Canada has more publicly owned forest land than most other countries, and manages this land to safeguard its natural diversity and its many values, while taking into account the interests of all users.

Canada is the world's second-largest country and is made up of 10 provinces and three northern territories. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean east to the Atlantic Ocean and north to the Arctic Ocean, and its 979.1 million hectares of land includes 402.1 million hectares that are forest or other wooded land.

Under Canada's Constitution, the federal government and the provincial/territorial governments have specific roles in the care and governance of public forest areas, as well as sharing responsibility for matters such as environmental regulation and science and technology. Each province and territory has strict rules governing forest practices on its public land.

Canada's rigorous forest management laws and regulations are complemented by voluntary, third-party certification. Canada has more land certified to market-based sustainable forest management certification than any other country. Less than one per cent of the land available for commercial forest activities in Canada is harvested annually, and very little forest land has been permanently converted to other uses such as agriculture and urban development.

Canada's provinces and territories, which own 77 per cent of Canada's forest areas, have legislative authority over the enhancement, conservation and management of their forest resources. They develop and enforce forest policies, legislation and regulations. While their laws may differ, the outcome is the same - sustainable management. Private forest companies operating on public lands have forest management licence agreements with the provincial or territorial government.

Forest management planning and decisions must incorporate the views of all Canadians and respect Aboriginal and treaty rights. The governments consult a broad spectrum of forest users, including the public, forest industries, Aboriginal peoples and environmental organizations, to ensure that all values are considered in forest management activities and decision making.

Innovative partnerships in every region of Canada - from temperate rainforests on the Pacific Coast to the northern boreal region - have turned conflicts regarding forest development and preservation into dialogues. Together, divergent interests are exploring issues ranging from biodiversity to climate change, and are finding consensus-based solutions by recognizing differences in needs and personal values.

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