Opportunity to Protect About One Million Hectares of Forest

The Opportunity

Ontario Nature has identified an opportunity to work with the forestry industry, Indigenous communities, local communities, and environmental organizations to permanently protect about one million hectares of land in Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forests. Those lands would significantly contribute towards Canada’s national commitments to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030.

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Boreal forest © FSC

Why it Matters?

FSC is an international certification and labeling system that promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world’s forests.
Sustainably managed forests protect ecosystems, Indigenous Peoples’ homelands and economic prosperity for forestry-dependent communities.
As part of the National Forest Stewardship Standard of Canada, FSC-certified forestry companies must set aside at least 10 percent of their managed forests for protection from industrial logging. This can be achieved through provincially or federally protected areas, and designated conservation lands.
Once forest companies identify designated conservation lands, they must work within their “sphere of influence” (e.g., relationships with Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and governments) to seek the permanent protection of these sites from other industrial activities.

Dune forest © Noah Cole

Designated Conservation Lands

More than 140 designated conservation lands have been identified through FSC certification in Ontario. They encompass about 1 million hectares.
The processes used to identify these lands are scientifically rigorous and require the meaningful engagement of affected Indigenous communities. That makes them easy wins for sustainable forestry, conservation, the people of Ontario and governments in achieving biodiversity and climate targets.
Designated conservation lands are identified based on conservation values such as connectivity, species at risk habitat, carbon storage and cultural significance.
Protecting designated conservation lands is a nature-based climate solution. Estimates from our carbon storage assessments of Ontario’s designated conservation lands suggest that these sites collectively store over 400 million tonnes of carbon.
Designated conservation lands are identified based on conservation values such as connectivity, species at risk habitat, carbon storage and the site’s cultural significance.

Wabakimi Provincial Park, D'Alton Block © Vern Fish

What We Are Doing

We regularly contribute to FSC certification processes to improve outcomes for nature in forests where industrial logging occurs.
We are exploring the legal and policy tools in Ontario to find a pathway to permanently protect FSC designated conservation lands, only where there is support from Indigenous communities.
We have been assessing carbon storage in areas of conservation interest across the province – including FSC designated conservation lands and other candidate areas – to understand their value for climate change mitigation.

Nabish Lake wetlands © Kristen Setala

What You Can Do

Read our report about the potential contribution of Forest Stewardship Council designated conservation lands to Ontario’s protection targets.
Explore the Protected Places Story Map.
Donate to help us permanently protect designated conservation lands in central and northern Ontario.
Purchase FSC certified timber, paper products, furniture, clothing and other goods.

Red pines © Brett Whaley CC BY-NC 2.0