MATERIALS
The rich legacy and future of Quebec’s hardwood By Frederic Jacques , director, hardwood and wood flooring section, Quebec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB)
allowable cut is the maximum volume of timber that can be sustainably harvested each year. Quebec’s hardwoods are prized for their exceptional properties, making them ideal for furniture and flooring. Hard maple, for instance, is renowned for its hardness (7,290N), followed by white oak (7,130N), red oak (6,170N), and yellow birch (5,930N). The sugar maple, which graces Canada’s national flag, not only provides hard and pale wood but also produces the sap for maple syrup, a quintessential element of Quebec’s culture. Similarly, the yellow birch, with its golden-hued bark, and the versatile white oak, historically used in shipbuilding and luxury woodwork, showcase the breadth of applications for Quebec’s hardwood. Moreover, the unique climatic conditions of Quebec contribute to the wood’s distinctive characteristics. The cold climate results in slow-growing trees, which in turn produce wood with tighter grain and closer growth rings. This gives the wood enhanced hardness, flexibility, strength, and color. However, the dimensions of the boards are typically smaller, ranging from 5-9ft in length and 3-6in in width, with the most common thickness being 1in. Larger dimensions are rare and highly valued, with wider and thicker boards more susceptible to moisture-related issues.
Quebec, the crown jewel of Canada’s hardwood industry, offers a range of timber that caters to diverse global markets, particularly in Asia. Canada’s vast expanse is synonymous with abundant forest resources, and Quebec, situated in the eastern part of the country, boasts a diversity and quality of hardwood species. The province is home to over 906,000km² of forest, occupying more than half of its 1.7 million square kilometres territory. These forests are predominantly located in the northern part of Quebec, while the hardwood forests in the south are easily accessible and serve as a hub for both commercial activities and recreational pursuits. The hardwood forests of Quebec contain a tapestry of species such as sugar maple, white oak, yellow birch,
and white ash, among others. These forests are characterised by their uneven-aged stands, meaning they consist of trees of varying ages and heights. This diversity is crucial for the forest’s resilience and regeneration. For instance, shade-tolerant species like sugar maple can thrive in low light, filling gaps left by older trees, while species such as white pine and yellow birch flourish in more open spaces. Sustainability is at the core of Quebec’s forestry practices. Despite the significant volume of wood harvested annually, the province’s forest capital remains robust, thanks to stringent management policies that ensure the volume of harvested wood is below the allowable annual cut. This careful management aligns with the definition provided by the Quebec government, where the annual
Quebec’s commitment to sustainable forestry is further underscored by
50 PANELS & FURNITURE ASIA | SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024
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