Forestry and Value-added Wood Processing

RENFREW COUNTY ISSUED BDO ZONE ‘AA’ RATING FOR WOODY BIOMASS

Forestry has historic significance and importance within Renfrew County, being foundational to the creation of communities and local economies. Forestry remains an important and integral component of the Renfrew County economy and culture. From sustainably managed forests, using the latest in technology for harvesting and milling, our local lumber industries provide environmentally friendly and renewable building materials to the world. Through numerous private businesses of various sizes, today the Forestry and related business sector within Renfrew County employs over 2,000 workers. Employment in this sector encompasses, foresters, various types of small and heavy equipment and machine operators, mechanics, graders, truck drivers, administrative staff, sales and more. Jobs can be found for work both indoors and out in the forest.

For the future, and given the vast size of the local wood supply, this sector has the potential for major contributions to the emerging bio-economy in Canada as environmentally conscious scientists and industry, look for new forest based chemicals, medicines, building materials and sources of heat and energy.

Renfrew County’s new BDO Zone ‘AA’ rating demonstrates a very high level of investment readiness and viability with a secure and sustainable feedstock supply chain and infrastructure. The Zone features an ample supply of pulpwood particularly, and offers a strategic advantage in transportation costs over most competitors due to close proximity to major sawmill clusters within the region. The Zone predominantly consists of public forests adhering to rigorous certification and strict ecological guidelines, ensuring a sustainable wood supply from certified forests.

Click here for the Full Report of Renfrew County’s BDO Zone “AA” Rating

Click here for the BDO Zone investment information page.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF)

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry manages the health of these forests so they can continue to provide ecological, economic and social benefits.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/forestry

https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-natural-resources-and-forestry

Natural Resources Canada

Canada is rich in forest resources and a world leader in sustainable forest management. The health of our forests, as well as the communities that depend on them are influenced by a variety of environmental, societal and economic factors.

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/our-natural-resources/forests/13497

Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA)

Founded in 1943, the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) is a provincial trade association and the home of CLA Grading and Inspection. The OFIA currently represents over 40 companies that operate world-class assets and sustainably manage over 15 million hectares of public and private forests in Ontario.
The OFIA provides a forum for its member companies to discuss issues of common interest and concern. Through various Boards and Committees, the OFIA serves to provide a unified voice for Ontario’s forest industry with the government and the public.

http://www.ofia.com/

Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)

FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an industry with annual revenues exceeding $75B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers operating in over 600 communities, providing 225,000 direct jobs, and over 600,000 indirect jobs across the country.

https://www.fpac.ca/

Forests Ontario

Forests Ontario is a not-for-profit organization focused on tree planting, forest stewardship, forest education and awareness. Born from a 2014 merger between Trees Ontario and the Ontario Forestry Association, Forests Ontario has successfully planted more than 36 million trees. We are the leading charity for the delivery of high-quality, large scale tree planting programs across Canada.

https://forestsontario.ca/en

Project Learning Tree Canada

Project Learning Tree Canada (PLT Canada) is committed to advancing environmental literacy, stewardship, and green career pathways, using trees and forests as windows on the world. Our award-winning environmental education, forest literacy, and career pathway resources offer a lifetime of learning from early childhood through adulthood. Our wide and diverse network provides professional development for educators and opportunities for young people to explore nature and the diversity of green careers in the forest and conservation sector. Together, we are growing future forest and conservation leaders.

https://pltcanada.org/en/

Sustainable Forestry Initiative

At the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, we believe that sustainable forests are critical to our collective future. SFI is a sustainability leader through our work in standards, conservation, community, and education. As an independent, non-profit organization, we collaborate with our diverse network to provide solutions to local and global sustainability challenges. SFI works with the forest sector, brand owners, conservation groups, resource professionals, landowners, educators, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, governments, and universities.

https://forests.org/