Timber Risk Score: 100 / 100 in 2017. The Timber Legality Risk Assessment contains an evaluation of the risk of illegality in Canada for five categories and 21 sub-categories of law. We found:
- Specified risk for 0 sub-categories.
- Low risk for 21 sub-categories.
- No legal requirements for 0 sub-categories.
This page provides an overview of the legality risks related to timber produced in Canada.
38% (347 million ha) of Canada is covered by forests of which:
- About 59% is primary forest
- About 36% is naturally-regenerated forest
- About 5% is planted forest.
Roundwood production totalled 156 million m3 in 2015. The forestry sector (including wood processing and pulp and paper) contributed US$ 19.8 billion to the country’s economy in 2011, which was nearly 1.2% of its GDP.
NEPCon has evaluated Canada as low risk for illegally harvested timber. Companies sourcing timber from Canada should still take care to ensure that risks are not present in their supply chains.
This risk assessment was prepared between 2014-2018 according to the FSC-STD-40-005. The approved FSC Risk Assessment can be downloaded in the FSC Document Centre. ONLY Risk Assessments that have been formally reviewed and approved by FSC can be used by an FSC candidate or certified companies in risk assessments and will meet the FSC standards without further verification.
Restrictions on log exports from British Columbia. There are a variety of federal and provincial regulations regarding log exports.
There are currently no armed conflicts in Canada according to the Council on Foreign Relations' Global Conflict Tracker.
FSC Certified Forest Area: 50,569,757 hectares (4 December 2019).
PEFC Certified Forest Area: 124,163,962 hectares (31 December 2019).
Risk assessment
Low risk of illegality. We found that any breaches of applicable laws are temporary, unusual, limited in their impact, and effectively controlled by the relevant authorities.
Risk mitigation
We have not identified any specified risks and therefore have not suggested any mitigation actions.