Forests Canada Working to Ensure Forest Vitality

When flying for business or pleasure, we know that airports are massive and complicated but tend not to appreciate all that goes into getting you through safely. Similarly, a supermarket contains thousands of items available for purchase, but the logistical labyrinth that exists behind the scenes to get the products from farm or factory and onto the shelves is oblivious to many.

Our world is full of things that we take for granted; where we expect them to exist without much thought or consideration to all that goes into making them so effective and accessible. Our forests are another prime example.

Forests are integral to human health and economic vitality. They provide natural resources that we consume, process and build with. They also filter our air, sequester carbon and regulate water cycles. And forests are also recognized to support human health through the reduction of risks of cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases,
and mental health issues.

But healthy forests don’t simply exist. For us to reap the benefits that forests offer, they must be managed, restored, and maintained. Our forests thrive through the continuous efforts of stewards who recognize their importance and work to ensure their health and future well-being.

For the past 75 years, the staff of Forests Canada (formerly Forests Ontario) have served as forest stewards. They have dedicated themselves to improving forest health, supporting ecosystem services, and fostering a community connection with nature. It’s work that is essential to maximize the benefits of forests but isn’t necessarily seen or understood by the public.

It’s a role that draws some comparisons to that of The Lorax, the main character in the 1971 children’s story of the same name by Dr. Suess who famously declares “I am The Lorax. I speak for the trees”.

“Our organization is really centred around the idea of forests being here for the future and healthy for our existence” offered Forests Canada CEO Jess Kaknevicius. “The complexity of the work we do is what makes us unique.”

This complexity is evidenced through the diversity of initiatives and programs that Forests Canada supports. But tree planting remains a foundation of what the charity is about, with its signature 50 Million Tree Program being a
cornerstone initiative.

Originating in 2007, the forest restoration and tree planting program aims to help private landowners through a combination of financial and operational assistance for tree planting projects. And it has been resoundingly successful.

Across all Forests Canada planting programs to date, the organization has supported the planting of 46.5 million trees, enhancing 900,000 hectares of connected landscapes through over 8,000 forest restoration projects across 10 provinces.

Applications to the program are evaluated to determine if they meet all eligibility criteria. Any successful applicant selected through the program will be expected to contribute to the project, with exact amounts varying depending on size and complexity. Successful applicants typically will have between 50 to 90 per cent of the tree planting costs covered.

But the true benefits of planting projects tend to go beyond offering support. It’s something Kaknevicius likes to point out; “We create a system. Without us, local businesses aren’t collecting the millions of seeds required each year, and nurseries aren’t growing the trees needed for the work we do. It’s like providing that foundational element of projects and project delivery while advocating for the countless benefits healthy, thriving forests provide.”

While Forests Canada’s seed diversity and planting programs aim to increase forest canopy, the charity is also dedicated to the restoration and conservation of existing forests, often helping to restore ecologically significant sites.

The impacts of its work serves to combat the harmful effects of climate change which include drought, flooding, and wildfire, as well as invasive species and biodiversity loss. Additionally, planting also helps to connect existing forested areas, creating ecological corridors which allow animals to move freely and safely from place to place.

The change of name from Forests Ontario to Forests Canada primarily recognizes the fact that the organization’s impact goes well beyond its historical provincial boundaries. It also better reflects the need to broaden the scope of its operations, while inspiring collaboration and investment to better conserve, restore and grow forests across the country today and for future generations.

As Kaknevicius noted, “We are taking our decades of knowledge and experience creating and supporting diverse, thriving forests in Ontario and applying it on a national scale to achieve the greatest possible outcomes from coast to coast to coast.”

The goal is to take the unique organizational template that has worked so well in Ontario and apply it nationally. During the past year, Forests Canada supported the planting of 1.9 million trees in Ontario as well as 380,000+ in Alberta, 200,000+ in Nova Scotia, 70,000+ in British Columbia, 60,000+ in New Brunswick, and 5,000+ in Manitoba.

While its new name better reflects the national scope it now undertakes, the organization remains dedicated to its educational and outreach programs in Ontario. Forests Canada will continue working with its local and regional planting partners to significantly reduce the cost of largescale tree planting, facilitating increased forest cover
and ensuring such initiatives are more affordable for communities across the country.

As a registered non-profit charity, the success it has achieved as well as the targets it hopes to still achieve are directly connected to the support it receives from donors. From investing in seed, to the training and infrastructure provided to planting partners, and the ability to engage with schools and communities to inspire the next generation of forest stewards, the generous support of individual donors, corporate partners, members, as well as municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government, are critical for Forests Canada to achieve its goals.

The benefits of a healthy and vibrant forest ecosystem are ones that Canadians may take for granted, but in doing so comes with potential risks. The need to support forest conservation efforts is best encapsulated in a summative thought from Dr. Seuss in The Lorax; “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

Giving Tuesday takes place on December 3 and offers a perfect opportunity for Canadians who understand the value and importance of the work being done by Forests Canada to show their support through a tax-deductible charitable donation, with multiple options and opportunities for giving available.

A variation of this article first appeared as part of the GivingTuesday Special Feature in the December 3, 2024 Toronto Star.