Forests
- Forests cover about 60 per cent of the total land area in
the Yukon, and Yukon forests make up five per cent of the total
forested area in Canada.
- Plant communities are adapted to fire. On average, a given
area of Yukon forest burns every 80 to 200 years. Some birds and
wildlife, such as the marten, woodland caribou and golden-crowned
kinglet, are associated with old forests.
- Major timber harvesting activities in the Yukon started with
the Klondike Gold Rush. During 1900, 253,000 cubic metres of wood
was used in the Yukon. Forest harvesting peaked in 1994/95 at
419,211 cubic metres. The Watson Lake Forest Region accounted
for 86 per cent of that harvest.
- The recent increased demand for Yukon timber has highlighted
the need for improved forest management policy and practices.
The first Yukon reforestation program began in 1992.
- Forestry in Southeast Yukon
