New digital tools will give the forestry industry more reliable data to invest with confidence, stay competitive and create good-paying jobs<\/p>\n
The province is funding a state of the art digital system to map Ontario\u2019s forests, which will provide far more detailed information about our\u00a0forest resources than was previously possible.<\/p>\n
The $14-million investment will modernize the province\u2019s Forest Resource Inventory, replacing outdated systems with highly precise information \u2013 down to a tree\u2019s species, age, and size \u2013 captured through a remote sensing tool called lidar technology.<\/p>\n
The investment was announced by Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products, at a press conference held today at the Ontario Forest Research Institute.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis information is essential to supporting the forest industry, providing highly accurate and timely information \u2026 will improve harvest planning and enable faster data-driven decision making, reducing operational burdens all across the sector,\u201d Holland said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of Ontario’s core sector, helping businesses adapt and grow to meet the opportunities in emerging markets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carried out in partnership with Microsoft, over 3,700 terabytes of data have been collected to date on the province\u2019s forests, providing a granular view of its resources that will enable enhanced operational planning like mapping out road locations or identifying areas of concern, among other capabilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think, really, the exciting stuff is what’s to come,\u201d said Robert Wood, data architect with Microsoft.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve done this wonderful job of acquiring all this data, and now we’re trying to see how we can best put this data to work.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the new system will provide much more comprehensive information about Ontario\u2019s forest resources, it\u2019s not entirely clear if the investment will bring any immediate relief to an industry beleaguered by ongoing U.S. tariffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis program and this investment is about good forestry and good forestry practices,\u201d said Ian Dunn, President & CEO of Ontario Forest Industries Association.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe forestry industry will benefit from it, but it’s not the highest priority in terms of collecting this data.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ultimate objective is not producing timber for the mills \u2013 it’s about balancing social, economic, environmental values.\u201d<\/p>\n
The announcement came days after M\u00e9lanie Joly, the federal Minister of Industry, said help was on the way for the forestry sector during her recent visit to Sault Ste. Marie to discuss support for the steel industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe look forward to offering the same type of support also to the forestry sector,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not a question of months, this is not a question of weeks, this is a question of days.\u201d<\/p>\n
The news release is below:\u00a0<\/p>\n
SAULT STE. MARIE \u2014 The Ontario government is investing more than $14 million to build a modern, digital system to inventory the province\u2019s forest resources, giving industry access to better information to invest, grow and create jobs.<\/p>\n
As part of the government\u2019s plan to protect Ontario, this investment will modernize the Forest Resources Inventory (FRI) Information Management System, the essential database of Ontario\u2019s managed forests, by replacing outdated systems with cutting-edge technology to make critical forest data more accurate, accessible and easier to use.<\/p>\n
\u201cOntario\u2019s forest sector is a key economic driver that supports good-paying jobs and the workers and communities that depend on them across the province,\u201d said Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a leader in advanced forest inventory technology, Ontario is equipping industry with the data it needs to stay competitive, make faster decisions and establish the regulatory framework needed to support long-term growth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through a strategic partnership with Microsoft, powered by Databricks technology, the province is developing customized digital tools to modernize how Ontario collects, stores and shares forest inventory information, strengthening the sector\u2019s long-term competitiveness and resilience in the global economy.<\/p>\n
This work is a key commitment in the Roadmap to Protecting Ontario\u2019s Forest Sector, Ontario\u2019s 10-year plan to defend forestry workers and businesses, adapt to global market pressures and grow long-term demand for Ontario wood products.<\/p>\n
Historically, a forest resources inventory was produced using static, digital images stored on physical drives.<\/p>\n
By leveraging cutting-edge lidar technology, a sophisticated remote-sensing tool that measures distances using laser pulses of light, Ontario can capture precise information about forest structure and ground elevation, some individual tree characteristics and three-dimensional views of forest landscapes.<\/p>\n
This provides a far more detailed and accurate picture of Ontario\u2019s forests than was previously possible.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s investment will support the secure storage and analysis of more than 3,700 terabytes of lidar data on a cloud-based, secure data platform, more than eight times the amount of data stored in NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope data archive.<\/p>\n
In addition to supporting forest industry, this inventory plays a vital role in informing broader natural resource management decisions including landscape analysis, land use planning decisions and wildfire management.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis investment puts better tools in the hands of the people who manage and depend on Ontario\u2019s forests,\u201d said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy investing in this innovation, we\u2019re giving the forestry sector clearer, more reliable information to plan ahead, reduce operational burden and make confident decisions that will drive growth and protect the land and resources Ontarians depend on, today and for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guided by the Roadmap to Protecting Ontario\u2019s Forest Sector, modernizing the Forest Resources Inventory and cutting red tape are essential to keeping Ontario\u2019s forest sector strong and competitive. Reliable forest data gives industry the confidence to invest, create jobs and build a more resilient sector for workers and communities across Ontario.<\/p>\n
Quick Facts<\/p>\n
\n\tOntario\u2019s forest sector generates close to $21 billion in revenue and supports close to 155,000 jobs across the province.
