2026 Annual Planting Partners Meeting

Every year, Forests Canada hosts a two-day event that brings together all our planting partners to share program and project updates, review the year’s planting season, and learn from post-planting evaluations. This year, the hybrid event took place at Albion Hills Conservation Area in Caledon, Ontario, from June 16 and 17.

Day one kicked off with two field tours guided by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority that showcased various approaches to ecological restoration and habitat enhancement. The first planting site was older and allowed participants to observe the long-term outcomes of the restoration. This site served as a valuable example of how herbivore activity can impact the establishment and success of a planting site and helped inform future guarding strategies. The planting partners learned from the obstacles and challenges this site faced, discussed some of their own experiences with similar projects, and shared different approaches they can take going forward to have positive results.

The tour continued to a newer site, only one year old, that featured a combined, integrated application of constructed wetland creation, tree planting, and meadow restoration. This site demonstrated that planting projects can serve various purposes and highlighted how combining multiple planting techniques can enhance biodiversity, improve ecosystem function, and create more resilient natural habitats.

Day two focused on an overview of the 2026 planting season so far, including sharing important program and project updates, and learning from post-planting evaluations. By reflecting on successes and lessons learned from previous planting efforts, the goal was to identify areas for growth and improvement to ensure diverse, resilient, thriving forests today and for future generations.

Forests Canada would also like to recognize Donna Lacey, Manager of Forestry and Lands at Saugeen Conservation, who was awarded the Most Valuable Planter award at this year's Annual Planting Partners Meeting.