New Brunswick’s public forests are a place for wild species to thrive, a place of cultural significance, a setting for people to enjoy nature, and a driver for economic growth – both now and for generations to come.
Our Forests Are For Everyone
A Long-term Management Strategy for Healthy & Sustainable Forests
TREE SPECIES
New Brunswick’s forests contain over 20 tree species, which is remarkably diverse among Canadian forests given the province’s small size. This diversity is a key trait of the Acadian Forest Region, where our forest is located. About 68 per cent of our trees (as represented by tree volume) are softwood trees (conifers), while the remaining trees are hardwood (deciduous).
Tree Species growing in New Brunswick forests
- red, black and white spruce
- balsam fir
- jack pine
- eastern white pine
- red pine
- eastern white cedar
- eastern hemlock
- tamarack
- white birch
- yellow birch
- American beech
- largetooth aspen, trembling aspen and balsam poplar
- red maple
- sugar maple
- white and black ash
- other uncommon hardwoods including red oak, ironwood, butternut, etc.
New Brunswick’s trees grow in stands of pure softwood, pure hardwood, and mixtures of both. The distribution of stand types in our forest is relatively predictable and is related closely to changes in soil, water availability, climate, and topography.
Stand types in New Brunswick forests
· 50 per cent softwood
· 28 per cent hardwood
· 22 per cent mixed wood
Did you know that New Brunswick is a leader in long-term modelling of forest resources? The Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development was one of the first resource management agencies in the world to implement
The forests in New Brunswick are managed for many environmental, socialand economic values. To ensure values of importance are found dependably over time, the forest is managed to balance a relatively equal amount of tree volume across all age classes.
Stand age classes in New Brunswick forests
· 29 per cent mature
· 24 per cent young
· 16 per cent immature
· 13 per cent regenerating
· 11 per cent saplings
· 7 per cent overmature
Software such as geographic information systems and forest estate models that are now used as standard practice in forest management across the globe!
New Brunswick is in a unique position where half of the forest is owned by the public as Crown land, and half is privately owned. Private forests are owned by individuals, families, and a variety of organizations. Privately owned forests are categorized into industrial freehold lands (18 per cent) and private woodlots (30 per cent), with a small area owned by the federal government.
New Brunswick’s forest ownership
· 49 per cent timber licenses
· 30 per cent private woodlots
· 18 per cent industrial freehold
· 2 per cent other Crown lands
· 1 per cent federal
Did you know that 75 per cent of New Brunswickers enjoy some form of outdoor recreation? Whether you are exploring trails on Crown lands, or paddling in our beautiful river systems, adventure awaits!
Our forest management system utilizes seven key pillars that ensure its long-term sustainability and success.
These pillars include:
1. Inventory: how do we know what’s available in the forest?
2. Forest Development: how is the forest changing with and without management?
3. Zoning: what areas should be managed for what values?
4. Planning: what short and long-term actions should take place to sustain important values?
5. Operations: how do daily activities connect to the long-term vision for the forest?
6. Monitoring: are operations following regulations and management expectations?
7. Protection: how to ensure natural disturbances do not negatively affect important values?
The forest management system connects resource and conservation sciences, planning, social interests, industrial operations, and resource regulations. The system looks into the future to ensure actions taken today maintain or improve the long-term sustainability of the forest and its species.
Did you know that 24,000 people are employed by the forest industry, making it one of the largest employers in the province?
Forests have been woven into the cultural and economic fabric of New Brunswick for generations. Rich in history, our forests provide different values for everyone. From food products like maple sugar to recreation, wildlife habitat, lumber, textiles, and high-value forest products, our forests have been the driving force of our social, economic, and environmental prosperity for centuries.
Our ongoing mission is to ensure our forests are sustainably managed, and that these resources continue to exist in abundance for future generations while maximizing the positive impact on ecosystem health and resilience. When looking at all the ways in which the forest enriches our lives culturally, socially, and economically, it is clear that New Brunswick’s forests are for everyone.
Did you know the word Netukulimk is used to describe the Mi'kmaq philosophy for managing our forests? It means we should use our natural resources to create prosperity, so long as we create seven generations of abundance for all our relations.
The Mi’gmaq, Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy), and Wolastoqey (Maliseet) Peoples, which are the Indigenous Nations in New Brunswick, have sustained their families and communities in New Brunswick for thousands of years. At the time of contact with European settlers they had vibrant cultures with economies based on the use and trade of plants, fish, seafood, and wildlife, supported by land and water networks connecting camps, villages, and spiritual places. Their relationship with the land has always been one of respect, reciprocity, and conservation of natural resources. The Indigenous Nations in New Brunswick and the other Maritime provinces signed Peace and Friendship Treaties with Great Britain (the Crown) in the 18th century. Under these Treaties the Crown and Indigenous signatories agreed to co-exist peacefully and encouraged cooperation to help the British and other settlers establish lives in the Atlantic provinces and country we live in today. To this day, the Peace and Friendship Treaties are the foundation of the relationship between Indigenous Nations, federal, and provincial governments. We are all Treaty People. Let’s all take our Treaty responsibilities seriously, respect differences in rights, celebrate our shared enjoyment of the lands, waters, and resources, and work as partners in protecting these precious natural resources.
More information is available through the department’s website and open-data portal. We invite you to send feedback and comments to [email protected] or to suggest topics for future publications.
Finally, we invite you to spend some time in the forests of New Brunswick over the next year. Crown lands offer many opportunities for nature-based recreation and enjoyment. Our forests are for everyone.
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Future