Table 14C.1a. Relative standard errors (%) for annual change in area of forest land by species group, age class and terrestrial ecozone in Canada.
Terrestrial ecozone Species group Age (years) Total
1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101-120 121-140 141-160 161-180 181-200 201+ Other1
Taiga Plains Spruce 33.95 20.04 10.80 13.23 1.91 2.24 42.51 48.14 33.17 49.67 58.22 - 1.46
Poplar 38.60 27.05 12.75 8.66 9.87 37.96 36.91 37.37 72.58 - - - 5.59
Fir - 100.00 68.77 81.13 72.34 95.17 99.99 - - - - - 38.30
Unclassified - - - - - - - - - - - 40.59 40.59
Birch 33.41 34.44 47.98 50.42 43.49 86.40 70.06 48.91 53.04 - - - 17.32
Larch 52.43 22.77 17.26 18.14 18.10 34.63 38.45 70.15 55.79 70.53 75.30 - 9.11
Pine 29.18 21.97 42.52 23.41 30.20 51.91 145.48 121.84 92.61 99.99 99.99 - 12.73
Subtotal 17.38 11.55 7.71 6.63 1.88 2.25 24.66 31.34 29.05 46.24 48.94 40.59 1.39
Taiga Shield Spruce 41.93 14.10 10.01 6.51 12.56 4.93 2.29 3.61 51.11 62.78 21.60 - 1.94
Unclassified - - - - - - - - - - - 15.25 15.25
Other hardwoods - 99.99 99.99 100.99 50.91 39.73 36.52 - - - - - 37.94
Maple - - - 100.03 23.60 - - - - - - - 90.47
Fir - 48.00 63.12 35.49 36.75 13.24 16.35 60.49 84.93 - - - 10.21
Birch 32.65 42.06 38.80 43.16 27.36 26.30 - - - - - - 16.43
Poplar 49.56 28.86 50.71 35.87 8.97 8.75 71.13 - - - - - 6.00
Larch 44.07 25.18 14.46 16.10 39.52 29.40 34.15 49.64 57.90 67.61 76.21 - 10.11
Pine 49.45 17.45 22.51 24.42 35.00 30.33 37.35 - - - - - 11.49
Subtotal 22.73 9.76 8.32 6.17 10.18 4.61 2.28 3.60 42.61 60.51 21.49 15.25 1.83
Boreal Shield Unclassified 15.18 29.06 0.00 100.04 100.01 0.00 100.04 - - - - 15.63 11.63
Poplar 15.57 14.63 13.70 9.84 10.34 36.65 39.87 51.24 66.73 71.69 99.99 78.09 5.36
Unspecified conifers 18.00 117.07 97.73 68.40 46.33 - - - - - - 100.00 19.16
Birch 22.90 14.74 18.48 14.65 29.25 31.13 22.25 98.59 63.50 54.12 100.00 64.03 7.76
Cedar & other conifers 64.52 34.82 76.59 110.76 148.09 48.81 136.13 49.12 119.66 96.93 - - 25.71
Other hardwoods 32.05 28.05 48.47 50.32 35.00 93.27 74.28 77.04 100.27 - - 72.68 18.04
Hemlock - 88.03 200.0* 200.0* 46.02 45.56 130.38 125.47 127.59 97.60 65.52 - 35.09
Larch 13.97 21.33 23.62 17.95 31.03 35.54 35.44 45.38 92.62 74.92 - 53.14 8.18
Unspecified hardwoods 105.97 23.97 27.13 42.34 27.99 100.00 100.00 - - - - - 33.88
Maple 80.14 17.70 12.80 13.94 70.51 20.12 21.96 30.92 200.0* 100.00 100.00 - 7.83
Spruce 12.33 8.88 7.26 9.97 6.26 5.55 5.18 12.34 108.83 58.58 70.38 28.65 2.66
Pine 39.37 8.55 15.76 26.23 10.47 17.36 28.66 96.93 200.0* 71.22 - 100.00 6.08
Fir 27.35 10.98 11.73 21.38 16.82 94.08 19.50 50.14 135.33 79.86 99.27 45.71 6.60
Subtotal 7.14 4.82 4.73 5.55 4.64 5.03 4.72 10.61 65.74 37.17 41.45 14.48 1.92
Atlantic Maritime Unclassified 71.49 56.02 71.26 80.40 100.57 100.57 - - - - - 24.57 22.63
Poplar 19.15 31.53 20.39 54.64 25.75 28.35 - 63.98 - 98.91 - - 11.51
Other hardwoods 11.86 16.69 36.54 71.66 52.02 89.46 - - - - - - 9.18
Cedar & other conifers 200.0* 43.30 27.61 49.76 53.07 96.81 52.90 83.67 - - - - 20.01
Fir 18.46 23.61 33.60 16.41 35.14 23.05 82.09 40.71 - - - - 9.52
