Every Albertan is a part owner of one of the most valuable natural resources in the province, our forests.

With approximately 38.2 million hectares of forested Crown land in this province, each and every Albertan has a vested interest in the health of the forests.

As such, Albertans have the right to know that the forests are sustainable and will continue to provide the recreational, environmental and economic benefits today and for the future.  

Because of this, members of the Alberta Forest Products Association created FORESTCARE in 1990, a program of continual improvement in the province’s forest products industry.  

Members who commit time, money and resources to meet, and in many cases, exceed program targets are proud to display the FORESTCARE trademark. 

But, what does the FORESTCARE trademark mean to Albertans?

FORESTCARE means that you can have confidence in the fact that products that carry the FORESTCARE trademark are products you can use with pride:

• Pride in Alberta companies entrusted to manage our forests on a sustainable basis;
• Pride in an industry committed to improving its performance to ensure responsible environmental stewardship of the public’s forest, air and water;
• Pride in an environment that can be enjoyed for all its values, today, tomorrow and always;
• Pride in a ‘Made in Alberta’ Program that was developed and implemented in consultation with an External Stakeholders Group – Albertans that are involved in each and every aspect of the FORESTCARE Program to ensure fair and credible process.  

FORESTCARE helps and encourages AFPA members to continually improve their performance in six target areas:

• Forest Sustainability
• Multiple Use of the Forest
• Environmental Protection
• Employee and Public Safety
• Communications
• Community Support

The FORESTCARE program has been structured to incorporate a “continual improvement cycle” that builds upon what we do, and what we learn, on an on-going basis. This follows our operations through initial planning, operations, checking field performance and research/innovation. An important part this cycle is the involvement of our public stakeholders. Their views and opinions of our operations help structure our future activities.  

Our Commitment

Alberta’s forests have environmental, economic and social values. ForestCare was created by the Alberta Forest Products Association and it membership to help protect these values while sustaining the health of the forest. ForestCare is an ethic on which we conduct our business. It reflects a pledge by our member companies to lead progressive operations and continuously improve our performance in light of new knowledge and abilities.  

Guiding Principles

• Member companies will ensure that harvest levels do not exceed the capacity of the forest, that all harvested areas are reforested, and that harvest and reforestation methods foster a healthy new forest, supporting a diversity of species.
• Member companies will manage their activities on forest lands for multiple uses and values, including timber growth and harvest, watershed protection, wildlife and aquatic habitat and recreational and aesthetic benefits.
• Member companies will manage their forest and manufacturing operations in a manner that protects the environment, placing special emphasis on the quality of air, water, soil and habitat.
• Member companies will operate in a manner that protects the health and safety of employees, contractors and the general public.
• Member companies will be open and responsive to community views and questions regarding the industry.
• Member companies will conduct operations to ensure that the renewable forest resource provides economic activity and employment now and in the future, while conserving other forest values.

 FORESTCARE Codes of Practice for Woods and Mills