For decades, forests have been seen as the “green lungs” of the planet. But in today’s context of climate upheaval, a pressing question arises: Are our forests still acting as carbon sinks? In Quebec and across Canada, the forest carbon balance reveals a more complex — and more concerning — reality than we often imagine, and that represents a key issue for climate transition.
Carbon sinks or carbon sources?
Canada is home to nearly 9% of the world’s forests. These vast ecosystems have traditionally absorbed more carbon than they emitted. But this role is weakening. Public data now suggests that Canadian forests emit more greenhouse gases than they sequester, due to:
- increasingly frequent and intense wildfires,
- widespread industrial logging,
- the gradual degradation of forest soils and ecosystems.
The trend is similar in Quebec. In the boreal forest, clear-cutting causes significant carbon losses from both soil and vegetation. Such disturbances can temporarily turn forested areas into net emitters, undermining their place in provincial climate strategies.
Thinking in life cycles
One of the key challenges is how we account for forest carbon. The regrowth of trees after logging does not automatically equate to climate neutrality. The reality of the forest carbon life cycle is more nuanced:
- a large portion of carbon is released quickly after felling (via transport, processing, or combustion);
- only a small share remains stored in long-lived wood products;
- and some wood waste, once landfilled, can generate methane, a far more potent greenhouse gas than CO₂.
This highlights the importance of adopting a comprehensive life-cycle approach when evaluating the true climate impact of forest management.
Wildfires: a game changer
The year 2023 was a tipping point. Wildfires released over 600 million tonnes of CO₂ in Canada — an all-time record. While officially classified as natural disturbances, these fires have a profound impact on the forest carbon balance. They also reflect a growing vulnerability of forest ecosystems to droughts, pests and diseases, all intensified by climate change.
Forest management must evolve accordingly — shifting away from short-term production goals towards long-term ecological resilience.
Moving toward continuous carbon improvement in forestry
This is not about choosing between conservation and development. It’s about reconciling economy and climate action. Several well-established solutions already exist:
- Reducing clear-cutting, in favour of selective logging methods that protect soils and biodiversity;
- Extending the lifespan of wood products, through renovation, reuse, or sustainable construction;
- Reforesting with diverse and climate-resilient species, capable of capturing carbon over the long term;
- Monitoring carbon flows with public tools and models to assess various forest management scenarios.
These approaches contribute to a broader framework of continuous carbon improvement, aligned with Canada’s climate commitments and the long-term health of its forests.
A strategic opportunity for Quebec
With more than 750,000 km² of forests, Quebec holds an extraordinary natural asset. If managed wisely, this territory could become a strategic lever for decarbonization and create tangible benefits for local communities.
Achieving this vision requires:
- informed political choices,
- greater transparency in forest carbon accounting,
- a recognition of the role that businesses, municipalities and institutions can play in carbon offsetting and ecosystem restoration.
In conclusion: the carbon forest balance represents a key issue for climate transition
Forests are living systems, powerful yet vulnerable, whose climate role depends heavily on human decisions.
Redefining our relationship with forests means investing in sustainable, resilient and equitable carbon sinks — and embracing a culture of coherence, accountability, and collective intelligence.
To read other climate related news by Planetair, click here.
Sources:
SNAP Québec – The real carbon balance of Quebec’s forest sector
Québec Auditor General – State of forests and climate governance (2025)
