The eastern white pine is Ontario’s provincial tree.
The 50 Million Tree Program was inspired by global efforts to plant billions of trees worldwide each year. As of 2019, Forests Ontario has planted more than 29 million trees through the program, producing 16,000 hectares of new forest. Read More
For planting organizations, municipalities, First Nations, ENGOs and corporate sponsors outside the province, we offer additional support through Forest Recovery Canada (FRC), our national tree planting division. Read More
Landowners in York Region can contact us for assistance to determine the best way to manage and protect their forests from the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). We will connect you with the resources and contacts to help you make a plan to ensure your woodlot stays healthy and diverse. Read More
The Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) is a voluntary program administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), that offers a property tax reduction on well-managed forest land in Ontario. It is an incentive to support you in the stewardship of your forest! To apply you need a 10-year Managed Forest Plan. This... Read More
Our natural landscapes have a powerful ability to address climate change, with forests in particular playing an important role. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, the main driver of climate change, from the atmosphere and use the carbon to build their trunks, branches, and roots, releasing oxygen as a by-product. While most climate change mitigation efforts focus on reducing carbon emissions, trees actually remove carbon from the air. In addition to playing a proactive role in addressing climate change via carbon sequestration, forests also mitigate the associated impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather.
Forests Ontario CEO Rob Keen was invited to speak to the role our forests play in mitigating climate change-related disasters to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development on June, 2019. This briefing report was created to support the presentation, and affirms that afforestation combined with sustainable forest management is the most straightforward thing we can do to reduce the risks associated with climate change. As opposed to simply reducing our carbon emissions, these activities provide an opportunity to contribute to the net removal of carbon in our atmosphere. Tree planting specifically has the potential to significantly mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events and natural disturbances associated with climate change, most notably flooding and extreme heat.
Forests Ontario is dedicated to making Ontario’s forests greener through tree planting, education, and community engagement. The province of Ontario has committed to planting 50 million trees under the 50 Million Tree Program. Forests Ontario is helping to achieve this goal by engaging landowners and aiding tree planting activities. Between 2008 and 2018, Forests Ontario supported the planting of over 24 million trees covering almost 15 thousand hectares.
To demonstrate the value derived from tree planting in Southern Ontario, Forests Ontario commissioned Green Analytics to conduct an economic assessment of tree planting. This report presents the results of that assessment. There are two components to the assessment: the first focuses on the jobs and the gross domestic product (GDP) impact resulting from Forests Ontario’s tree planting activities; and the second focuses on the ecosystem services that are provided to people living near the areas that have been planted.
This paper summarizes much of the accumulated knowledge related to tree seed acquisition, seed management, identifies some of the species-specific complexities, and reviews program management strategies undertaken in Ontario and in other jurisdictions. It also attempts to forecast what will be required in the future to address universal opportunities and challenges posed by changes to climate, loss in biodiversity, species at risk, invasive species, and landscape sustainability, all from a tree seed perspective.
This information is intended to inform managers and organizations charged with maintaining and enhancing forest cover, and conducting tree seed management activities. Continued delivery of a robust seed management program will require focus on sound science, collaboration and long-term planning for the entire reforestation cycle.
Sawmill Sid specializes in portable sawmilling and wood repurposing solutions. In light of extreme weather events and invasive species such as the Emerald Ash Borer, urban wood waste has become a major challenge. Without the means to recycle wood from dead trees, a significant portion of wood is destined for landfills. By providing portable sawmilling services, Sawmill Sid provides an alternative that allows fallen trees to be given new life as useful products.
The wood recovered from these trees is used in the production of a multitude of products, including flooring, furniture, fire place mantels, and homes. Wood is also provided to schools and community groups for building projects.
Our health and well-being are intricately interconnected with the health of our natural environment. Trees and forests are integral components of healthy ecosystems that support healthy human populations. Forests and green spaces have also been linked to a significant decline in stress, improved rehabilitation, faster hospital recovery rates, and a decrease in the severity of symptoms in attention deficit disorders. By highlighting the links between human health and the health of rural and urban forests, Forests Ontario (formerly Trees Ontario) hopes to increase support for tree planting initiatives and stimulate collaborative action to significantly enhance and restore forest cover across Ontario.
Forests Ontario is committed to making our province–and our country–greener. Through tree planting programs and subsidies, valuable tools and resources, and innovative partnerships with public and private sponsors, we’re having a big impact on our community, our environment, and our world. Register today to help us make an even bigger impact.