Bolstering Canada’s legacy as a forestry leader
Forests Ontario's goal is to increase forest cover. supplied
When it comes to stabilizing our climate, few solutions can match the powerful potential of forests. Beyond helping to regulate ecosystems and protecting biodiversity, forests play a key role in the carbon cycle. Globally, approximately 2.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide – one-third of the CO2 released from burning fossil fuels – are absorbed by forests every year, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
“Everybody recognizes the importance of a healthy forest for producing oxygen, cleaning the air and providing clean water and healthy soil,” says Rob Keen, registered professional forester and CEO of Forests Ontario, the leading charity dedicated to increasing forest cover and improving forest conditions in Ontario and across Canada. “Sustainably managed forests are an effective climate change solution, and increasingly, many countries around the world are setting new tree planting targets to expand their forest cover.”
As a nation, Canada’s history is linked to forestry and “the best managed forests in the world,” says Mr. Keen. Yet while he regards this heritage as a source of pride, he believes more efforts are needed to keep forest landscapes intact, ensure they are managed sustainably and restore those that have been lost.
“Crown forests in northern Ontario are extensive and sustainably managed,” he explains. “But in the southern part of the province, 95 per cent of forests are privately owned. Here, we have an average forest cover of 26 per cent, with some areas as low as 4 per cent. It has been recognized that we need at least 40 per cent forest cover to safeguard their sustainability.”
In response, for more than 20 years, Forests Ontario has led ambitious tree planting programs, extensive education initiatives and community outreach programs, resulting in millions of trees planted and new forests created each year. “We work with our many partners, including First Nations, conservation authorities, stewardship groups, forestry consultants and municipalities, to get trees planted,” says Mr. Keen.
Subsidies provided by Forests Ontario help to reduce landowner costs. “Every day, we engage with landowners to create awareness about the benefits of increasing forest cover, ensuring trees are planted for the benefit of society,” he adds.
Together with its national division, Forest Recovery Canada, Forests Ontario’s unique infrastructure and expertise tracks planting projects from seed to healthy forest. This includes working with skilled partners to assess planting sites to determine what species are best suited for the location, securing the right trees, planting trees professionally – and then following up to monitor growth and manage challenges.
The objective is twofold: one, to leverage the benefits of large and diverse forests to mitigate climate change; and two, to ensure future forests are healthy and resilient enough to withstand climate impacts.
“We can also embrace the benefits of sustainably produced wood products as alternatives to more carbon-intensive building materials,” says Mr. Keen, noting that third-party certification organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative can help consumers make informed choices regarding sustainably produced materials.
“Individuals and businesses can make a difference by being conscious consumers and choosing or specifying wood products from sustainably managed forests,” he says.
“Whether it is by planting trees on your property, purchasing sustainably produced forest products or supporting the creation of new, healthy forests for future generations, we need to realize that we can’t just leave this work to a few – we all have a role to play.”
To view this report on The Globe's website, visit globeandmail.com
To view the full report as it appeared in The Globe's print edition: Canada’s Clean50