Hemlock 99.16 50.96 82.65 42.37 93.21 68.27 0.00 98.91 - - - - 35.52
Maple 15.31 27.85 13.07 15.02 17.31 19.29 44.28 96.64 99.99 - 0.00 100.51 6.89
Larch 31.07 27.88 47.63 31.32 33.08 56.29 99.99 99.61 - - - - 15.25
Pine 45.22 33.02 56.67 87.75 62.13 44.06 50.57 - - - - - 20.58
Unspecified conifers 41.32 51.28 22.22 42.12 35.31 - - - - - - 75.80 25.18
Unspecified hardwoods 31.67 36.02 38.78 57.71 44.68 99.95 - - - - - 100.51 20.49
Birch 30.02 19.19 45.61 33.15 48.70 22.80 99.99 - - - - - 13.04
Spruce 33.82 17.51 16.15 13.55 21.81 30.98 35.73 44.33 190.23 98.91 - 99.95 7.81
Subtotal 9.32 9.17 8.35 8.03 10.96 11.04 23.94 30.34 94.92 71.91 0.00 24.38 3.76
Mixedwood Plains Fir 107.21 26.02 46.60 57.76 109.68 72.17 0.00 - - - - - 20.39
Poplar 24.83 26.01 200.0* 32.74 79.75 62.99 99.99 - - - - - 19.79
Cedar & other conifers 29.06 40.54 99.93 26.54 51.18 67.19 200.0* 63.24 - - - - 21.18
Pine 21.18 107.37 50.57 42.21 44.86 98.83 99.99 0.00 - - - - 18.83
Hemlock - 100.00 79.92 61.95 52.86 64.52 99.99 - - - - - 34.93
Unspecified conifers 200.0* 72.14 43.12 88.01 - - - - - - - - 85.07
Maple 27.85 17.74 34.08 57.53 25.05 42.30 57.48 49.22 99.99 - - - 14.03
Larch 41.96 48.37 39.83 200.0* 63.83 - - - - - - - 28.15
Birch 35.21 158.24 47.39 43.04 156.98 76.50 100.00 - - - - - 30.33
Other hardwoods 17.24 14.50 200.0* 28.46 24.10 62.77 52.40 - - - - - 13.76
Spruce 41.11 40.99 51.23 42.59 61.35 33.27 70.65 - - - - - 20.93
Unspecified hardwoods 69.66 30.32 32.19 69.42 49.45 - - - - - - - 21.00
Unclassified 56.25 42.97 - - - - - - - - - 34.41 27.82
Subtotal 11.24 9.85 20.09 16.43 15.02 26.25 41.11 46.96 99.99 - - 34.41 6.25
Boreal Plains Unclassified - - - - - - - - - - - 16.44 16.44
Other hardwoods 70.20 66.06 137.46 73.25 0.00 100.00 - 100.00 100.00 - - - 54.66
Unspecified hardwoods - 100.00 - - - - - - - - - - 100.00
Maple 93.23 50.92 100.73 65.78 100.00 100.00 - - - - - - 45.42
Cedar & other conifers 71.87 100.00 100.00 - - - - 100.00 - - - - 79.87
Fir 101.58 70.52 200.0* 94.18 200.0* 93.45 88.81 93.82 143.35 200.0* 200.0* - 44.80
Pine 164.73 35.46 22.36 60.82 59.85 52.30 36.99 102.70 59.41 63.06 100.00 86.34 16.78
Birch 42.30 68.33 37.18 28.47 29.66 55.16 83.58 71.62 - - - 100.00 18.09
Larch 46.80 54.33 52.73 52.48 29.56 24.61 22.91 28.54 41.19 62.16 74.41 - 13.85
Spruce 56.85 60.96 10.11 14.68 17.02 23.29 22.27 32.54 45.16 150.96 149.82 - 6.70
Poplar 22.88 29.20 9.62 11.90 21.68 21.92 25.38 33.27 65.32 72.02 - 100.00 6.15
Subtotal 23.43 19.31 6.53 9.05 12.15 13.76 13.92 21.48 27.92 77.97 105.55 16.39 4.05
Prairies Spruce 49.64 90.28 97.85 43.39 40.66 85.96 99.99 90.69 - - - - 40.85
Fir 100.00 100.00 - 100.00 - - - - - - - - 70.51
Other hardwoods 70.53 72.72 99.99 - - - - - - - - - 69.24
Douglas-fir - - 99.99 100.00 85.98 - - - - - - - 71.94
Larch - 58.79 100.00 99.99 99.99 - - - - - - - 49.52
Birch 46.88 44.27 70.61 99.99 - - - - - - - - 32.06
Maple 36.28 49.35 84.27 97.36 - - - - - - - - 32.52
Pine 84.18 88.29 88.14 92.16 106.87 99.99 - - - - - - 60.29
Poplar 12.43 10.09 30.23 14.66 14.50 76.24 - 99.99 - - - - 6.49
