Logging operations marketed as “sustainable” are facing growing scrutiny as large areas of Canada’s forests continue to be clear-cut. Investigations show that some timber companies operating under widely recognised certification programs are harvesting sections of older forests that are critical for climate stability. Canada is home to nearly 9% of the world’s forests, and its vast boreal region stretches across more than 270 million hectares, making it one of the largest intact forest ecosystems on Earth.
Scientists warn that clear-cutting these forests weakens their ability to act as a natural climate shield. Canada’s boreal forests store billions of tonnes of carbon in trees, soils and peatlands, and disturbance from industrial logging can release part of this stored carbon back into the atmosphere. The forests also provide habitat for wildlife such as woodland caribou, lynx and migratory birds, meaning large-scale logging could accelerate biodiversity loss while undermining global climate goals. Environmental groups are now calling for stronger protection of old-growth areas and stricter definitions of what truly qualifies as “sustainable” forestry. More