The provinces own 90% of the forested lands. As proprietors, they are responsible for management, upkeep and protection of the forests. They should also develop them wisely, as intensively as possible, to improve their productivity and to generate for their communities the highest possible long and short term benefits. Forests cover 48% of Quebec. Of these forests 80% are softwoods, the rest being hardwoods, of which 8% are white birch and 6% poplar. Without counting those industries that use sawn wood, 70 000 jobs are directly provided by the sectors of forest exploitation, pulp and paper, sawmilling, and veneer. 31 thousand million dollars worth of products delivered in 1978, 700 million dollars paid in salaries. The sawmilling industry alone counts 25 900 employees and randks 9th by value of exports. The furniture manufacturing industry employs 15 900 persons. Wood products are often the only source of revenue for distant villages. Each year, today's cut is about 25 millions of cubic meters of wood annually. Of this volume, 3 million is lost to fire, insects and disease. About 40 400 hectares will have to be reforested each year because nature alone can neither perform the job in time nor will she choose the most useful species.