A common method of summarizing forest information is by grouping trees in patches based on similar composition and ecosite. This often involves a mix of tree species with a name based on a dominant species, for example the Red and White Pine forest type. This can also be referred to as cover types, and can be further broken down to forest units.

There are eight provincial forest types used in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû that are based on standard forest unit definitions used in forest management planning. Forest types allow for easier and more consistent rollup for reporting purposes. Changes in forest types over time show the impacts of harvest, natural disturbance and silvicultural practices over time.

Included with forest type summaries total area within the AOU, growing stock volumes and area by seral stage. Seral stages are a grouping based on stand age and ecosite, which vary by forest type. A chart of age by 20 year age class is also included for each forest type.

Provincial forest type definitions

Provincial forest types (PFTs) are groupings of forest cover types based on standard forest units utilized by forest management plans. Provincial forest types are grouped by ecological and site characteristics. Some PFTs are more homogenous such as the Jack Pine forest type which is mostly pure upland Jack Pine stands. Others, such as Mixedwood or tolerant Hardwoods contain a wide variety of tree species.

AOU forest by forest type

pie chart of the forest types in the Area of the Undertaking including Red and White Pine, Jack Pine, Conifer Upland, Conifer Lowland, Mixedwood, Poplar, White Birch, and tolerant Hardwoods.

There are eight provincial forest types:

  • White and Red Pine – all white and Red Pine Mixedwood stands
  • Jack Pine – predominantly Jack Pine stands;
  • Upland conifers – predominantly mixed spruce, Jack Pine and fir stands on upland sites
  • Lowland conifers – predominantly Black Spruce stands on low, poorly drained sites
  • Mixedwood – mixed stands made up mostly of spruce, Jack Pine, fir, Poplar and White Birch
  • Poplar – predominantly Poplar stands;
  • White Birch – predominantly White Birch stands
  • Tolerant Hardwoods – predominantly Hardwoods such as maple and oak, found mostly in the Great Lakes forest region

Area by forest type and ownership

Forest type Crown Parks and protected areas Other Total
Red and White Pine 730,028 146,811 175,028 1,051,867
Jack Pine 2,485,958 267,707 49,512 2,803,176
Conifer Upland 6,607,795 551,295 502,920 7,662,009
Conifer Lowland 6,513,859 459,606 614,493 7,587,958
Mixedwood 5,160,869 464,789 604,653 6,230,310
Poplar 2,667,347 222,039 667,768 3,557,154
White Birch 1,735,434 251,257 521,237 2,507,928
Tolerant Hardwoods 1,195,129 172,776 995,690 2,363,596
Total Area 27,096,419 2,536,280 4,131,301 33,763,999

All forest in the current collection of forest inventories has a development stage, but is primarily updated as part of forest management, so generally only Crown production forest receives any significant updates other than natural depletions. Shelterwood and selection have been grouped due to inconsistent usage across the province.

Area by forest type and development stage

Forest type Red and White Pine Jack Pine Conifer Upland Conifer Lowland Mixedwood Poplar White Birch Tolerant Hardwoods Total
Depleted –Harvest 29,748 92,102 171,206 182,946 136,425 92,891 38,996 66,797 811,111
Depleted –N²¹³Ù³Ü°ù²¹±ô 4,704 87,709 227,236 351,861 54,669 67,411 38,131 2,717 834,438
New Natural 3,965 29,948 137,813 187,948 108,301 157,057 39,966 5,947 670,945
New Plant 20,732 131,782 325,808 107,492 101,296 40,545 12,502 898 741,055
New Seed 714 100,974 53,648 9,151 26,234 8,224 723 235 199,902
Low Mgmt. 6,865 12,372 28,629 113,742 8,789 30,896 7,727 3,356 212,378
FTG –N²¹³Ù³Ü°ù²¹±ô 481,067 1,539,198 5,032,642 5,319,577 4,437,528 2,225,945 1,568,861 800,320 21,405,139
FTG â€Ñï±ô²¹²Ô³Ù±ð»å 34,807 328,972 528,094 227,248 201,173 33,322 9,555 1,429 1,364,600
FTG –S±ð±ð»å±ð»å 219 162,448 65,481 12,883 78,747 7,957 673 618 329,025
Selection/Shelterwood 147,206 452 37,238 1,011 7,706 3,100 18,301 312,812 527,825
Total Area 730,028 2,485,958 6,607,795 6,513,859 5,160,869 2,667,347 1,735,434 1,195,129 27,096,419

All forest type maps highlight forest data found in the AOU, which is highlighted in the map in the forest management area chapter.