Government of Saskatchewan
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         Saturday, May 25, 2013
Saskatchewan. Building an innovative, thriving and sustainable economy.

Saskatchewan's Forestry Sector

Saskatchewan's Provincial Forest

Saskatchewan's Provincial Forest

33.9 million hectares (ha) of provincial forest (52% of the province is forest).

12.7 million ha is commercial forest (37% of provincial forest - dark green area).

Commercial forest boundary will vary depending on markets and processing facilities.

Saskatchewan's forest sector has contributed over $1 billion a year to the provincial economy.

The Saskatchewan forest industry includes approximately 300 firms, employing as many as 5,000 people during normal market periods.

Saskatchewan also has approximately 100 firms involved in secondary wood products manufacturing.

Saskatchewan's forest industry has 4 primary sectors:

  • softwood lumber
  • pulp
  • plywood
  • engineered wood products

Saskatchewan's small forest operators also play an important role in the forestry sector.  There are more than 120 small forest operators who produce rails, posts, rough lumber, treated wood products and log homes.

Click here for a map of Saskatchewan's mills and timber supply.

Forest Development Division

The mandate of Saskatchewan Energy and Resource's Forest Development Division is to facilitate the growth and development of the provincial forest industry.  The division works in partnership with business, communities, governments and other provincial agencies to develop and deliver policies and programs to:

  1. enhance forest industry competitiveness;
  2. increase investment in the forest sector; and
  3. facilitate value-added production in the forest sector.

Major client groups include individual forest companies, forest industry associations, FPInnovations, Saskatchewan Research Council, forest communities, and First Nations.

Saskatchewan's primary forest industry is driven by commodity production which is highly susceptible to international market volatility.  The Forest Development Division is focused on assisting Saskatchewan's forest industry to remain competitive and transition to a more market driven industry producing higher value products and locating new niche markets, specific to Saskatchewan's forest fibre.

Forest Certification

Canadian Sustainable Forest Management
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Sustainable Forest Management System (SFM) standard is the leading forest certification standard in Canada and the first national sustainable forest management standard in the world. First released in 1996, it is Canada’s official national standard for sustainable forest management. More forests are certified to the CSA SFM Standard than any other national standard in the world. Any forest company or individual with management responsibility for public or private forest land may seek certification.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Canada
FSC is an international certification and labeling system guaranteeing that the forest products you purchase come from responsibly managed forests and verified recycled sources. The end result is products in the marketplace carrying the FSC 'check-tree' logo. 
Final report of FSC Certified Wood Potential for Saskatchewan - dated September 22, 2010. 

Sustainable Forestry Initiative
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) label is a sign you are buying wood and paper products from a certified source, backed by a rigorous, third-party certification audit.

Related Links

FPInnovations works towards optimizing the forest sector value chain.

SRC is playing a leading role in strengthening Saskatchewan's forestry industry, by working to improve forest management practices in the province and identify research needs for the sector.

Saskatchewan, usually thought of as a prairie province, is actually more than half forests.

The Canadian Forest Service promotes the sustainable development of Canada's forests and the competitiveness of the Canadian forest sector.

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is the voice of Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs.



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