An independent study by Yale University released in July 2004, found Canada's forest policy regulation and compliance regime to be among the most progressive and stringent in the world. Yet, like the rest of the world's forested nations, how to meet current and future challenges is a learning process that continues to evolve.

An important coordinating instrument is the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM), which is composed of the forest ministers from the ten provinces, the three territories and the federal government. Through the CCFM, Canada is developing plans to engage its counterparts in other boreal nations in a meaningful dialogue about sustainable development.

A major step forward is the recently-signed Statement of Cooperation between the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the Federal Forest Agency of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation. The Statement recognizes a mutual interest between the two countries in forest resources management. In addition, Canada and its provinces continue to develop and share with other countries solutions to the many sustainable forest management challenges.

During the Rio Earth Summit of 1992, Canada demonstrated international leadership in environmental stewardship by launching the National Forest Strategy. One element of the strategy was Canada's Model Forest Program. The Canadian Model Forest Network (CMFN) links together the 11 Model Forests in Canada and allows them to share ideas and combine their expertise and resources. The CMFN led to the development of the International Model Forest Network which now includes 19 countries around the world.