Ontario Invests CA$1 Million to Support Forest Biomass Markets

On Thursday, the Ontario government announced a nearly CA$1 million (US$722,000) investment under its Roadmap for Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector to protect forestry jobs, advance innovation, and develop new markets for Ontario-made forest products.

The province is investing $865,000 in the Ontario Woodlot Association (OWA) to enhance private forest management and establish new supply chains for mill by-products and underused wood, including forest biomass. The project will test a business model that the province says could double sustainable private harvesting over the next 10–15 years.

The project will use up to 100,000 m³ of forest biomass over five years, creating new markets to maximize the value of wood and increase the industry’s diversification into value-added manufacturing, including bioproducts such as biochar, compost, and mulch.

Ontario is also investing $790,000 through the Forest Biomass Program to help OWA create three jobs and acquire equipment for its Wood Stewardship Program. The initiative is intended to connect businesses with biomass from privately owned forests, create new revenue streams for landowners, and offset forest management costs.

An additional $75,000 will support OWA workshops, conferences, publications, and collaboration promoting sustainable forest management on private lands. Funding will also support development of a private-forest inventory using remote-sensing technology.