The experiences of the British Columbian and Quebec producers using white birch as a raw material illustrate quite different situations within the same country. The quality of the white birch resource in British Columbia is still better (larger diameters) than in Quebec but processing technologies in British Columbia have not been optimized. On the other hand, Quebec’s problem with small diameter white birch
39 of 48
has been partially overcome by the use of advanced processing technologies and a client-oriented approach, which generates an acceptable financial return for the producer.
Although sawmill infrastructure is quite different between the two cases, both producers encounter considerable problems with log supply. Their experience shows that forest harvesters are not always interested in considering, in their daily operations, the producers’ needs in terms of log volumes and quality, a situation that is quite deplorable. Communication and understanding of one another’s need is indeed crucial to achieving optimized and sustainable use of the white birch resource (as well as all other forest resources) and to solving supply problems. This is increasingly important as Canadian sawmills’
dependence on hardwood timber imported from the United-States has steadily risen in the past ten years.
Moreover, efforts must be made to promote value-added processing instead of marketing this forest resource primarily as rough lumber as is the case today.
10 Conclusion and Recommendations
Although white birch is often spread out and mixed in with other species, the availability of the white birch resource throughout Canada is confirmed in this literature review. The large and unused volume of white birch that is currently available justifies the development of further research projects to promote sustainable utilization of the resource. Six research areas have been identified and are strongly recommended for future research.
Silviculture Research is greatly needed on the effects of silvicultural treatments (e.g., thinning) on wood properties for different stand conditions and on tree genetics in order to select trees that could offer superior characteristics (e.g., in volume growth, stem straightness, wood density, high sapwood proportions). Since white birch is a pioneer species that colonizes harvested stands relatively quickly, there is great potential for developing silvicultural methods that would promote volume growth and stem quality while reducing rotation time. A shorter rotation time would benefit white birch owing to ever-increasing hardwood demand.
Forest operations and resource allocation The development of integrated and cost-effective logging operations that include the systematic recovery of white birch stems simultaneously with the harvesting of other species is greatly needed. Today, white birch trees are often left standing in newly harvested stands.
The considerable change in light conditions after neighbouring species are harvested stresses white birch trees, and lead to their deterioration within a few years. Then this high value resource is only good for firewood or humus. Better communication among forest managers, forest harvesters and mill managers is therefore crucial to the development of a white-birch-based industry.
Processing Processes all need to be documented in relation to the specific use (product) for the white birch resource. Studies should be conducted by province, region and industry sector to identify which production strategies are currently in use or need to be developed to enhance financial return. Once this information is available, it will be easier to develop new technologies geared to the white birch resource.
Other unconventional processes (e.g., finger jointing) could be explored for the use of small dimension pieces.
Value-added products A considerable number of publications lament the fact that much of the hardwood lumber produced in Canada is exported without any further processing. Not taking advantage of this great potential is deplorable and efforts must be made to change the structure of the forest industry. This applies
40 of 48
to conventional hardwoods as well as under-utilized species such as white birch. It is essential for Canada to cease thinking in terms of being “bulk producers of rough lumber” and start thinking along the lines of being innovative “producers of wood components or final value-added wood products.” This major cultural shift is slowly taking place in the forest industry sector. However, research and development addressing the entire production chain from the forest to the final value-added product will be needed for the industry to optimize processes and logistics, and secure a solid financial return.
Marketing An awareness campaign focussing on white birch characteristics and potential is needed to promote the true value of the species. There is an urgent need to advance the idea that white birch wood is worth much more than just firewood, particularly through value-added product applications. Very few marketing studies consider white birch. Most of the studies addressed developments in terms of general hardwood species, whereas others grouped white and yellow birch together as one birch species.
Specific marketing work needs to be done by province, region and industrial sector to promote acceptance of existing and potential uses of white birch.
White birch forest-to-product database Finally, to advance basic knowledge on the species, a white birch database should be developed covering the entire chain of production from the forest to the value-added end products. Such a reference database would generate comprehensive information on actual processing steps and also be useful for simulation and optimization in future research.
41 of 48
11 References
Alemdag, I.S. 1984. Wood density variation of 28 trees species from Ontario. Environ. Can., Can. For.
