Page 69 - InvestAlberta-EDA-2025

FORESTRY
More than half of Alberta is covered by forests, so it’s no
wonder the province’s forestry sector is flourishing. The
$12 billion industry supplies markets around the world
with forestry products, from paper to lumber. Employing 18,000
Albertans in over 90 communities, forestry is a key element of the
province’s economy. Alberta Wood WORKS!, in collaboration with
the Government of Alberta, administers the Value-Added Wood
Products Program, which received $2.25 million over five years.
Funding supports research, innovation and helps bring new products
to market, supporting Albertans’ ingenuity and investing in small
businesses. The program has already invested in projects from
software development for efficient manufacturing and distribution, to
workforce development.
Sustainability is a big part of why the province’s forests continue to
expand. Forest companies grow three trees for every one they harvest.
Over the last four years, the forestry industry has planted more than 100
million trees. Alberta’s forest products are valued around the world for
their sustainable management and environmental practices.
And those sustainable products are exported around the world in
many forms: lumber, pulp, wood pellets and newsprint. The leftover
material from the industry gets used too — to create carbon-neutral
energy, fertilizer and renewable components for manufacturing.
With rich forest resources and a strong
commitment to sustainability, Alberta’s
forestry sector is thriving, driving economic
growth and innovation. The province
offers A-rated woody biomass, high-quality
infrastructure and reliable feedstock supply
chains, positioning it to meet the world’s
growing demand for sustainable forestry
products. Alberta is attracting global interest
in value-added forestry, leveraging its
unique advantages. With support from Invest
Alberta, Mondi, a global leader in sustainable
packaging and paper, recently acquired the
former West Fraser site in Hinton, bringing
jobs, eco-friendly practices and growth to
the province. Alberta is emerging as a leader
in sustainable forestry — where the future is
as green as its forests.
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