Canada Thrives When Our Forests Do

By Val Deziel

Canada’s forests are woven into the fabric of our daily lives, and this is especially true in the summer. From the chorus of birds and the rustling of leaves to the steady hum of pollinators hard at work, these natural sounds shape the season I love. It is also at this time of year when I see firsthand the immense pressure forests are facing, not only in Canada but worldwide. Wildfires often burn longer, hotter, and more intensely in the summer. Extreme storms are reshaping landscapes in moments. Entire ecosystems are being pushed to their limits.

In the last three years alone, the demand for Forests Canada’s restoration knowledge, science-based data analysis, and investment in forest recovery efforts has risen sharply. This increase is driven largely by the devastating impacts of recent wildfires, extreme weather events, and invasive species on natural landscapes across the country.

Yet even in the face of these extraordinary challenges, there is real hope – and that hope grows everytime someone chooses to explore their neighbourhood park, plant trees in their community, and contribute in any way they can to the long-term health and resilience of forests in Canada. No matter how we experience them, our local forests shape our health, our environment, and our economy.

From collecting and nurturing millions of tree seeds to the planting of quality seedlings and investing each year in the survivability and resilience of those future forests, our systems approach to ecological restoration and recovery emphasizes measurable and meaningful outcomes for Canada’s forests.

When I reflect on what our forests mean to me, the feeling that rises above all else is pride. Pride in the landscapes that define our country. Pride in the ecosystems that sustain us. Pride in knowing that these forests are part of who we are. And that pride is exactly why we must commit to smart ecological restoration that strengthens resilience, supports biodiversity and connectivity, and builds the training and capacity needed to safeguard these spaces for the future.