Forests are Canada's most important renewable natural resource, contributing significantly to the country's environmental, social and economic well-being. To ensure that the forest resource is managed, harvested and utilized to its maximum economic value, it is necessary to develop a series of integrated models to support a value-based and market-driven decision-making strategy instead of a segmented, raw material-driven and volume/yield-based approach.

The overall objective of this Strategic Network is to develop a series of new and integrated models to support value-added wood decision-making strategy for Canada's boreal forests. The project includes five research themes to develop an integrated wood manufacturing optimization system for principal boreal forest species. This will allow the industry to optimize the wood products manufacturing processes based on both external stem geometry and internal wood characteristics in order to maximize the value from the individual trees. The integrated models developed from the project will support value-added silvicultural and harvesting planning to enhance forest stand value. Overall, this Strategic Network will allow the Canadian forest industry to add value along the forest-wood value chain, directly supporting the industry's strategic positioning towards achieving greater value-added wood manufacturing, enhanced forest value and competitiveness within the global market.