What is a Hardwood Forest?

A hardwood forest in the GSCA watershed is made up mostly of deciduous trees with broad leaves, such as sugar maple, white ash, black cherry, and American beech. Coniferous trees like pine or spruce may also be present, but sugar maples often dominate these woodlands, creating vibrant and colourful canopies each fall.

GSCA manages approximately 12,600 acres of hardwood forest within the watershed. About 4,400 acres are protected for cultural, social, or environmental reasons and are not harvested. The remaining 8,200 acres are managed to maintain healthy and sustainable forests.

Many of the forests in the GSCA watershed are “second growth”, meaning they were harvested or cleared at some point in the past and have since regenerated into the forests we see today. Most are approximately 100 - 120 years old, with small pockets of older forest that display characteristics of old-growth ecosystems.

Hardwood forests support a wide variety of plants and animals. Some species can thrive in many environments, while others depend on very specific habitats or conditions to survive. Staff work to ensure that the forests owned and managed by GSCA continue to offer healthy, diverse habitats for wildlife and plant life alike.