White Birch–betula papyrifera

photo of White Birch trees.

White Birch is a common tree found throughout Ontario. The smooth white paper-like bark is immediately recognizable and the tree is sometimes referred to as "paper" birch. Often found in homogenous stands, White Birch is an important source of food for many birds and animals which consume the leaves, buds and seeds.

White Birch is often used as firewood but is also used for veneer, pulp and paper and specialty products like hockey sticks. White Birch represents 3% of Ontario’s annual harvest, and is over 8% of the province’s growing stock volume.

Map of White Birch relative occurrence

map of White Birch distribution in Ontario indicating low (light brown), moderate and high (dark green-brown) levels of relative occurrence.

Enlarge map of White Birch relative occurrence

Area and proportion of White Birch in the AOU (area in hectares)

StatisticCrownParks and protected areasOtherTotal
Total Area Containing White Birch11,309,7621,261,8711,658,00514,229,638
1-25% of stand7,668,623778,9471,219,9719,667,541
26-50% of stand2,760,318341,579317,2303,419,127
51-75% of stand647,60297,27080,598825,470
76-100% of stand233,21944,07640,206317,501
Average Proportion in All Forest (%)10.08.913.610.1
Area of White Birch Working Group2,545,016352,572329,1013,226,688

Growing stock volume of White Birch in the AOU (volume in thousands of cubic metres)

StatisticCrownParks and protected areasOtherTotal
Gross Total Volume315,48542,50148,196406,182
Net Merchantable Volume186,44325,41629,771241,629
Current Annual Increment1,8341551872,175

White Birch working group area by age class

vertical bar graph of the White Birch working group area by age class including brown for Crown, green for park and grey for other.