National
Forest Week is sponsored across Canada by the CFA and regionally
by various provincial forestry agencies, corporations, agencies
and individuals.
2010 National Forest Week: September 19 to
25
Theme: Canada's Forests - Branching Out
View
2010 Calendar of Events
Forestry in Canada has evolved over the years to meet society’s
changing needs and advancing technologies, embracing
new partnerships, markets and applications.
Increasingly, Canada’s forests are valued for not just
one purpose -- but many. Agreements are emerging between
groups representing social, environmental and economic interests,
and forest managers across the country are rising to the
challenge. More and more we are seeing the advantages of
such collaborative efforts.
The Spirit Bear rainforest in British Columbia is being
managed for multiple values. The largest stretch
of temperate rainforest in the world, it is home to Sitka
spruce and cedar forests, and thousands of plant and animal
species. Though, resource industries have long benefited
the local economy, protests in the 1990s highlighted
the need to focus on the environment and create a new consensus-based
vision for the forest. Today, it comprises 1.2 million
hectares of protected areas, plus biodiversity areas where
industrial activity is limited or prohibited. The remaining
two-thirds of the land is managed for a full range of activities
in a manner that ensures sustainable ecosystems and
healthy communities.
Markets for wood products are also diversifying. Historically,
steel and concrete were favoured for non-residential structures,
and wood was used in home construction, however building
codes have been updated to allow wood framing in mid-rise
and non-residential buildings. The first such structure
in North America, a six-storey office building near Quebec
City, exceeds current fire protection standards. In Montreal,
the Chauveau Stadium covers a one-hectare soccer field
using laminated black spruce beams 70m long!
Forestry training is also branching out as Canada’s
colleges and universities expand their calendars to offer
courses in engineering, chemistry, architecture and environmental
sciences, as well as the more traditional silviculture,
tree cutting and wood sciences. As a result, enrolment
numbers are up and new graduates are equipped with the
broad range of skills needed to sustain Canada’s
forests and forest industries well into the future.
History
Established circa 1920 as Forest Fire Prevention Week, the
intention was to encourage greater public awareness towards
Canada's forests. At the time, there was no apparent shortage
of trees for industrial expansion – the greatest
threat came from forest fires, due mainly to human causes.
Since then National Forest Week, as it was renamed
in 1967, has evolved to encompass the many and varied human
and environmental aspects of Canada's forest resources –
past, present and future.
Although special activities are promoted across
Canada, National Forest Week remains first and foremost a
challenge to individual Canadians to learn more about their
forest heritage and support greater recognition of this valuable
resource.
National Forest Week is observed annually during
the last full week of September, Sunday through Saturday.
How to Participate in National
Forest Week
- arrange a tree planting: www.treecanada.ca
- take a walk in woods nearby and get to know your forest
- care for a newly planted or neglected tree, and study its
species
- identify all the things at home or school that are made
of wood
- learn about organizations that demonstrate sustainable forest
management
- tour a forest sector industry or processing site
- learn about the prevention of forest fires
- contact a provincial
forestry association for teaching materials
Register
Your National Forest Week Event
We invite you to celebrate National Forest Week in your neck
of the woods. Let us know what you're doing by submitting
your event. We will post it on our Forest
Week Calendar.
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