Gordon Cosens Forest

The Gordon Cosens Forest is a major boreal Crown forest in northeastern Ontario, associated with the Kapuskasing, Hearst, Cochrane, and James Bay lowlands transition area. It has been closely connected to Green First Forest Products Inc. The original Gordon Cosens boundary was established in 1980 with a Forest Management Agreement, and the current boundary reflects the April 1, 2000 amalgamation of the southern portion of the former Kapuskasing Management Unit with the Gordon Cosens Forest.

Timber from the forest has long supplied pulp, sawmill, veneer, and specialty wood operations in Kapuskasing, Hearst, Calstock, and surrounding communities. The forest is also notable for its role in Ontario’s forest certification history: Green First Forest Products Inc. received Forest Stewardship Council certification for the Gordon Cosens Forest, described at the time as one of the largest forest certifications in Canadian history.

Today, forest management continues under Ontario’s regulated planning system, with attention to timber supply, boreal ecosystem values, recreation, wildlife, water, and consultation with First Nations and Métis communities whose interests may be affected.