Serv., Petawawa Natl. For. Inst., Chalk River, Ontario. Inf. Rep. PI-X-45.
Allan, R.S., C.W. Skeet, and O.L. Forgacs. 1968. Refiner groundwood from deciduous species. Pulp Paper Mag. Can. 69 (18):74-80.
Anonymous 1998. Méthodes de mesurage des bois. Instructions. Mesurage Informatisé. Gouvernement du Québec, Min. des Res. Nat. 180 pp.
Anonymous. 2002. Driving forces. Industry Canada. http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/ Publication date: 2002-07-24 (Forest, Metal and Building Products).
Anonymous. 2004. Caractérisation du peuplier faux-tremble et du bouleau à papier sur la Côte-Nord.
Carrefour recherche et développement Côte-Nord. Tecsult. http://carrefour.cegep-baie-comeau.qc.ca.
Au, K.C. and R.O. Gertjejansen. 1989. Influence of wafer thickness and resin spread on the properties of paper birch waferboard. For. Prod. J. 39(4):47-50.
Aung, M.M. 1955. Kraft pulping of various species of hardwoods from Northern and Southern United States. Tappi 38(9):185A-188A.
Ball, J. 1992. Response of the bronze birch borer to pruning wounds on paper birch. J. of Arboriculture.
18(6):294-297.
Beaulieu, G. 2004. Forintek Canada Corp. (pers. comm.) Blanchet, P. 2004. Forintek Canada Corp. (pers. comm.)
Blanchet, P., R. Beauregard, A. Cloutier, G. Gendron, M. Lefebvre. 2003. Evaluation of various engineered wood flooring constructions. For. Prod. J. 53(5):30-37.
Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J Bois, and E.M. Wengert. 1993. Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods.
Forest Product Society. Madison, USA.
Braden, R. and Nicholls, D. 2003. Alaska birch crafts and gifts: Marketing practices and demographics.
Forest Products Journal 54(9): 25-27.
Brière, J. 1992. Critères techniques d’utilisation du bouleau blanc. Thèse de maîtrise. École des gradués de l’Université Laval, 108 pp.
Brisbin, R.L., and D.L. Sonderman. 1973. Birch…an American Wood. USDA, For Serv. Repé FS-221, 11 p.
Bumgardner, M.S., Bush, R.J. and West, C.D. 2000. Beyond yield improvement: selected marketing aspects of character-marked furniture. Forest Products Journal, Vol. 50(9): 51-58.
Cantin, M. 1967. Propriétés d'usinage de seize essence de bois de l'Est du Canada. Dir. Gén. des For. du Canada. Publ. No 1111F du Min. des forêts et du développement rural.
Cech, M.Y., and F. Pfaff. 1978. Manuel de l'opérateur de séchoir à bois pour l'Est du Canada. Laboratoire des produits forestiers de l'Est. Rpport OPX-192F. 209 pp.
Chang, Y.P., and R.L. Mitchell. 1954. Chemical composition of common North American pulpwood barks. Tappi 38(5):315-320.
42 of 48
Chen, Y., B.A. Popowitz, R.O. Gertjejansen and D.C. Ritter. 1992. Paper birch as a core material for aspen oriented strandboard and waferboard. Forest Prod. J. 42(1), 21-24.
Clément, C., R. Beauregard, R. Gazo and T. Lihra. 2004. Correspondence analysis as a tool towards optimizing the use of white birch in the panel industry. Wood and Fiber Science 36(4): 598-610.
Clermont, L.P., and H. Schwartz. 1951. The chemical composition of Canadian woods. Pulp and Paper Mag. Can. 52(13):102-105.
Coleman, R.E. 1977. SEMTAP (Serpentine End Match TApe Program): The easy way to program your numerically controlled router for the production of Sem joints. USDA For. Serv. Res. Pap. NE-384, 5 pp.
Conners, R.W., T.H. Cho, C.T Ng, T.H Drayer, J.G. Tront, P.A. Araman., and R. Brisbon. 1990. A machine Vision System for Automatically Grading Hardwood Lumber. Laser Vis. Techn., 53-77.
Cown, D.J., and M.L. Parker. 1978. Comparison of annual ring density profiles in hardwoods and softwoods by x-ray densitometry. Can. J. For. Res. 8(4):442-449.
