This literature review provides an overview of current knowledge of white birch characteristics, volumes, marketing efforts and end-uses in Canada.
The literature indicates there is major concern within Canada with regard to hardwood supply. Demand for hardwood furniture has steadily increased in the past decade, which has put considerable pressure on hardwood forests. As a result, the quality and volumes of conventional hardwoods (sugar maple, yellow birch) are on the decline. Because the market for hardwood lumber and value-added products is expanding, the scarcity of traditional hardwoods must be partly compensated with alternative species. Of all the species available, white birch is clearly the most appealing hardwood because of its availability throughout Canada. The total volume of white birch available in Canada is estimated to be 1,106 billion cubic meters, which confirms the availability of the resource.
White birch trees are usually smaller and curvier than sugar maple and yellow birch. However, the moderate use of white birch seems to be more related to our culture or traditions (preference for conventional hardwoods) than to the idea that white birch properties are unacceptable. On the contrary, according to the literature, white birch wood is greatly appreciated for its light colour and good woodworking properties. Thus, the potential for better commercial utilization of white birch exists and is far from being fully explored. In recent years, interest in processing white birch has increased substantially but there are still gaps in our knowledge of potential uses of the species.
To meet future wood supply demand in a sustainable manner, more intensive forest management, transformation processes and marketing strategies geared to the white birch resource should be developed by province, region and industrial sector. This would ensure the right resource is available locally at the right place for the right product.
On the basis of current knowledge, the following areas of research are proposed: 1) Develop silvicultural methods to improve white birch growth and quality. 2) Develop harvesting and logistics operations to ensure efficient white birch harvesting, particularly where it grows in association with other species. 3) Review and develop transformation processes that are more closely geared to the white birch resource 4) Develop a campaign to enhance awareness of white birch characteristics and potential, and promote the true value of the species. 5) Develop marketing strategies and increase the use of white birch in different value-added products 6) And finally, build a database on Canadian white birch, compiling information gathered from the forest to the final product for use in simulations in future research projects.