Maintaining a flow of economic and other benefits also is an important dimension of sustainable development. The purpose of this criterion is to describe and, where possible, measure the economic and social benefits derived from Canada's forests. Criterion 5 also considers the capacity of the natural resource base and industrial base to continue to supply those benefits. Forests provide us with a multitude of benefits. The production processes involved in the delivery of forest products contribute to the economy through the payment of wages, taxes, profits and other costs, such as stumpage fees.
Forests are a finite resource.
The mix of benefits provided by forests is determined by markets and governments. Canada has a high percentage of forest land under public ownership, and the flow of benefits from our forests reflects the commitment by governments to provide a broad range of public goods and services to current and future generations of Canadians. Criterion 5 comprises four elements.