Czapowskyj, M.M., and L.O. Safford. 1979. Growth response to fertilizer in a birch-aspen stand. USDA For. Serv., Res. Note NE-274. Northeastern For. Exp. St., Broomall, PA. 6 pp.
Desjardins, F. 2004. L’industrie du meuble fait sourciller les scieries. Le Devoir, October 27, 2004, C1-5.
Donovan, G. and D. Nicholls. 2003. Consumer preferences and willingness to pay for character-marked cabinets from Alaska birch. Forest Prod. J. 53(11/12):27-32.
Duquet, A. 1993. L’industrie québécoise du bois de sciage de feuillus. Gouvernement du Québec.
Ministère des ressources naturelles et des parcs. 110 pp.
Dumont, M. 1995. Plantation des feuillus nobles. Guide. Ministère des ressources naturelles du Québec.
126 pp.
Einspahr, D.W. and M. Harder. 1976. Hardwood bark properties important to the manufacture of fiber products. For. Prod. J. 26(6):28-31.
Elias, T.S. 1980. Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. New York.
Erickson, R.W., H.D. Petersen, T.D. Larson and R.R. Maeglin. 1986. Producing studs from paper birch by saw-dry-rip. / United States: Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI:, Res. paper FPL-RP-480, 8 pp.
Farrar, J.L. 1997. Les arbres du Canada. Corporation des Éditions Fides et Service canadien des forêts, Ressources naturelles Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
Fell, D. 2002. Consumer visual evaluation of Canadian wood species. Forintek Canada Corp., Vancouver, Canada. 110 pp.
Fillion, C. 2003. Bilan de la transformation du bois de sciage de résineux et de feuillus au Québec.
Ministère des ressources naturelles, de la faune et des parcs. Direction du développement de l’industrie des produits forestiers.
Forest Inventory of Canada. 2001. Natural Resources Canada. Canadian Forest Service.
Forest Products Laboratory. 1987. Wood Handbook: Wood as an engineering material. USDA., For. Serv.
Agric. Handbook 72.
Brunette, G. 1992. Properties of strandboard made from mixtures of aspen, balsam poplar and white birch. Progress report. Forintek Canada Corp. Eastern Laboratory. Quebec. 30 pp.
43 of 48
Fortin, Y. 1986. Notes de cours de séchage et de préservation du bois. Faculté de Foresterie et de Géomatique, Université Laval, Québec.
Gatchell, C.J., and C.C. Peters. 1981. The serpentine end-matched joint: evaluating strength and stability.
United States. Northeastern Forest Experiment Station -- Broomall, PA: United States. Northeastern, 1981. Research Paper NE-RP-485. Report: 8p., ill.
Gatchell, C.J., R.E. Coleman, and H.W. Reynolds. 1977. Machining the serpentine end-matched joint.
Furniture Des. and Manuf. 49(6):30-34.
Gray, S.L., Power, K. 1997. Canada's forest inventory 1991: the 1994 version - technical supplement.
1997. Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, BC.
Information Report BC-X-363. 73 p.
Gertjejansen, R, and D. Hedquist. 1982. Influence of paper birch on the properties of aspen waferboard: a mill trial. For. Prod. J. 32(11/12):33-34.
Gertjejansen, R, M.J. Hyvarinen, and D. French. 1973. Physical properties of phenolic bonded wafer-type particleboard from mixtures of Aspen, Paper Birch, and Tamarack. For. Prod. J. 23(6):24-28.
Godbout, C. 2002. Le problème de l’éclaircie commerciale des bétulaies blanches de 60 ans et plus.
Revue de littérature. Note de recherche forestière no. 115. Ministère des ressources naturelles.
Gouvernement du Québec. 12 pp.
Goulet, M. 1985. Notes de cours de physique et mécanique du bois. Faculté de foresterie et de géomatique, Université Laval, Québec.
Gray, S.L., Power, K. 1997. Canada's forest inventory 1991: the 1994 version - technical supplement.
Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, BC. Information Report BC-X-363. 73 p.
Green, D.W., R.J. Ross, and K.A. McDonald. 1994. Pages 141-150 in Proc. 9th Int. Symp. On Nondestructive Testing of Wood. 1993 September 22-24, Madison WI.
