Our forests are too important to lose. Lumber, pulp and other forest products are an essential part of our daily lives, but we need safeguards to make sure that we don’t take too much. The provincial government sets overall limits on how much wood can be harvested each year and requires detailed long-term plans for how each site will be managed and regenerated after harvest. Alberta’s forest industry has been around for generations thanks to thoughtful, sustainable planning.
Before a single tree is cut, forestry companies prepare a 200-year plan and get the plan approved by the Government of Alberta. A 200-year plan takes about six years to prepare and is re-evaluated every ten years to make any necessary adjustments.
The plans start with a full environmental assessment of the area, including water sources, wildlife habitats, tree species, ages and quantities, soil quality and other important considerations. The details of the harvest are planned to maintain essential features of the site and set the stage for successful regeneration.