The challenge for forest managers is to prove that Canada's forests, including the boreal, are managed sustainably, with the forest industry continuing to provide products and economic benefits for Canadians while, at the same time, maintaining the environmental benefits of the woodlands and the social and other values they offer. For the industry, this means finding ways to meet the rising global demand for products and remaining competitive in the global market, while accommodating the need for increased forest protection and conservation.

As stewards of the boreal, the various levels of government are charged with balancing the economic benefits of timber harvesting and mineral extraction with the equally important contributions to be derived from tourism, recreational pursuits such as hunting and fishing and the traditions of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada. In addition, the boreal forests, both domestic and global, are an irreplaceable resource contributing greatly to the health of the planet.

There are many examples of the need for integrated land-use planning in the boreal forest, but, to focus on just one, the plight of the woodland caribou serves as a good illustration of the cooperative efforts of stakeholders to sustainably manage this vital resource. The woodland caribou relies on relatively large and healthy areas of mature and old-forest habitat, making it sensitive to fragmentation and habitat loss. Provincial, territorial, and national efforts to protect significant populations of this mammal have been ongoing for over a decade. Many provinces and territories have developed, or are in the process of developing, recovery and conservation strategies for this species. Finding the right balance between environmental and socio-economic factors is key to this animal's survival.