Guay, M.H. 1999. Étude de marché sur le bois feuillu à valeur ajoutée. Laué Guay Inc. Québec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB). 61 pp.
Gurnagul, N., D.H. Page, and R.S. Seth. 1990. Dry sheet properties of Canadian hardwood kraft pulps.
JPPS 16(1):36-41.
Heräjärvi, 2004. Static bending properties of Finnish birch wood. Wood Sci. Technol. 37:523-530.
Horn, R.A. 1978. Morphology of pulp fiber from hardwoods and influence on paper strength. USDA. For Serv., Res. Pap., F.P.L. Res., Madison, WI. 312-321.
Hoyle, M.C. 1975. High yield Birch - nurture and nourish. Northern-Logger. 24 (1):20-21, 36-38.
Hoyle, M.C. 1984. Plantation birch: what works, what doesn't. J. For. 82(1):46-49.
Hunt, K., and J.V. Hatton. 1987. The effect of oxygen-delignification on the mechanical properties of white birch kraft pulps. JPPS 13(2):73-74.
Husband, R.M. 1953. Semichemical and highyield chemical pulping of hardwoods with Na2SO3 and NaHSO3. Tappi 1953 36 (12):529-534.
Husband, R.M. 1955. Semichemical pulping of hardwoods with Na2SO3 and NaHSO3. II. Tappi 38 (10):577-588.
44 of 48
Husband, R.M. 1957. Semichemical pulping of hardwoods with Na2SO3 and NaHSO3. III. Tappi 1957 40 (6):412-419.
Hutnik, R.J. and F.E. Cunningham. 1965. Paper birch. In Silvics of forest trees of the United States.
USDA, Agriculture Handbook No. 271, Washington, D.C.
Hyslop, R.J. and M.R.C. Massie. 1996. British Columbia hardwoods utilization 1995. Prep. for B.C. Min.
For. Res. Br. Victoria, B.C.
Hyvarinen, M. 1968. Paper birch: its characteristics, properties, and uses. USDA Forest Service, Research Paper NC-22. North Central Forest Experiment Station, St. Paul, MN. 12 p.
Isenberg, I.H. 1981. Pulpwoods of the United States and Canada. Volume II-Hardwoods. 3rd ed. The Inst.
of Paper Chem., Appleton, WI.
Jessome, A.P., 1977. Strength and related properties of woods grown in Canada. Environ. Can., Can. For.
Serv., East. For. Prod. Lab., Ottawa, Ontario, For. Techn. Rep. 21.
Jessome, A.P., 2000. Strength and related properties of woods grown in Canada. Forintek Canada Corp.
Eastern Division. 37 pp.
Kline, D.E., C. Regalado, E.M. Wengert, F.M. Lamb and P.A. Araman. 1993. Effect of hardwood sawmill edging and trimming practices on furniture part production. For. Prod. J. 43(3):22-26.
Kock, P. 1985. Utilization of Hardwoods Growing on Southern Pine Sites. USDA. For. Serv. Agriculture Handbook number 605.
Koran, Z., A. Piché and R. Bouchard. 1985. White birch TMP in newsprint manufacture. Pulp & Paper Canada 86(10). T-298-T300.
Koubaa, A. and S.Y. Zhang. 2000. Wood characteristics, processing and end uses of white birch. Forintek Canada Corp. Eastern species project No. 2313. Eastern Laboratory, Quebec, Canada (unpublished).
Koran, Z. 1988. Birch thermomechanical pulp for newsprint via the Opco treatment. Tappi 71(7):82-86.
Koran, Z. 1995. Thermomechanical pulp properties of white birch. Wood Fiber Sci. 27(2):98-104.
Krames, U and K. Krenn. 1986. Evaluation of the properties of birches grown in Austria. 2.
Morphological, physical, and mechanical-technological evaluation of birches. Holzforschung-und-Holzverwertung. 38(4):79-88.
Kryla, J.M. 1984. Determination of available heat combustion data for Canadian woody species. Forintek Canada Corp., Ottawa, Ont. Enfor Project P-256. 89 pp.
