Stage One:
Young Forest
Stage Two:
Growing Forest
Stage Three:
Mature Forest
WhitecourtGrande PrairieSlave LakeAthabascaCochrane

Legend

  • 360° Forest Tour
  • Visit the Demonstration Forests

Forests provide different benefits at different stages of maturity.

Younger trees capture carbon at a greater rate than mature forests. Some animals thrive best in established forests, while others do best in younger ones. Some species even prefer areas that have been recently harvested or burned. The key to making our forests the best they can be is helping to maintain a healthy balance of different tree species and ages across the province.

Stage One:
Young Forest

Where sections of older forest have burned or been harvested, a young forest has room to emerge. In the case of harvesting, Alberta’s forestry companies are required to replant the area with a similar mix of trees and help the new forest establish itself. Young forests are open enough for sun-loving plants to grow in, and those plants are a food source for iconic Alberta wildlife.

Stage Two:
Growing Forest

The middle stage of a forest’s life is the longest – over the course of this stage, the forest continues to mature and evolve. Trees reach the prime of their life, and the mixture of cover and open space attracts a new host of plants and animals. A complex natural ecosystem emerges, and the forest becomes self-sustaining.

Stage Three:
Mature Forest

The trees in mature boreal forests have reached full size and are densely packed together. Large amounts of carbon are stored in mature forests, and they’re key to the survival of wildlife species like caribou. Trees at this stage start to be more susceptible to fire, disease and insect infestations, though, and most Alberta trees have a maximum lifespan of 150 years under ideal conditions. Without strategic forest management, historical fire patterns show that most Alberta forests would burn every 50-100 years.

Return to the Forest

Back to your tour.

Explore More

Return to the map to explore another stage of forest.

Share

Alberta forests (and Nathan Fillion) are worth talking about.

Learn

Visit Love AB Forests to find out more about what we do.

Young Forest: Animals

Edge Habitat

Young forests provide food and habitat that sustains many forms of wildlife. White-tailed deer, elk, snowshoe hares, moose, foxes, beavers and bears all find what they need in young forests.

Forestry companies strategically leave fallen trees and debris in place when they harvest. This gives small animals a place to burrow and helps nourish and regenerate the forest floor.

Nathan Fillion

Majestic animals far and wide are drawn to young forests. They provide food and habitat to our forest friends like the white-tailed deer, elk, snowshoe hares, moose, foxes and even the noble beaver. And did I mention grizzly bears. You can find them hanging out in young forests or building their dens nearby. In fact, foresters strategically create “edge habitat” for the griz. If you didn’t know, an edge habitat is where a young forest sits on the edge of an older forest. This technique has been integral in re-establishing Alberta’s grizzly bear population. Better out there than sneaking into my house and eating all my honey I say. Oh, don’t laugh. Bears can do that. I’ve lived through it.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2020 alone, Alberta forest companies planted 87 million trees.

Discover hotspots in the 360° and click them to learn more

Your Browser is out of date.

To view the experience, try updating to the latest version of: