Sustainable Forestry

Our commitment to sustainable forestry practices was amplified in 2000/01 when we became the first Canadian company to achieve independent SFI certification across all our public forest lands in Canada. Since then, our forestry practices have been subject to annual third-party audits.

During the 2024 SFI Forest Management audit of our woodlands, exceptional practices included: 

• Fostering a diverse team of woodlands staff with well-managed succession planning;
• Maintaining the integrity of seasonal roads;
• Ensuring that cooperative ventures with First Nations are well managed;
• Consulting First Nations and incorporating identified items into the logging plans such as the number of trees to be retained; trails and culturally significant features;
• Working with contractors so they are prepared for emergencies such as spills and wildfire; Undertaking interface logging to reduce the risk of wildfire to communities; and
• Using multiple harvesting systems and making sure they are best suited to the land base.

Through SFI certification, we address non-conformances and act on opportunities for improvement identified by the independent auditors. In 2024, the SFI Forest Management audits in Ontario and British Columbia identified zero non-conformances. 

Fiber Sourcing & Chain-of-Custody Certification

Each of our lumber manufacturing and remanufacturing operations is certified to one or more internationally recognized chain-of-custody and fiber sourcing standards including:  

SFI Chain-of-Custody Standard:

All BC, Ontario, New Brunswick and US lumber manufacturing and remanufacturing operations. 

SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard:

All BC, Ontario, New Brunswick and US lumber manufacturing and remanufacturing operations. 

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Chain-of-Custody Standard: 

BC operations and Japan sales office. 

Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Chain-of-Custody Standard:

Northeastern Ontario lumber manufacturing and remanufacturing operations . 

In addition to our forest management, fiber-sourcing, and chain-of-custody certifications, we also carry International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001:2015 environmental management system certification for forest operations in Northeastern Ontario.  

Benefits of Third-Party Certification

Certification is a market-based, non-regulatory forest conservation tool designed to recognize and promote environmentally responsible forestry and sustainability of forest resources. Certifications promote sustainable forest management through principles, criteria and objectives consistent with local government processes and public expectations. Like other credible forest certification programs, the SFI Standard promotes principles, criteria and objectives that are viewed around the world as the basis of sustainable forest management. It has balanced governance, with a board that represents environmental, social and economic interests, and it revises its standard regularly through an open public process. 

View our full list of active certifications

We operate under a range of formal frameworks and internal procedures to protect wildlife, biodiversity and forests of high conservation value.

The woodlands we manage include a wide range of landscape-level protected areas and constraints. For example, in our BC woodlands more than half of the forest land that we manage is protected or not available for harvesting. Constraints may exist to protect ungulate winter ranges, old growth management areas, landscape reserves, or cultural values. The remaining working forest is subject to restrictions on cutblock sizes and in-block tree retention requirements. Tree patches and dispersed trees are retained to protect specific resources and provide wildlife habitat.

Identifying, tracking and conserving habitat and habitat features for species at risk and other focal species is built into our operational planning process. Some examples of habitat features that we manage for include nesting sites, ungulate calving or fawning sites, bear dens, waterfowl staging areas, and significant ecological areas such as wetlands and estuaries.

We train our woodlands employees and contractors to identify species at risk, include information on species at risk in our logger training, and require that employees and contract loggers report sightings.  Where at-risk ecosystems have been defined, such as rare blue- and red-listed ecosystems in BC, we provide awareness training to enable identification and conservation. 

The contractors we work with in the US follow local regulations to protect biodiversity. For example, as part of Georgia’s Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value (FECV) assessment, Critical Habitat factsheets are being developed to help foresters, loggers and landowners identify areas where G1 (critically imperiled) and G2 (imperiled) species may be present and manage for their protection.

We manage and maintain areas that have been identified as meeting the unique winter habitat requirements of ungulates based on forest cover, aspect and elevation. Our woodlands operations maintain mapped networks of winter range for deer, moose, elk, bighorn sheep, goats, and caribou.

