wildlife have been reduced. Alberta has only about 15% of its landbase protected. Globally, the consensus is that nature needs much more protected areas (30% or more) if we hope to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures

Other effective area-based conservation measures are areas that effectively protect and conserve biodiversity despite not being recognised as official protected areas. The level of protection required for an OECM is no less than that required for a protected area. As such, if forested areas are to be declared as OECMs they need to be protected in the long term. For protected areas, this usually means ‘in perpetuity’, or for at least the next 99 years with the expectation of an indefinite timeline. Forest blocks that are not going to be harvested for the foreseeable future cannot be recognised as OECMs if their protection cannot be more rigorously guaranteed.

Thank you

Alberta EcoTrust Foundation

We would like to thank Alberta Ecotrust Foundation’s Springboard Capacity Grant for their support for our work on Forestry Issues in Alberta.

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