BC Council of Forest Industries

The BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) represents the majority of lumber, pulp and paper, and manufactured wood producers across the province – an industry that remains a cornerstone of the economy, supporting good jobs and a better quality of life for British Columbians.

As BC’s forest industry continues to adapt, evolve, and generate economic and social benefits for people, families and communities, our vision is to be a globally competitive forest sector that is a model for the world in environmental care, product innovation and technological advances.

To achieve this vision, we recognize our environmental, social, governance and economic performance must reflect the evolving priorities of our communities of interests, including employees, communities, Indigenous Peoples, supply chain partners, customers, shareholders, investors and governments.

Company History

A trade association incorporated in 1960, COFI is the provincial voice of the British Columbia Forest Industry. Our member companies operate throughout the province; manage forest resources; manufacture lumber, pulp, paper, plywood and other value-added forest products; and sell these products locally, nationally and internationally.

Company Facts

COFI represents B.C.’s forest industry which supports families and communities across B.C. In 2019, the forest industry supported 100,000 good jobs for British Columbians across the province, generating $8 billion in wages to workers. Of the total jobs, the industry employs 50,000 people directly with an additional 50,000 indirect and induced jobs generated from forest sector activity.

Across the province, people in communities large and small, and urban and rural, benefit economically from forestry. In 2019, nearly 9,900 suppliers from more than 340 communities and 120 Indigenous Nations and organizations provided $7 billion worth of goods and services to B.C.’s forest industry.

One of the reasons why B.C. wood products are in such demand is that B.C. is a world leader in sustainable forestry. The industry plants three trees for every tree harvested on average, and less than one percent of the timber land base is harvested each year. B.C.’s forest companies continue to innovate, and make ongoing investments in the communities in which they operate to benefit workers, families, communities and the province.