Kryzanowski, T. 2004. Sawmilling - Keeping an eye on remanufacturing. Logging & Sawmilling Journal.
July/August.
Krzyzewski J., C. Ralph and B. Spicer. 1980. Performance of preservative-treated fence posts after 43 years of tests. Forintek Canada Corp. East. Lab. Res. Rep. 65-57-015. 34 pp.
LaBonte, G.A. and R.W. Nash. 1978. Cleaning and weeding paper birch, a 24-year case history. Journal of Forestry 76:223-225.
Lamb, F.M. and R.M. Marden. 1968. Bark specific gravities of selected Minnesota tree species. For.
Prod. J. 18 (9):76-83.
Lapointe, M. 2004. Évaluation de l’acceptation des marques de caractères du bouleau blanc dans la chaîne de distribution des produits d’apparence. Laval University. 50 pp.
45 of 48
Larson, T.D., R.W. Erickson and R.S. Boone. 1986. Comparison of drying methods for paper birch SDR flitches and studs. United States. Forest Products Laboratory -- Madison, WI, Res. Paper FPL-RP-465:13 pp.
Law, K.N., P. Rioux, M. Lapointe and J.L. Valade. 1984. Chemithermomechanical pulping of white birch for newsprint. Can. J. For. Res. 14(4):488-492.
Leak, W.B. and D.S. Solomon. 1997. Long-term growth of crop trees after release in northern hardwoods.
North. J. Appl. For. 14(3):147-151.
Lee, J., J.J. Balatinecz, S.E. Imada and P. Whiting. 1990. The optical properties of eight eastern Canadian wood species. Part 2: Effect of mechanical pulping on optical properties. JPPS 16(1):1-5.
Lees, J.C. 1995. The growth, branchiness, and resprouting of sapling northern hardwoods after spacing.
Inf. Rep. Marit. Reg., Can. For. Serv. No. M-X-193E:15 pp.
Lihra, T. and S. Ganev. 1999. Machining properties of eastern species and composite panels. Forintek Canada Corp. Research Report, CFS Project no. 2306. 62 pp.
Little, E.L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Agric. Handb. 541.
Washington, DC: USDA, Forest Service. 375 pp.
Love, W. 1989. Resource and market potential for Saskatchewan hardwoods. Forintek Canada Corp. 96 p.
Lutz, J.F. 1972. Veneer species that grow in the United States. USDA For. Serv. Res. Pap. For. Prod. Lab.
Madison. No. FPL 167:129 pp.
Maeglin, R.R. 1973. Increment core specific gravity of Wisconsin hardwoods and minor softwoods. U.S.
For. Serv., For. Prod. Lab., Madison, Wisconsin. Res. Pap. 203.
Maeglin, R.R. and R.S. Boone. 1981. Manufacturing quality structural lumber from hardwoods using the Saw-Dry-Rip process. Pages 29-45 in Proc. 9th Ann. Hardwood Symp., May 25-28, 1981. Hardwood Res. Conf., Pipestem, West VI.
Markwardt, L.J., and T.R.C. Wilson. 1935. Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States. U.S. For. Serv., For. Prod. Lab., Div. Res., Madison, Wisconsin. Tech. Bull. 479.
Martineau, R. 1984. Insects harmful to forest trees. Multiscience Publications Ltd in co-operation with the Canadian Forestry Serv., Environment Canada and the Canadian Government Publishing Centre, Supply and Services Canada, Ottawa.
Ménard, S. 1995. L'usinage du bois. Centre de recherche industrielle du meuble et du bois ouvré.
Victoriaville, Quebec. 120 pp.
Mian, A.J., and T.E. Timell. 1960. Isolation and characterization of a cellulose from the inner bark of White Birch (Betula papyrifera). Can. J. Chem. 38:1191-1198.
Miller, R.O., P.D. Bloese, J.W. Hanover, and R.A. Haack. 1991. Paper birch and European white birch vary in growth and resistance to bronze birch borer. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 116(3):580-584.
Millikin, D.E. 1955. Determination of bark volumes and fuel properties. Pulp. Pap. Mag. Can.
56(13):106-108.
Ministère des ressources naturelles. 2000. Ressources et industries forestières. Portrait statistique, édition 2000. Gouvernement du Québec. Direction du développement de l’industrie des produits forestiers.
