There are many myths and misunderstandings around the forest industry, from deforestation, pollution, replanting and the role of timber on the market. In this article we will take a look at some of the top myths of forestry and break them down to better promote respect and support for what is arguably BC’s most important resource industry.
MYTH: The deforestation rate in Canada is increasing.
FACT: In 2010, Canada’s annual deforestation rate was less than 0.2-percent of our forests, and that number continues to decline. Canada’s 348-million hectares of forest lands represent approximately 9-percent of the world’s forest cover, but accounts for only 0.3-percent of global deforestation.
MYTH: The result of logging is always deforestation OR clearcutting is deforestation.
FACT: Deforestation is defined as the permanent removal of forest in order to use the land for something different. Managed harvest, insect infestation, disease and forest fires do not constitute deforestation as the forest in affected areas will grow back.
MYTH: Trees produce most of the oxygen we breathe.
FACT: Trees and plants do create oxygen, and help to clean the air by absorbing pollutants. However, scientists estimate that 50-percent to 80-percent of the oxygen produced on Earth actually comes from the ocean.
MYTH: Trees are often harvested without being replanted.
FACT: Due to Canadian regulations and policies surrounding forest practices, any trees harvested on public lands must be replanted. Approximately 95-percent of BC’s 57-million hectares of forests are publicly owned. Licensees in BC are legally required, by a law passed Oct. 1, 1987, to reforest any areas they have harvested.
MYTH: Only an untouched forest is healthy and preserved.
FACT: Even without harvest, a forest is constantly changing as it is made up of many living parts. Forests are often affected by drought, disease, flood, fire and insects. Modern harvest methods are often designed to mimic these natural life cycles of the forest, encouraging regrowth.
MYTH: In BC, only pine is planted to replace harvested trees, even if they are not suitable to the area.
FACT: More than 20 different native tree species are used for reforestation in BC, which helps to maintain diverse habitats and ecosystems.
MYTH: Lumber is the only product the forest industry produces.
FACT: While milled lumber, such as what we use for building houses and furniture, is a large part of what the forest industry produces, many other items are made from trees as well. Items such as:
– Wood pellets
– Newsprint
– Paper gowns, surgical masks and caps
– Nanocrystalline cellulose (used for nanotechnology)
– Wood biomass for energy plants
– Toilet paper, paper towel and tissues.