In many cases we work closely with Indigenous communities to better understand and manage wildlife habitat based on traditional ecological knowledge. For example, in BC we work closely with a number of coastal First Nations to map, protect and improve grizzly bear habitat, and in Ontario we are working with two First Nations to manage and improve browse in moose emphasis areas.

Biodiversity Interface Management Plans

We recognize the importance of responsible management of all the lands we impact, including our mill sites. We have implemented Biodiversity Interface Management Plans (BIMPs) at 100% of our sawmill facilities to address the intricacies of wildland and industrial interfaces and promote biodiversity richness. By implementing key strategies from the plans, we are raising employee awareness and minimizing risks and impacts. 

Our BIMPs support local and native plant species, wildlife and insect biodiversity and differ by region and local legal requirements. Components include but are not limited to:

• Geographical description of the ecoregion and watersheds draining the area;  
• Historical account of the property and surrounding area, including identifying Indigenous territories; 
• Pollinator habitat; 
• Native and invasive plant species; and 
• Wildlife habitat, particularly species at risk, migratory birds, keystone species, and imperiled or critically imperiled species, if applicable. 

Sustainable forestry is key to ensuring forest resources provide environmental, economic and social opportunities for current and future generations. It relies on sustainable harvest levels that fluctuate over time and adapts to reflect changes on the land base as well as societal values. In Canada, the majority of forest lands, including those managed by Interfor, are publicly owned. The annual harvest levels, known as the allowable annual cut (AAC), are required by law to be set for these public forests every five to 10 years, depending on the location. The AAC is specific to individual management units and based on the condition of the existing forest, growth rates, how the forest is managed for multiple values and choices around the rate of harvest.

We work with provincial governments and local Indigenous communities to manage and adapt AAC determinations. AAC reductions are influenced by enhancing resiliency for a changing climate, conserving biodiversity and forest values, and protecting cultural and community values. In 2024, we made recommendations that led to the reduction of AACs for two of our Tree Farm Licenses (TFL) in the BC Interior. In TFL 23 the AAC was reduced by 36,300 cubic meters/year in part to protect the Incomappleux Valley, an area of Exceptional Conservation Value that is home to old-growth Western Red Cedar and Western Hemlock, rare coastal lichens and fungus species, and habitat for several species at risk including grizzly bears, wolverines, mountain caribou, and bull trout. Each year, every individual cutblock contributes to the total area harvested. Cutblock area and stand level retention data are reported annually to provincial governments.

In our US South region, where most forests are privately owned, we base our harvest on growth-to-drain studies that show how much timber grows in a given area compared with the amount that is harvested or dies. These studies provide a county–level assessment of timber flows and help us determine if market demand for timber is balanced with available supply. If the data shows growth-to-drain ratios greater than 1.0, this means that growth consistently exceeds harvest levels in the regions in which we operate. In our US Northwest region, state laws and sustainable harvest calculations are used to ensure harvesting and yield on a continuous basis. Visit our latest Sustainability Report to review harvest area and retention data for Interfor tenures.

Provincial Sustainable Harvest Levels

<1% of the managed forest is harvested annually on average.  

Interfor manages woodlands in Canada, where the majority of forested land is publicly owned. The forested land base and area available for harvesting varies by each province. Throughout all provinces, on average, less than 1% of the available forests are harvested annually across the entire industry. 

Old Growth & Sustainable Harvesting in BC

Old growth, sometimes referred to as primary forest, is recognized for providing habitat, ecological, cultural, spiritual and timber values. According to the BC Council of Forest Industries, in BC, forests are generally considered to be old growth when the trees are more than 250 years old on the coast and more than 140 years old in most interior regions. While age is a useful definition, what makes old growth unique is not the number of rings in the trees but rather the characteristics of the forest that have developed over time. All old growth, regardless of size, has inherent value.

