Forest Industries and the Atlantic Provinces: Profile and Economic Impact [Atlantic Provinces Economic Council Vol 35 Iss 2]

In the past two years, APEC has produced reports on the economic impact of the forest industries in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Firms in this industry, one of the most significant in the region, face an increasingly complex environment. This article highlights key findings of the two reports, with data updated to the most recent year and coverage extended, where possible, to the four Atlantic provinces. The value of forest-related activity in the Atlantic provinces in 1998 was over $1.3 billion. As outlined in this article, the industry faces both opportunities, such as increasing international prices for pulp and newsprint, as well as challenges, namely addressing long-term sustainability and other resource management concerns while dealing with growing foreign competition for export markets.