Celebrating Canadian National Forest Week 2023
Approximately 93% of forests in Canada are on public land, including in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, where West Fraser manages forest land. Every September, Canadians across the country celebrate National Forest Week to learn more about Canada’s forest heritage, the importance of sustainably managed forests and the significant role of forest products.
“Sustainable forest management is one of the core values that the West Fraser team holds as employees and as individuals living and working in our communities and forests. Our Woodlands teams are always looking for ways to continuously evolve and improve our sustainable forestry practices while also creating awareness about the forest resources in the communities in which we operate.”
D’Arcy Henderson, Vice President, Woodlands
Evolving our Sustainable Forest Management Practices
This year’s theme is “Canada’s Forests: Supporting Biological Diversity.” West Fraser takes a proactive approach when it comes to doing our part to address climate change and protect biodiversity. One example is how West Fraser is using climate change projections to adjust our seed planning zones based on future climate models, which is referred to as “assisted migration.” This helps the future forest to cope with threats related to climate change and to take advantage of opportunities for increased growth due to potentially warmer temperatures.
West Fraser works with Indigenous Peoples, communities, scientists and governments to ensure that our forestry practices are inclusive, responsible, thoughtful and informed. This includes the relationship and partnership built with the Wells Barkerville Community Forest, just outside of Quesnel, B.C. We collaborate with them on their operations, planning, harvesting, road building and tree planting. Together with the Lhtako Dene Nation in Quesnel, we are working on road network reduction, restoration of key fish habitat and a fire fuel reduction project. In both instances, we are working to incorporate local and traditional knowledge into our stewardship plans.
Creating Awareness in Communities Where We Operate
Together, West Fraser’s Hinton Wood Products and Woodlands Team members undertook a project funded by the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta to enhance forest resources and improve the management of Alberta’s forested land for the benefit of Albertans. The project involved building an outdoor school for the École Mountain View (EMV) school in Hinton.
West Fraser team members developed and placed six pieces of interpretive forestry educational signage within the newly built outdoor school space with the aim of enhancing forest resources through public education. This project's objective is to contribute to a better understanding and appreciation of Alberta's forest resources and foster interest in a forestry career in the younger generations. The signage covered topics such as:
- Alberta tree species
- Management of timber and non-timber values
- The daily life of a forester
- Mimicking natural disturbance
- Tree growth rings
- Forest phases and their importance
- Managing species at risk
- The history of the Hinton Forest Management Area and Indigenous Peoples
West Fraser team members also work to grow interest in forestry-related careers amongst post-secondary students. Recently, the team in Barwick, Ontario hosted a group of third-year forestry students from Lakehead University to provide more information about forestry and our local OSB mill.
Through practice and education, West Fraser acknowledges the importance of responsibly and sustainably managing the Canadian forests being recognized and celebrated this week.