All natural ecosystems, including old forests, experience natural disturbances, such as fire, insect damage or windstorms. Over time, mature forests that are not disturbed become old growth, and old growth that is naturally disturbed becomes new regenerating forest. On the lands where we operate, we play a leading role in managing and protecting forests of high conservation value, including old forests: 

• We are a founding member of the historic land use agreement in BC’s Great Bear Rainforest, which includes legislation to protect 85% of the forest—including 70% of old growth—over time;
• Our sustainable forest management certification confirms that our forest management regime includes protections for Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value as well as old-growth forests;
• Through the BC Old Growth Management Area process, we contribute to the identification and conservation of old-growth forests, giving priority to areas with high biodiversity value; and
• We have worked with the Nanwakolas Council on BC’s coast to develop a Large Cultural Cedar Protocol designed to conserve old cedar trees for current and future cultural use.

The BC government is working in partnership with First Nations to defer the harvest of ancient, rare and priority large stands of old growth within 2.6 million hectares of BC’s old-growth forests. As a result, over 2.42 million hectares of old growth have been permanently protected or deferred from November 2021 to February 2024, in addition to nearly 3.7 million hectares already protected. Interfor continues to work with our Indigenous partners to understand their interests and values as they relate to old-growth management within their territories.

Forest Health

Extreme and changing weather and climate can pose a threat to the health and well-being of forests. Drought stress can reduce tree survival and limit resistance to disease and insects, while warmer, shorter winters can lead to insect and disease outbreaks. The Canadian Forest Service’s Forest Change program reports on indicators that reflect past trends and future projections for changes across Canada and provides adaptation tools and resources for forest managers. Some of Interfor’s actions taken to understand and mitigate the impacts of climate change on forest health include: 

• Prioritizing mixed species when planting new forests to improve resilience and maintain or enhance ecological diversity; 
• Selecting seedlings with consideration to their adaptability to future climate changes in the areas where they will be planted; 
• Prescribing site-specific measures, such as retaining shade trees and using different seedling stock sizes, to reduce the impact of drought; 
• Where applicable, utilizing prescribed fire in the US South to control hardwood competition, reduce fuel loads, and manage for wildlife and biodiversity; 
• Implementing forest health management techniques, such as insect trap trees and root disease control; 
• Participating in BC’s Climate-Based Seed Transfer working group to develop policies and tools that will help guide professionals in forest management decisions related to climate change; 
• Supporting silviculture research in Ontario to assess the performance of different seed lots and practices to support forest health; and 
• Participating in The DIVERSE Project: Adapting Forests to Global Change, a five-year, Canada-wide research study that is testing the use of the functional complex network approach to forest management and is focused on fostering forest resiliency to global changes. The first year of the study is underway, with silviculture trials expected to begin in the Spanish Forest in Ontario in 2025-2026. Field assessments were completed in 2024 to better understand how vulnerable Canadian forests are to global change stressors. 

In the woodlands we manage in Canada, we prioritize mixed species planting, using only species that are native and ecologically suitable to the specific site. Where available, seedlings are grown from genetically superior seed, but never from genetically modified stock. Across our Canadian woodlands, we plant a mix of more than 21 different species. On average, since 2020, we have planted more than 16 million trees annually.

View the 21 Tree Species We Plant

Managing Forests for Carbon Mitigation

Carbon capture:  

Both the forests on the public lands we manage and the long-lived wood products we manufacture store carbon. Forest managers are looking for ways to accelerate or augment carbon capture through sustainable forest practices. These include salvage harvesting and planting after forest fires, storms or insect outbreaks, and stand tending such as thinning, brushing or fertilizing. Our BC operations work with the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) on fertilization programs to improve tree growth and carbon sequestration.  

Decreasing forest carbon loss:

Forest management approaches can impact the amount of carbon lost from forests directly to the atmosphere. For example, retaining patches or individual trees in a managed forest can increase the forest carbon stocks, including soil carbon. Forest management can also help prevent carbon losses associated with disturbances, especially wildfires. By implementing woody fuel reduction and harvesting, forest managers can reduce the likelihood or intensity of wildfire that can cause substantial carbon losses. Fuel reduction can also increase the growth and carbon uptake of the residual stand.  

