Elementary School Students

What the Forests Provide Who Cares for the Forest? How to Help

What the Forests Provide

The forest is a natural resource – it exists naturally in our environment and has economic value. Forests provide us with food, shelter, products, recreation and more!

Trees

Forests cover over 67% of BC. Trees provide oxygen, shelter and shade. They also provide food for animals and humans. Many of the products we use every day are made from trees like lumber, toilet paper, toothpaste, cake mix, medicine, batteries and more. When trees are harvested (cut down) to be used by humans, more trees are planted in their place. This allows us to make forest products and grow more trees for the future. BC's forestry professionals are part of the team that care for the forests and keep them healthy and growing.

Jobs

One in five jobs in BC are related to forestry. You probably know someone who works in the forest sector.

Fun

The forests are a place for fun. Many people enjoy camping, hiking, riding bikes, snowshoeing and more in the woods. What activities do you like to do in the forest?

Animals

The forest is home to many animals like bears, deer and insects. One small animal that lives in some of BC's forests and has a big impact is the mountain pine beetle (MPB). The MPB burrows under the bark of Lodgepole pine trees and lays its eggs. This weakens and kills the tree, turning them grey and then red.

Protected Areas

There are many areas of the forest where tree harvesting is not allowed. They have a lot of ecological and cultural value. Protected areas include city and municipal parks, regional parks, provincial parks, national parks, protected areas, and ecological preserves. Here is a list of BC's protected areas.

Top

Who Decides What Happens in the Forest?

BC's forestry professionals make plans to care for the forests and everything in them. They:

• build roads,
• measure trees,
• fight forest fires,
• figure out where and how many trees can be cut for use as forest products,
• determine the best way to replant every tree that is cut down,
• supervise tree growth;
• and much more.

Forestry professionals spend many years in school learning about science, biology, nature and natural resources. They also have on-the-job experience so that they become good guardians (keepers) of the forests. 

Top

How Can You Care for the Forest and Everything in it?

Learn More About the Forest

Here are some ways you can learn more about forestry.

• Check out our fun and educational videos.
• Ask your teacher to invite a forestry professional to speak to your class about all of the important work happening in the forests (check out the Teacher Resources page).
• Check out the activity books and word search on the Canadian Women in Timber website.
• Learn about the work forest professionals do and why they like their jobs (read the Faces of Forestry books).
• Play fun and educational games in the 4-H Virtual Forest.

Leave the Forest as You Saw It

When you spend time in the forest, remember to clean up after yourself, try not to disturb the plants or animals and remind your parents to completely put out any campfires.

Become a Forestry Professional

You have lots of time to decide what you want to be when you grow up but if you like the outdoors, trees, plants and animals, then you may have fun being forestry professional. There are over 5,000 forestry professionals in BC and you could be one of them someday.

Top