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Résumé :
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Canada's forests cover 418 million hectares (ha) and span 13 of Canada's 15 terrestrial ecozones. Only nine of these 13 ecozones are characterized by a significant forest presence and it is these nine that form the reporting framework. In broad terms, a healthy forest is one that maintains and sustains desirable ecosystem functions and processes. Indicators of healthy forests include ones related to biodiversity change, resilience, wildlife habitat, aesthetic appeal, and resource sustainability. Both natural and human influences can impact on forests in positive and negative ways. In fact, natural influences, such as fire and insects, are essential for the regeneration and succession of most of our forests. This report discusses impacts on forest health from natural influences and human-induced activities, including air pollution and land-use activities. The forest health program of the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) is issuing a family of products, including general pamphlets, technical and scientific journal papers, detailed analyses of forest health issues and, periodically, a national, synoptic overview of the health of Canada's major forest ecosystems. This report is the first such overview.
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