Productivity:

In contrast to drought and forest health risks from climate change, changes in temperature, rainfall and growing seasons may, in some locations, increase productivity by speeding up tree growth. Interfor promptly reforests every hectare we harvest with ecologically suitable species that are native to the harvest area. We select seedlings with consideration to their resilience and adaptability to a changing climate.  

Climate-Smart Forestry

Our commitment to sustainable forest management aligns with broader objectives to maintain and increase forest carbon stocks. As part of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI®) Forest Management Standard, we are required to ensure forest management activities address climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. Some of our on-the-ground practices that contribute to the forest carbon cycle include: 

• Implementing prescriptions to minimize soil disturbance;
• Retaining or protecting immature trees during harvest;
• Prompt planting and regeneration;
• Planting a mix of species for long-term resilience and productivity;
• Salvage harvesting after natural disturbance;
• Working with loggers and other partners to minimize residuals burned in slash piles and using them for biomass fuel and pulp;
• Participating in interface harvesting projects designed to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition and spread to communities;
• Managing the impact of forest pests;
• Providing education and proactively monitoring or controlling for invasive species;
• Where permitted, implementing incremental stand density and fertilization improvements that will increase carbon uptake;
• Supporting research on forest management practices for tree survival, growth and productivity; and
• Facilitating knowledge exchange and information sharing on climate change.

Certifications

Interfor adheres to sustainable forest management practices. We monitor supplier disclosure of timber sources and intended land use to ensure our business does not contribute to deforestation or conversion to non-forest use. Our forest operations in Canada include the construction of permanent access roads on public land, which represent a small fraction of the land base we manage. Often, these roads also provide access for public use, including recreation, research, and management. In the limited instances that we purchase wood fiber from small-scale areas being cleared for other uses, such as utility corridors, the conversion must be in accordance with all applicable legislation and contribute to long-term conservation, economic and/or social benefits.  

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), aims to reduce global deforestation, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss, and defines deforestation as: “The conversion of forest to agricultural use, whether human-induced or not.” When enforcement of the regulation commences, companies exporting into the European market must prove that their commodities do not originate from deforested land or contribute to deforestation or induce forest degradation. In preparation for EUDR requirements, we are collecting relevant data to demonstrate our compliance. 

We do not use, purchase or conduct research or field trials on genetically modified trees, and we do not use nanotechnology in any of our products. We minimize chemical use, only using them where required to achieve forest renewal objectives while protecting people, wildlife and the environment. We prohibit the use of World Health Organization (WHO) type 1A and 1B pesticides and, where practicable, we avoid the use of all other pesticides and herbicides. In the limited instances that we use them, our plans are reviewed with Indigenous communities and are adjusted or deferred in alignment with their values.

Disturbance vs. Deforestation

Disturbance is a natural process within forested ecosystems that is integral to forest health and function. Deforestation is the permanent removal of trees and conversion of the land to another use. Our sustainable forest management framework seeks to emulate natural disturbance. Disturbance from sustainable forest harvesting is not deforestation or land conversion, nor do areas harvested using sustainable forest practices require reclamation. More information is available on the Natural Resources Canada website, including Disturbances and Deforestation and Deforestation in Canada: Key Myths and Facts. 

Sustainable Forest Management and Natural Disturbances

After wide-scale natural disturbances such as large wildfires or insect outbreaks, sustainable forest management, including salvage harvesting followed by tree planting or aerial seeding, can accelerate the restoration of healthy functioning ecosystems and their associated benefits from riparian vegetation to carbon sequestration. Our BC Interior operations continued to undertake significant salvage of forest stands damaged by wildfires over the past three years. We have also been working with the government to complete forest renewal in areas impacted by wildfires. In the past four years, we have planted approximately 5.2 million trees on burned areas in BC, and over the next two years, we will plant an additional 2.3 million trees. In 2024, our Ontario operations began salvage harvesting of forest stands affected by the spruce budworm, and they will plant seedlings in 2025 in an area affected by the Chapleau 3 wildfire.