\n\tOntario\u2019s forests cover almost two-thirds of the province, totalling 70.5 million hectares which represents 20% of Canadian forests and 2% of forests globally.
\n\tThe Ministry of Natural Resources is responsible for providing a forest resources inventory for each of the 39 forest management units in Ontario every 10 years under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (1994).
\n\tSince 2009, Ontario has invested and continues to invest in modernized forest inventory by supporting modern lidar imagery that can be uploaded and hosted on a cloud-based, secure data platform.
\n\tInvestment in modern lidar technology and secure cloud-based IT solutions creates opportunities for growth and broader applications across multiple sectors, including fire risk forecasting through fuel mapping, wildlife habitat analysis, critical minerals exploration, road planning and air quality monitoring.
<\/p>\n
\nQuotes<\/p>\n
“GreenFirst welcomes Ontario\u2019s continued commitment to sustainable forestry and innovation through this important investment in the Forest Resources Inventory system. Access to accurate and timely forest information benefits industry, government and the public alike, while helping ensure Ontario\u2019s forests continue to be managed responsibly for future generations.”<\/p>\n
– Michel Lessard
\nPresident, GreenFirst Forest Products<\/p>\n
“Ontario\u2019s reputation for sustainable forestry and high-quality forest products is built on strong public-private partnerships. Columbia Forest Products welcomes today’s investment to modernize the Forest Resource Inventory. Accurate, high-resolution data is essential for both a competitive forestry sector and sustainable management. Today’s investment will strengthen the forestry supply chain, allowing managers to make informed decisions on forest sustainability, while ensuring stable, predictable wood supply for forestry mills, their employees and communities.”<\/p>\n
– Dan Bowes
\nDirector, Forest Resources and Log Procurement, Columbia Forest Products<\/p>\n
“Inventory is the foundation of sustainable forest management. Through the collection of Crown dues, our members have made massive investments to improve and modernize Ontario’s Forest Resource Inventory for the benefit of all Ontarians. As we approach the next round of forest management planning, the need for the most up-to-date, cutting-edge data has never been greater. Today’s announcement is intended to secure this future, ensuring forest managers have the tools needed to continue Ontario’s commitment to forest sustainability.”<\/p>\n
– Ian Dunn
\nPresident & CEO, Ontario Forest Industries Association<\/p>\n
“Microsoft Canada is incredibly proud to have partnered on the Forest Resource Inventory (FRI), helping transform vast, growing volumes of forest data into accessible, actionable insights. The FRI is critical to enabling sustainable forest management, driving innovation, and supporting the long-term health and growth of Ontario\u2019s forestry sector.”<\/p>\n
– Robert Wood
\nMicrosoft<\/p>\n
“At Domtar we pride ourselves in sustainably managing Ontario\u2019s forests. We welcome Ontario\u2019s attention to the Forest Resources Inventory, a fundamental building block of Ontario\u2019s world class sustainable forest management. The increased focus on providing timely and accurate information will help position Ontario\u2019s forest sector into the future.”<\/p>\n
– Beau Johnson
\nForest Manager, Domtar<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New digital tools will give the forestry industry more reliable data to invest with confidence, stay competitive and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":696536,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[45,49,48],"class_list":["post-696535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-business","tag-ca","tag-canada"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696535","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=696535"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696535\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/696536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=696535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=696535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=696535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}