Our Forests Whether you're a consumer or builder, you want to know that the wood you use comes from sustainably managed forests. The first article below includes satellite tracking information showing that North American forests cover about the same area of land as they did 100 years ago. But don't stop there. The links that follow provide information on a wide range of forest-related subjects — all intended to provide a better understanding of the resource and the many efforts being made to ensure its long term health and sustainability.       Articles: Satellites and Forests One of the most valuable applications of satellite remote sensing is the ability to track changes in forest cover. With powerful lenses and the ability to see infrared and ultraviolet light, satellites can observe individual trees, determine tree species and calculate the age of whole forests. Read more... Sustainable Forest Certification Certification helps protect forests by promoting responsible practices through independent third-party assurance that a forestry operation meets certain set standards. Certified forests are assessed according to rigorous, measurable and scientific criteria that include everything from ensuring biodiversity to preserving soil and water quality. Certified forest products are often labeled to indicate that they have been approved as being harvested and manufactured in a way that promotes sustainability and biodiversity using sound forest management practices. Read more... Forest Management and Wildfire In 2005, more than 57,000 wildfires burned 8.3 million acres of national forests — far above the ten year average — thanks in part to sweltering temperatures that blanketed much of the U.S. Read more... Seeing the Forests for the Trees The United States and Canada have a larger area of protected forest than Sweden, Finland, Russia, Brazil, Germany and the United Kingdom put together. This land provides habitat for thousands of species of wildlife, and is legally protected for the benefit of current and future generations. Read more... Kitlope's Story Situated about 100 kilometers southeast of Kitimat, British Columbia's Kitlope Valley was part of Tree Farm License 41, slated for harvest by West Fraser Timber. It was the timber version of a gold mine. But the Kitlope was much more than an exciting potential harvest. It was a land of towering forest giants, velvety meadows, waterfalls, sheer granite cliffs and — at its center — the seven-mile Kitlope Lake. Read more... Forests and Climate Change Since the Kyoto Protocol took effect in 2005, the debate over global warming has continued to heat up. While scientists generally agree that temperatures are getting warmer, there is little consensus over the degree that humans are having an impact, the potential consequences or what, if anything, can or should be done to lessen the effects. Read more... The Forest-Recycling Connection: Using Our Resources Wisely In addition to sustainable forest practices, part of the reason North American forests cover about the same area now as they did 100 years ago is that we've embraced the notion of wise use — which, among other things, means extending the life of our resources through recycling. Read more... Fight Against Illegal Logging Gaining Momentum The fight against illegal logging isn't new, but it's certainly gaining momentum — as international bodies like the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) work with governments, the forest industry and conservation groups to find practical solutions to this complex global problem. Read more... Intensive Forestry: A Question of Balance The question of how to balance global demand for wood and paper products with the need to conserve wilderness has for years created conflict among the forest industry, environmental groups and governments. Today, people in all three camps are looking to intensive or "high yield" forestry as a possible solution. Read more... Forest terms Forest links