Forestry in Ontario: 15 Facts & Statistics

Forestry in Ontario: 15 Facts & Statistics

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ontario forestry facts and statistics

Did you know forests cover approximately two-thirds of Ontario's land surface area? It's no wonder the forestry sector is an integral part of the province's economy, contributing $5.2 billion to Ontario's gross domestic product (GDP), generating $20.8 billion in revenue, exporting $8.3 billion in products, and supporting 128,000 jobs, according to the latest available data.

For many rural communities across Ontario, the forest industry is a critical pillar of jobs, businesses, and local economies. Below, we look at several facts about forestry in Ontario and explore its real, tangible, and positive impact on Canadians across the province.

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ontario forestry facts - 149000 jobs are supported by Ontarioès forestry industry

Ontario Forestry Facts

#1 – Ontario’s forest sector contributed $5.2 billion to provincial gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024 [1]

#2 – Forestry supported 128,000 direct and indirect jobs in 2024, with many more induced jobs also supported by the industry [3]

#3 – The forest sector exported $8.3 billion worth of products in 2025, contributing to the province’s economic vitality [1]

#4 – Ontario’s forestry sector generated $20.8 billion in revenue in 2024, playing a critical role in economic activity in the province [1]

#5 – Forests cover 66% of Ontario’s land area, making the sector not only a big contributor to the economy but also playing a crucial role in forest management [1]

#6 – Ontario is home to 70.5 million hectares of forest, representing 20% of Canada’s forests and about 2% of the world’s forests [2]

#7 – Approximately 97% of Ontario’s forestry exports went to the United States in 2025; that year, Ontario produced 36% of Canadian forest products exported to the U.S. [7]

#8 – In Ontario, hundreds of communities rely on the forestry sector for economic opportunities; in the northern part of the province, there are 10 specifically where at least 20% of the community income is connected to forestry [3]

ontario forestry facts - there are 514 employers in Ontario's forestry sector

#9 – In Ontario in 2024, approximately 113,000 hectares of forest were harvested, representing about 40% of the approved area that was available to harvest [2]

#10 – Ontario's forests are home to various tree species including spruce, pine, poplar, birch, oak, and maple, which support a broad range of in-demand products [4]

#11 – Ontario owns 81% of its forests. The provincial government operates within one of the world's most financially stable jurisdictions, ensuring secure, reliable, and long-term access to forestry products [4]

#12 – Ontario is a global leader in third-party certification, with over 75% of its Crown-owned lands contributing to commercial forestry certified to internationally recognized standards for sustainable forest management practices [4]

#13 – Approximately 0.2% of Ontario’s forests are harvested annually [2]

#14 – In 2024, approximately 56 million trees were planted across Ontario [2]

#15 – The Gilmours opened a mill on the Bay of Quinte near the mouth of the Trent River in 1852, which became the world's largest sawmill, employing 700 people [6]

ontario forestry facts - the forest sector exported 7.5 billion dollars of goods in 2021

The Future of Forestry in Ontario

Ontario’s forestry sector has a positive future, supported by the province’s long-term roadmap to defend, adapt, and grow the industry over the next decade. The plan highlights forestry’s role as a cornerstone of Ontario’s economy and emphasizes that it remains so for communities across the province. It also points to continued investment, modernization, and innovation as key reasons the industry can remain strong for generations.

At the same time, the sector faces serious challenges. Ontario’s roadmap highlights rising U.S. softwood lumber duties and tariffs, uncertainty in export markets, and the province’s heavy reliance on the United States as a buyer of forest products. The closure or idling of several pulp and paper mills has also reduced capacity and created pressure on communities and businesses that depend on forestry jobs.

Even with those challenges, Ontario’s forestry outlook is clearly optimistic. The province sees major opportunities in expanding advanced wood construction, bioenergy, biochemicals, and other value-added forest products, while also opening access to markets in regions such as Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. By reducing red tape, modernizing facilities, supporting worker training, and attracting new investment, Ontario aims to build a more resilient and diversified forest sector.

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Forests contribute immensely to Ontario’s economy, providing critical jobs and are a vital part of our heritage and daily lives.  Learn more about Canadian natural resources and why our country should be a go-to supplier of choice for forestry, energy, agricultural, aquaculture and mining products the world needs by joining us online at:

SOURCES:

1 - https://www.investontario.ca/forestry

2 - https://www.ontario.ca/page/forest-management-facts-and-figures

3 - https://www.netnewsledger.com/2026/08/10/trumps-aug-19-tariffs-could-hit-northern-ontario-forestry-and-smes/

4 - https://www.investontario.ca/forestry#largest-markets

5 - https://www.ontario.ca/page/state-ontarios-natural-resources-forest-2021

6 - https://www.quintenews.com/2022/08/13/remembering-an-industry-crucial-to-trentons-development/)

7 - https://www.ontario.ca/page/roadmap-protecting-ontarios-forest-sector