Forestry in Alberta: 15 Facts & Statistics

Forestry in Alberta: 15 Facts & Statistics

RECENT POSTS

Alberta forestry facts and statistics

When you think of Alberta’s resource industries, it’s likely that energy or agriculture are the first that come to mind. But did you know that most of Canada’s energy powerhouse province - more than 60% - is covered by forests?

Apart from the tree-lined slopes of the Rocky Mountains, not many people realize that vast swaths of forests cover the west and northern parts of Alberta. These areas underpin a healthy forestry sector - which may not be on the same scale as sectors in provinces like British Columbia or Quebec - but still support tens of thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in revenues.

Alberta’s forestry sector is particularly important as an economic mainstay for rural and remote communities, where, in some instances, families that work in the sector have lived for generations. Here are several facts about Alberta’s thriving forestry industry that you may or may not know about. Also see:

Canada Action - Forestry Infographics banner

15 Alberta Forestry Facts & Statistics

#1 - More than 60% of Alberta's total land area is covered by forests, providing a natural foundation for one of the province's most important resource industries [1]

#2 - In Alberta, more than 80% of managed forest lands in the province have achieved third-party international SFM certification, totalling more than 20 million hectares [2]

#3 - Alberta is home to more SFM-certified forest area than most countries globally, more than Sweden, Australia, Finland, Brazil, Germany, Turkey, Indonesia, Norway, Malaysia, France, Ukraine, and China [2]

#4 - Alberta’s forestry industry directly employed more than 19,000 people in 2024 and supported an estimated 27,256 jobs in other sectors [2][3]

#5 - In total, Alberta’s forestry industry employs more than 40,000 Albertans and contributes over $8 billion to the provincial economy [4]

#6 - Across Alberta, forestry supports more than 70 communities, with many towns, villages, and cities forming around industry operations over decades [4]

#7 - Alberta has seen an estimated $6.5 billion in capital investment in forest product manufacturing operations over the past decade [3]

#8 - Alberta’s forestry sector saw more than $7.5 billion in revenues and more than $7 billion in spending – the latter of which was primarily focused in regions where forestry operations occur [3]

#9 - The forest industry spans two major economic sectors in Alberta, accounting for 8% of the province's agriculture and forestry gross domestic product (GDP) and 9% of the manufacturing sector's GDP [2]

#10 - Alberta’s forest industry is larger than the combined industries of all provinces and territories except for Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia [2]

#11 - Alberta exported more than $4 billion in forest products in 2024 to buyers in the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the European Union [3]

#12 - Alberta’s forest sector is comprised of 40 major mills, an estimated 444 businesses engaged in harvesting and forestry operations, and another 263 businesses wood product manufacturers such as sawmills, panel mills, millwork shops, and remanufacturing facilities [2]

#13 - Nearly 50% of solid wood products (by value), including panels, lumber, and secondary wood products, are sold within Canada, while the remainder is exported to international buyers [2]

#14 - Alberta’s pulp and paper is primarily exported, with 31% (by value) sold within Canada and the remainder shipped to buyers internationally [2]

#15 - Alberta ranks third among Canadian provinces and territories in softwood lumber manufactured, at 18.7% of Canada’s total – behind BC and QC only [2]

Alberta’s Forestry Sector Challenges & Opportunity

Time for Action Banner

Alberta's forest industry is at a pivotal moment. The combination of U.S. softwood lumber duties and tariffs now amounts to a staggering 45% tax on Canadian lumber entering the American market, directly impacting nearly half of Alberta's production [5]. In response, the province’s government and forestry association led a high-level trade mission to Japan and South Korea late last year, a clear signal that market diversification is no longer optional, but an economic imperative.

The global opportunity for Alberta's wood products is growing. The global wood and timber products market, valued at more than a trillion dollars, is projected to grow rapidly over the next several years [6]. Alberta's cold-climate forests produce wood with exceptionally long fibres and tight growth rings, exactly the kind of strong, stable, and lightweight product that quality-conscious buyers actively seek out on global markets.

The challenge for Alberta, and other wood-producing provinces in Canada, is improving exporting capacity to global buyers. The Port of Vancouver – despite reaching record cargo volumes in 2025 – is known as one of the least efficient ports in the world, with ageing infrastructure and persistent bottlenecks.

Join Us Today!

I love Canadian forestry banner 1

With growing global demand for wood products, Alberta’s forest industry plays an important role in supplying domestic and international markets with the products needed. Learn more about forestry and other natural resource sectors in Canada – forestry, mining, oil and natural gas, fishing, farming, and more – by joining us today!