Unclassified - - - - - - - - - - - 27.87 27.87
Subtotal 12.08 9.89 27.85 13.98 14.26 68.75 99.99 89.91 - - - 27.87 6.43
Taiga Cordillera Spruce 104.26 25.47 39.26 27.19 39.66 5.74 6.07 79.41 57.79 99.99 - - 4.17
Birch 153.09 153.55 200.0* 19.95 16.39 76.09 - - - - - - 14.08
Fir - 68.28 39.79 116.27 200.0* 53.24 74.42 54.16 99.99 - - - 29.56
Larch 99.93 50.59 53.69 - - 89.54 - 99.93 - - - - 37.04
Poplar 70.95 200.0* 52.27 - 99.99 91.01 99.99 - - - - - 49.14
Pine - 60.44 75.41 131.92 70.40 99.99 - - - - - - 42.14
Unclassified - - - - - - - - - - - 70.69 70.69
Subtotal 97.29 23.90 29.96 21.02 26.47 5.70 6.05 45.20 57.75 99.99 - 70.69 4.04
Boreal Cordillera Spruce 146.07 19.47 30.56 34.42 15.04 15.48 16.94 16.50 35.23 71.86 37.43 - 7.19
Birch 54.99 24.49 44.05 65.85 200.0* 49.87 98.10 63.63 100.00 - - - 18.71
Larch 80.64 63.52 49.70 49.27 40.17 48.32 46.84 71.17 - - - - 21.86
Fir 73.44 52.21 38.60 31.49 45.93 42.97 61.26 36.90 30.84 126.60 28.79 - 13.81
Poplar 55.09 21.92 135.09 35.63 20.62 61.90 152.83 102.28 94.30 100.00 136.26 - 15.81
Unclassified - - - - - - - - - - - 34.01 34.01
Pine 98.57 25.37 132.40 40.75 30.70 24.01 31.30 167.82 48.69 123.64 200.0* - 13.27
Subtotal 35.07 11.28 24.11 18.37 11.94 12.10 14.34 15.88 22.36 53.54 22.73 34.01 5.15
Pacific Maritime Unclassified - - 100.00 - - - - - - - - 24.33 24.32
Pine 68.09 57.92 48.69 200.0* 200.0* 158.25 129.03 89.72 144.07 192.73 154.91 - 45.24
Spruce 64.83 186.59 40.26 166.69 90.59 140.38 138.44 167.08 87.02 64.34 200.0* - 33.41
Unspecified hardwoods 99.99 - - 99.99 - - - - - - - - 81.25
Maple 99.99 127.96 200.0* 89.57 75.58 90.73 99.99 - - - 81.39 - 54.97
Birch 176.91 162.82 179.27 94.89 75.68 198.67 119.00 99.33 - - 99.99 - 44.71
Poplar - 52.70 134.25 76.20 200.0* 45.07 200.0* 104.42 60.31 200.0* 85.14 - 30.35
Other hardwoods 70.34 123.09 98.38 200.0* 38.01 50.24 119.93 115.24 99.99 99.99 37.67 - 35.13
Douglas-fir 69.75 55.21 200.0* 160.13 104.18 200.0* 200.0* 69.79 78.78 70.94 124.27 - 40.02
Fir 200.0* 67.12 200.0* 49.04 200.0* 114.38 44.55 80.91 169.25 64.86 106.12 - 32.92
Cedar & other conifers 163.55 89.79 200.0* 97.21 112.66 200.0* 200.0* 48.94 87.46 87.98 37.93 - 26.45
Hemlock 62.89 61.01 61.95 102.30 45.03 125.63 134.20 200.0* 48.94 200.0* 24.31 - 18.34
Subtotal 34.86 30.51 53.70 47.71 29.66 48.01 57.43 38.43 33.73 42.72 20.25 24.33 10.27
Montane Cordillera Pine 22.32 66.69 44.53 16.80 60.34 58.05 61.30 156.09 54.64 135.24 58.80 - 14.04
Larch 47.07 152.68 65.80 54.39 200.0* 198.97 200.0* 200.0* 55.04 200.0* 66.74 - 37.46
Other hardwoods - 100.00 77.33 - - - - 0.00 99.94 99.94 - - 69.69
Cedar & other conifers 56.86 57.73 52.08 200.0* 200.0* 200.0* 57.10 200.0* 144.61 111.63 137.32 - 37.71
Hemlock 172.75 200.0* 200.0* 200.0* 158.18 76.68 61.66 160.48 126.46 157.80 168.47 - 49.63
Birch 200.0* 98.16 64.90 200.0* 200.0* 93.29 104.43 53.07 100.00 100.00 100.00 - 44.95
Poplar 67.14 122.67 52.90 168.48 72.36 108.51 84.03 29.76 80.34 88.40 103.00 - 29.13
Unclassified - - - - - - - - - - - 46.90 46.90
Douglas-fir 50.91 35.69 152.35 26.24 150.60 64.94 55.22 21.10 101.40 52.63 37.12 - 15.21
