Re-Forestation: The Challenge of 2020

Canadian forest fires combined with Pine Beetle attacks across the nation have put more even more pressure on our forests. Combined with the fact that “[e]very year Canada clearcuts a million acres of boreal forest.”* to put that in perspective for our hockey lovers, that’s equivalent to the size of seven NHL hockey rinks per minute.* As a result, every year we are seeing elevated flooding and climate change issues that are decimating our planet and way of life.

Trees play an essential part of our lives from controlling the climate to erosion control to economic viability to food to healing and more. In terms of climate control they are essential. “Trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow and the carbon that they store in their wood helps slow the rate of global warming. They reduce wind speeds and cool the air as they lose moisture and reflect heat upwards from their leaves.”****

Let’s take a look at this from a Canadian perspective. “From 2001 to 2017, Canada lost nearly 40 million hectares of forest releasing huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere equivalent to the annual emissions of nearly 321 million cars.”* With every tree we cut down or that is destroyed by wildfire, we are eliminating our ability to remove 1.7kg of pollution in the atmosphere per year!****

The way forward has never been easy, but 2020 has become more challenging than ever. Covid -19 has put extra pressure on our ability to sustain our forests. For instance, this year BC is planning a record planting year targeting 310 million trees. That represents 60 million more trees planted in every year over the last ten years. ** BC requires 5,000 planters to achieve this goal. Typically over half of the required planters come from out of province, primarily Ontario and Quebec that have been hit the hardest by Covid 19. The challenge will be protecting both small communities and First Nations against the virus while trying to balance environmental protection. BC recently opened up the season, after pausing due to the pandemic, by providing new rules and guidelines; however, many are worried that they will be hard to implement the guidelines and First Nations in particular will pay the price.

Planting trees is just one part of a broader solution. As it has been stated time and time again, modification of consumer behaviour will be required. There are many things we can do, but perhaps one simple solution could include us being less fussy with what we use on our bums. The recent run on toilet paper during the pandemic shows how important this product is to consumers across North America. Americans in particular it appears….

Interesting fact:

“Although the United States is just 4 per cent of the global population, Americans consume 20 per cent of the world’s toilet paper for an average of about three rolls per week. To make their toilet paper, many brands rely on fibre from the Canadian boreal. Shockingly, about 30 per cent of that fibre comes from whole trees from clearcut forests.”*

Most producers of toilet paper in the States are not incorporating recycled fibres. I guess having plush velvety softness is very important. I’ve included an interesting link to an article below about the Issue with Tissue for your reading pleasure!

Appreciate you taking the time to read this post. I hope you found it insightful and interesting,

Nicole -

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Sources:

* https://thenarwhal.ca/canada-clearcuts-one-million-acres-of-boreal-forest-every-year-a-lot-of-it-for-toilet-paper/

** https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/b-c-tree-planter-camps-other-industries-get-new-rules-to-prevent-covid-19-spread-1.4910861

***https://thenarwhal.ca/coronavirus-bc-opens-tree-planting-season-new-rules-wont-protect-remote-communities/

****https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/the-regents-park/things-to-see-and-do/gardens-and-landscapes/tree-map/why-trees-are-important