This fact sheet provides an overview of current forest related environmental concerns. Not all of Canada's forests are alike. In fact, there are thirteen distinct types. By far the largest forested land mass in Canada is the boreal, which stretches across the country from northern British Columbia through to Newfoundland. Predominantly spruce and fir, the boreal forest is under increasing pressure from logging.
Forests are more than trees.
They are complex systems with many critically important components, from the micro fungi and lichens, to forest insects, birds and mammals. Forests are recognized as repositories for biological diversity. The heaviest biomass of any ecosystem in the world is found in the ancient temperate rainforests of British Columbia. Canada's forests are home to a number of endangered species. Species in the most endangered category include the wolverine, the Eastern cougar, the Northern spotted owl, the Whooping crane, and the Northern bobwhite.