Page archived
This page is no longer current and is provided for archival and research purposes.
Balsam Fir – Abies balsamea
Balsam Fir–abies balsamea
Balsam Fir is a common softwood species in Ontario. It has a tall narrow profile that tapers to a point at the top of the tree with sticky resin blisters on the trunk. It is often found as a late successional species growing under other species in clumps, as it is shade tolerant and is generally not as long lived as spruce.
Balsam Fir has traditionally been used for pulp, paper and lumber products. Balsam Fir represents 2.5% of Ontario’s annual harvest and is 5% of its total growing stock volume.
Map of Balsam Fir relative occurrence
Enlarge map of Balsam Fir relative occurrence
Area and proportion of Balsam Fir in the AOU (area in hectares)
Statistic | Crown | Parks and protected areas | Other | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total Area Containing Balsam Fir | 8,165,657 | 765,543 | 1,838,223 | 10,769,424 |
1-25% of stand | 6,982,848 | 646,381 | 1,521,799 | 9,151,028 |
26-50% of stand | 1,040,900 | 103,761 | 285,233 | 1,429,894 |
51-75% of stand | 90,779 | 10,824 | 21,986 | 123,589 |
76-100% of stand | 51,131 | 4,577 | 9,206 | 64,913 |
Average Proportion in All Forest (%) | 5.1 | 8.0 | 5.3 | 5.5 |
Area of Balsam Fir Working Group | 650,896 | 75,041 | 211,627 | 937,563 |
Growing stock volume of Balsam Fir in the AOU (volume in thousands of cubic metres)
Statistic | Crown | Parks and protected areas | Other | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gross Total Volume | 167,191 | 20,554 | 53,185 | 240,930 |
Net Merchantable Volume | 62,171 | 7,959 | 22,871 | 93,001 |
Current Annual Increment | 2,180 | 208 | 574 | 2,962 |
Balsam Fir working group area by age class
Updated: November 27, 2023
Published: October 23, 2017