The Canadian and Ontario governments have announced a joint investment of more than $61 million to significantly expand tree-planting efforts across Ontario’s Crown forestland through 2026.
This initiative, unveiled by Marc G. Serré, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Ontario’s Associate Minister of Natural Resources, Nolan Quinn, aims to enhance forest ecosystems, address climate change, and promote biodiversity.
The program, which forms part of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees initiative, will see both governments contribute equally to silvicultural activities, including site preparation and tree planting. These efforts will focus on areas with minimal or no tree cover, particularly regions impacted by forest fires. The initiative is expected to result in the planting of approximately 60 million trees, depending on the availability of suitable Crown forestland and the specific projects identified by Ontario’s forest managers.
This tree-planting drive is designed to complement existing reforestation activities following commercial harvesting and is part of a broader approach to nature-based climate solutions. Trees play a crucial role in capturing carbon, regulating urban temperatures, reducing wildfire risks, and enhancing public health by creating green spaces. By carefully selecting the right species and planting them in optimal locations, the program aims to create resilient forests that will benefit communities and ecosystems for generations to come.
In addition to environmental benefits, the initiative is expected to generate sustainable jobs and support Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy. The collaboration between federal and provincial governments underscores a shared commitment to achieving climate and biodiversity goals, ensuring that the long-term health of Canada’s forests is maintained.
Since 2021, the Government of Canada has engaged with various organizations to plant trees over a ten-year period, with the goal of planting two billion trees. This partnership with Ontario marks a significant step in fulfilling that commitment, with further agreements being finalized with other provinces and territories to expand tree-planting efforts nationwide.
Quick facts
- Since 2021, the Government of Canada has been engaging directly with individual organizations across the country to plant trees over 10 years to help meet the Government of Canada’s commitment to planting two billion trees. Working closely with territories and provinces on shared planting plans is vital to support local communities and enable further tree planting as they manage 90 percent of Canada’s forested land. With this agreement, Canada and Ontario are leveraging their shared commitment to delivering social and environmental benefits for communities through tree planting.
- Work is well underway on finalizing additional agreements with provinces and territories to plant more trees across Canada.
- The 2 Billion Trees program collaborates with partners to understand their plans for preparing sites, how they are selecting species and how they plan to monitor after planting. Partners report every year, and the program conducts site visits and will be using remote sensing to monitor the progress and the health of the trees. By ensuring the initial job is done well, nature can then thrive, maintaining the long-term health of forested sites.
Image: Parliamentary Secretary Marc G. Serré announces a joint investment of more than $61 million to launch a new tree-planting program for Crown-owned forest lands in Ontario / Natural Resources Canada
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