Following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in the US southeast in September 2024, more than 8.9 million acres of working forests in Georgia alone experienced damage. Unless salvage-logged, the downed trees become vulnerable to disease and insects, with far-reaching impacts on both log supply and the forest industry in the US Southeast. The industry quickly mobilized to retrieve viable logs, and Interfor was able to contribute to the effort by supplementing more than 40% of our log supply over the course of the months following the storm with trees that would otherwise have been lost. 

Ecosystem Restoration and Stewardship Projects

In 2024, our log procurement team in the US Northwest completed stewardship projects through timber sale contracts, such as: 

• Decommissioning a road created for burned timber salvage harvesting in Marion County, OR, by loosening compact soils on the roadbed, installing water bars, and seeding the former road with native grass seed to accelerate the regeneration of understory vegetation and protect the soil from erosion; and 
• Placing logs in Sager Creek to increase available salmon habitat as recommended by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Our contractors felled identified trees into the creek during the summer work period when flows are low and salmon are not migrating. The logs slow the flow of the stream, creating structures such as gravel beds and coarse woody debris to support fish habitat. 

Accountable Professionals

Professional foresters and forest technologists working for Interfor are registered and regulated by provincial and state associations, including; 

• Ontario Professional Foresters Association;
• Forest Professionals BC;
• Association of Registered Professional Foresters of New Brunswick;
• Oregon Forest Industries Council and Associated Oregon Loggers;
• Washington Contract Loggers Association; and
• American Forest Resource Council.

In the US South region, each state has a Board of Registration for Foresters, which oversees licensure, sets standards for professional conduct, and is responsible for investigation of and discipline for unauthorized, negligent or incompetent practice. In addition, professional logger designations in our US South region recognize individuals who have received education in environmentally and economically sustainable logging practices and meet continuing education requirements. We also engage other qualified persons such as professional engineers and geoscientists, hydrologists, biologists, and archaeologists.

Working with Log Suppliers

The environmental performance of our major suppliers is a key factor in our log supply. Log-sourcing operations for Interfor sawmills are certified to the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard. Under our sustainable fiber sourcing program:  

• We require compliance with applicable federal, provincial, state and local human rights and labor laws and regulations such as freedom of association and right to collective bargaining, freedom from discrimination, harassment and abusive behavior, and no child labor or forced labor.
• We engage our suppliers to implement best management practices to protect water quality and conserve biological diversity. We work with regional SFI Implementation Committees to offer log suppliers materials that outline the objectives of SFI certification and provide information on sustainable harvesting practices such as conserving biological diversity, managing water quality, conserving soil, handling fuel and responding to spills.
• We worked with the Central Canada SFI Implementation Committee to develop and maintain A Guide to Best Management Practices for Forest Operations in Northern Ontario and Manitoba to help private landowners and logging contractors conduct sustainable forest operations on private land.
• We support broadening the practice of sustainable forestry on all lands through community involvement, socially responsible practices, and recognition and respect of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

In our Sustainable Forestry & Log Procurement Policy, we clearly state our commitment to avoid trading wood or wood fiber from controversial sources. Other practices implemented in our wood procurement programs include: 

• Individual supplier risk assessments or declarations used to identify potential concerns; 
• Signed purchase wood agreements that clarify our expectations with suppliers; and
• Site inspections to monitor our suppliers for conformance with our policy. 

In addition to the assurance provided by our fiber sourcing programs, many of our log suppliers have third-party sustainable forest management certification such as SFI, Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and the American Tree Farm Association. 

In 2024, our log supply to our sawmills had the following profile by region: 

• Ontario: 96.1% certified
• BC: 80.4% certified 
• US South: 22.4% certified 
• US Northwest: 73.3% certified
• New Brunswick: 82.8% certified 

All of our log supply comes from Canada or the US, and more than 99% of our other suppliers and vendors are based in these countries where there are effective environmental and social laws. Our Supplier Code of Conduct applies to all of our suppliers and vendors. 

Supplier Code of Conduct