Forests Ontario has made significant strides in planting trees across Canada this year, with a special focus on local counties such as Huron, Wellington, Perth, Grey, and Bruce. The organization, in partnership with Forest Recovery Canada, facilitated the planting of 2.7 million trees nationwide, aiming to restore ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and combat the effects of climate change.
In Huron County, Forests Ontario supported the planting of 14,035 trees this season, bringing the total number of trees planted in the county to over 520,000. In Wellington County, 28,490 trees were planted, with a total of nearly 1.5 million trees since the program’s inception. Meanwhile, Perth County saw 14,610 new trees planted this year, contributing to a total of 172,281 trees, excluding the Town of St. Marys and the City of Stratford.
In Grey and Bruce Counties, Forests Ontario’s efforts have also been substantial. Bruce County added 9,000 trees this year, while Grey County planted an impressive 91,000 trees, bringing Grey's total to 5.2 million trees. These efforts are part of the broader initiative by Forests Ontario to conserve and grow forests, ensuring they remain resilient to the challenges posed by climate change, such as extreme weather events, drought, and wildfires.
The organization’s planting programs are designed to be accessible, reducing the costs for landowners and communities to increase forest cover. Forests Ontario works closely with local conservation authorities, Indigenous communities, and environmental organizations to ensure the right trees are planted in the right places, creating sustainable, thriving forests across the region.
Jess Kaknevicius, Chief Executive Officer of Forests Ontario, emphasized the importance of partnerships in tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
"We have always built strong relationships with a comprehensive network of experienced partners and experts who understand the transformative power of healthy forests," she said. "Now, as we are facing the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, it is imperative that we build these relationships across the country, so that we can make a difference in communities from coast to coast to coast."
Peter Moddle, National Program Manager for Forests Ontario, highlighted the vital role local communities play in these efforts.
"We are very proud of the accomplishments we made with our planting partners in Ontario and across Canada this year, including restoring ecosystems after wildfires and extreme wind events like hurricanes. It has been an absolute pleasure connecting with local Indigenous communities, woodlot owners and groups, and ENGOs (environmental non-governmental organizations), who are all so passionate about creating healthy, resilient forests," he said.
Overall, the tree-planting initiatives in Huron, Perth, Wellington, Grey, and Bruce counties are key contributions to Forests Ontario's broader mission, which has seen 46.5 million trees planted across the country to date.
