Canada's boreal forest offers an array of benefits-aesthetic, cultural, economic, environmental, historical, recreational and spiritual. It also serves many users, from communities to individual Canadians to industries. The terms "multiple benefits,""multiple values" and "multiple users" have become inseparable from boreal forest land use discussions.Several voices speak for these multiple expectations. Environmentalists are calling for increasing amounts of land to be set aside from development. The forest industry requires sufficient timber to meet increased demand and to remain profitable in a world of escalating competition. Other industries, such as mining and energy, are mainly located in the boreal region. For example, 64 percent of the petroleum produced in Canada comes from that region and this percentage increases every year. The people who work in these industries may also wish to have a voice. Millions of Canadians, including the majority of Canada's Aboriginal communities, live in or near the boreal forest, and it is important that these populations share in the responsibilities, decisions and benefits of the land. All Canadians, whether they live in boreal areas or not, increasingly want a say in how their forests are managed.
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