Climate change is a significant concern for the Canadian population. Fortunately, forests can help mitigate the effects of climate change. Forests capture and remove carbon from the atmosphere storing it in their wood, bark, leaves and roots and in dead organic matter and soils (acting as carbon sinks). Wood products offer another means for mitigating climate change via their inherent carbon storage property, because wood products ensure carbon remains captive for longer periods of time.

The Deputy Ministers of CCFM have decided to help unlock the carbon value of our forests and promote the benefits of using wood in mitigating the effects of climate change. They have all agreed to give greater visibility to their commitment toward wood as well as to advance Canada-wide initiatives, through increased use of wood, to mitigate climate change.

CCFM will promote and take pride in using a renewable, recyclable, reusable and regional resource through various measures including a menu of options that could be employed by federal, provincial and territorial governments as well as pan-Canadian Ministerial messages translating a commitment by these governments.

CCFM will also exchange activities and programs so that information and best practices for using wood to mitigate climate change can be shared among the jurisdictions.

Contact:

• Claude Léger, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada