Growing stock volumes reflect the amount of standing wood contained within a forest (see methodology for a description of the growing stock volume measures used).

Growing stock volume totals have changed slightly since the 2016 report, primarily due to the increase in available data and the complete refresh of provincial inventories. However, volume remained relatively constant over the past thirty years, ranging from 4.3 to 4.8 billion cubic metres within designated management units. The most visible changes are the steady increase in non-commercial species as they are accounted for in more detail.

Growing stock volumes in Ontario – quick facts

three fire logs

61.6 million m3 – Ontario’s forests grow this much annually

tree with arrows indicating growth

6.4 billion m3 – Ontario’s forests contain this much wood

outline of Ontario

56% of Ontario’s forest volume is Crown managed

logging truck

14 million m3 average annual harvest in Ontario

forest fire and pest

28 million m3 average annual natural disturbance volume loss

Historical forest area by lead species and report year (volume in cubic metres)
Land classCrownParks & protected areasOther ownersTotal
All Ontario – GTV4,426,912,356865,635,7861,129,180,6666,421,728,808
All Ontario – NMV2,719,578,375747,473,564555,519,6254,022,571,564
All Ontario – CAI44,655,9066,790,72710,181,67361,628,305
MFZ – GTV3,611,637,293653,692,853690,713,6994,956,043,845
MFZ – NMV2,215,504,626424,443,810443,337,7613,083,286,197
MFZ – CAI36,206,4684,857,3196,394,58847,458,375
Growing stock values by species - estimated gross total volume for Ontario (volume in cubic metres)
SpeciesCrownParks & protected areasOther ownersTotal
White pine136,185,85943,166,43775,391,411254,743,708
Red pine46,143,99515,720,21619,041,90480,906,115
Jack pine587,979,621143,261,75828,635,487759,876,866
Black spruce1,683,645,317306,435,272107,080,7412,097,161,330
White spruce103,401,88017,986,03336,294,231157,682,144
Balsam fir188,462,77832,312,34456,716,234277,491,356
Cedar92,539,01115,124,02152,651,038160,314,069
Larch154,854,95520,243,70818,787,958193,886,620
Hemlock20,046,9967,282,82223,314,80550,644,623
Other conifers48,59910,503954,9841,014,086
Poplar810,507,078127,286,581249,235,5611,187,029,219
White birch345,189,73266,713,46963,618,466475,521,667
Hard maple109,110,90726,805,856164,444,450300,361,212
Soft maple61,177,72518,047,21682,162,036161,386,977
Yellow birch39,794,73510,953,47031,256,80982,005,013
Ash10,489,4493,144,35728,639,19642,273,003
Oak26,470,0799,336,13149,213,49385,019,702
Basswood2,837,312436,67515,170,09318,444,080
Beech6,655,5491,119,81915,806,43723,581,805
Other hardwoods1,370,779249,10010,765,33312,385,212
Total:4,426,912,356865,635,7861,129,180,6666,421,728,808

Visual display

Tables and supporting data are available on the Ontario Data Catalogue. To support representation of complex data, a variety of tables, charts and maps are available in a visualization format.

View data visualization - Ontario’s forest growing stock

infographic depicting Ontario's total growing stock volumes

CategoryVolume (cubic metres)
Forest growing stock6,421,728,808.03
Average annual growth61,628,305.36
Average annual harvest volumes14,154,810.37
Average annual natural disturbance volumes27,722,427.77

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