46 of 48
Ministère des ressources naturelles. 2002. Profil des produits forestiers première transformation. Bois de sciage de feuillus durs. MRN. Direction du développement de l’industrie des produits forestiers.
Gouvernement du Québec. 57 pp.
MRNFP 2003. Profil des produits forestiers deuxième transformation – Approvisionnement en bois massif pour l’industrie québécoise du meuble. Ministère des ressources naturelles, de la faune et des parcs. Direction du développement de l’industrie des produits forestiers. 42 pp.
Mullins, E.J., and T.S. McKnight. 1981. Canadian woods: their properties and uses. 3rd ed. Univ. Toronto Press, Toronto, Ontario.
Myren, D.T., G. Laflamme, P. Singh, L.P. Magasi, and D. Lachance. 1994. Tree diseases of Eastern Canada. Nat. Res. Can. Can. For. Serv.. Science and Sustainable Development Directorate. 159 pp.
National Hardwood Lumber Association. 1994. Rules for the measurement and inspection of hardwood and cypress. NHLA Scales Code and Regulations 1994. 124 pp.
NLGA. 1996. Standard Grading rules for Canadian lumber. National Grading Authority. 249 pp.
Okoh, I.K.A. 1976. Moisture sorption and electrical resistivity of some woods and barks. Ph.D. thesis.
State Univ. N.Y. Coll. Environ. Sci. and For., Syracuse, NY. 183 pp.
Obst, J. 1982. Creating a new image for Paper Birch. Minnesota Science (2-3):16-18.
Otjen, L, and R.A. Blanchette. 1986. Selective delignification of birch wood (Betula papyrifera) by Hirschioporus pargamenus in the field and laboratory. Holzforschung 40(3):183-189.
Panning, D.J., and R.O. Gertjejansen. 1985. Balsam poplar as a raw material for waferboard. For. Prod. J.
35(5):49-54.
Panshin, A.J.; de Zeeuw, C. 1980. Textbook of wood technology, 4th ed. McGraw-Hill Book Co., NY.
Peck, E.C. 1957. How wood shrinks and swells. For. Prod. J. 7(7):235-244.
Peterson, E.B., N.M. Peterson, S.W. Simard and J.R. Wang. 1997. Paper Birch Manager’s Handbook for British Columbia. B.C. Ministry of Forests Research Branch, Victoria. 133 pp.
Peterson, T. 1965. Log grades. Wis. Univ. Coll. Agr. Ext. Serv. Special Circl. 60 pp.
Petro, F.J., and W.W Calvert. 1976. La classification des billes de bois franc destinées au sciage. Rap.
tech. de foresterie 6F. Ministère des Pêches et de l’Environnement, Service Canadien des forêts, Ottawa.
Pin, D. 1998. Le bouleau à papier. Institut québécois d’aménagement de la forêt feuillue. 95 pp.
Pothier, D., and F. Savard. 1998. Actualisation des tables de production pour les principales espèces forestières du Québec. Ministères des ressources naturelles, Directions des inventaires Forestiers.
Gouvernement du Québec, 183 pp.
Preston, A.F and P.A. McKaig. 1983. Effect of accelerated fixation on decay of CCA-treated wood.
Forest Prod. J. 33(11/12):41-44.
Prusas, Z.C., M.J. Rourke, and L.O. Uhrig. 1987. Variables in chemi-thermomechanical pulping of northern hardwoods. Tappi 70(10):91-95.
Rasmussen, E.F. 1951. Properties of wood related to drying. Information on the seasoning characteristics of wood helpful in understanding kiln-drying problems. Rep. U.S. For. Prod. Lab., Madison No. R1900-1.
47 of 48
Rast, E.D. 1975. Preliminary hardwood log veneer grades for yellow birch and sugar maple face veneer.
Pages 84-94 In Proc., Third Ann. Hardw. Symp., Hard. Res. Counc. P. 84, Asheville, N.C.
Rast, E.D., D.L. Sonderman, and G.L. Gammon. 1973. A Guide to Hardwood Log Grading. USDA, For.
Serv. GTR NE-1. 32 pp.
Serv. GTR NE-1. 32 pp.