Fir 104.06 121.21 133.17 113.45 81.10 43.44 61.51 35.83 36.24 200.0* 200.0* - 23.71
Spruce 40.30 34.53 33.15 200.0* 59.91 67.55 64.44 47.09 81.11 33.12 61.48 - 16.18
Subtotal 17.35 23.25 23.79 14.61 35.41 27.80 28.72 20.55 26.80 33.27 32.45 46.90 7.66
Hudson Plains Spruce 56.27 17.87 15.45 23.32 4.11 6.82 5.59 88.07 93.06 99.99 - - 3.02
Unclassified - - - - - - - - - - - 40.77 40.77
Unspecified conifers - 99.99 99.99 - - - - - - - - - 70.70
Cedar & other conifers - - 100.05 - - - 104.14 - - - - - 72.47
Poplar 0.00 41.61 48.81 38.31 39.33 38.23 41.74 - - - - - 24.65
Fir - 53.55 67.43 200.0* 99.99 78.72 - - - - - - 45.95
Birch 63.52 62.71 100.00 61.12 - 73.27 - - - - - - 41.26
Pine 77.65 38.00 108.85 103.37 81.90 49.30 - - - - - - 26.98
Larch 107.65 39.51 17.05 29.76 49.23 97.67 60.08 132.56 100.00 99.99 - - 18.75
Subtotal 41.65 14.63 13.73 18.19 4.08 6.77 5.57 86.08 89.66 80.98 - 40.77 2.93
Canada Unclassified 14.76 22.28 60.94 66.37 94.45 100.57 100.04 - - - - 8.16 7.25
Unspecified conifers 16.50 63.64 40.66 35.73 28.51 - - - - - - 60.41 15.62
Poplar 9.59 7.96 6.69 5.43 5.49 9.66 18.51 20.00 36.09 56.78 83.44 74.74 2.76
Birch 13.16 10.12 13.63 11.35 18.59 18.85 20.16 46.79 49.05 52.03 62.99 62.51 5.36
Other hardwoods 9.83 12.47 40.82 25.00 19.60 50.80 50.36 63.33 57.31 85.33 37.67 72.68 8.11
Spruce 10.06 6.06 4.36 4.70 2.10 1.96 1.89 3.58 21.34 23.36 18.71 28.64 1.03
Cedar & other conifers 43.80 22.86 31.22 27.91 45.30 40.93 55.44 31.20 66.63 68.24 36.72 - 12.19
Hemlock 59.28 56.33 47.41 65.98 31.60 49.62 65.69 173.42 46.49 118.51 26.20 - 15.18
Unspecified hardwoods 49.17 18.43 18.33 47.71 23.17 73.34 100.00 - - - - 100.51 19.52
Douglas-fir 44.94 31.58 180.43 29.99 107.38 63.81 55.71 20.21 72.84 45.77 35.57 - 14.36
Maple 14.40 12.28 8.92 10.30 20.55 14.40 19.95 29.23 200.0* 100.00 63.41 100.51 5.08
Larch 12.03 11.93 12.40 13.63 15.88 16.40 18.16 24.91 33.00 43.23 44.24 53.14 5.13
Pine 19.97 7.00 11.13 11.77 11.21 15.23 21.50 64.57 35.03 85.27 53.77 70.12 4.49
Fir 15.09 9.53 10.42 11.92 14.42 17.88 18.62 21.49 26.36 191.19 39.15 45.71 4.99
Total 4.85 3.28 2.97 2.96 1.89 1.87 1.87 3.53 12.93 20.71 12.32 7.94 0.88
Source: Canada's National Forest Inventory, combined remeasured (2007-2017) and projected (2006-2017 with NFI projection system) data, where plots with strong indicators of artificial change are removed. Artificial change between successive plot measurements can be caused by using different image sources, incorporating vintage baseline inventories, and updating photo-interpretation techniques (Version 3.1, November 2025) (http://nfi.nfis.org)
Note: The Arctic ecozones (Arctic Cordillera, Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic), and the Taiga Plains and Hudson Plains ecozones located in Nunavut, are not inventoried. These non-inventoried areas total 262,189.89 thousand ha.
1 Missing or unknown age class.
* When the calculated RSE value is inflated, usually due to the associated change estimate being small (near 0), a cap of 200% is substituted for presentation purposes.