Investing in healthy people and healthy communities

Forests Ontario, together with its national division Forest Recovery Canada, works with private companies, conservation organizations, Indigenous communities and all levels of government to create forested landscapes that support healthy biodiversity and local economies.

In the last 20 years, the registered charity has supported the planting of roughly 43 million trees to create more than 50,000 acres of new and restored forests in communities across Ontario and Canada. This year, Forests Ontario — with the support of its partners — is on track to plant more than 2 million trees.

“You can imagine those 43 million trees have had a huge impact on things like climate change, because they have been sequestering carbon, and continue to do so as they grow and are managed appropriately,” said Kaknevicius.

But, she adds, the impact of a forest goes beyond capturing carbon dioxide. A healthy and well stewarded forest also impacts biodiversity, the local communities and their economy.

“As they provide shade, and take in moisture and precipitation, they have a cooling effect that is also important for climate change,” she said.

As well, trees offer places for animals and birds to find shelter and food, prevent soil erosion thanks to their roots, and act as filters that help to clean and store water to drink. They also have an economic impact.

“Trees provide things like community well-being and health, and provide jobs,” said Kaknevicius. Forests Ontario completed a research project with Green Analytics a few years ago that found its planting program supports a hundred full-time equivalent jobs annually, she said.

“Investing in nature is one of the best investments you can make for generations to come. Once it is lost, it is hard to replace so we continue to invest to grow forests, to steward forests into the future. For me, it is all about contributing to the economy and supporting local communities,” she said.

“Making sure you are growing and not depleting biodiversity is critical because everything is connected. Biodiversity is connected to your food, to the products we get out of our forests, to the experiences that you have in nature and community wellbeing. It is probably one of the best investments you can make. And to be honest, it looks great.”

Restoring and caring for forests is only part of the work the charity does across Canada. In Ontario, for example, it also sources tree seed to ensure there is a sustainable supply of diverse adaptive seed for future forests. That resiliency will help the long-term health of new and existing forests.

“We talk a lot about planting the right tree from the right seed in the right place for the right reason. We also look at climate change and how ecosystems are potentially going to shift in the future, and thinking in advance about what this forest will look like in 50 years. Being able to plant in that way allows us to increase the survivability and longevity of our trees.”

As we prepare to mark Earth Day on Monday, April 22, Kaknevicius said Forests Ontario would not be able to do any of this important work if it wasn’t for its corporate and individual donors. It’s their contributions that allow the charity to take innovative and new approaches to its work restoring forests, and research the impact that work is having on the environment and the economy.

“It also helps us to reach new communities, especially underserved communities, and connect them with nature,” she said. “For me, this work is all about inspiring someone to understand why forests are so important and why it is integral that we continue to plant more trees.”

To learn more about the work Forests Ontario is doing, or to provide financial support and donate to its mission, please visit forestsontario.ca.