Ontario property owners are being encouraged to add some greenery to their land and the province will even help pay for it.
Landowners in the province can request a fall site visit from Forests Ontario to begin planning for a spring tree planting as part of Ontario's 50 Million Tree Program. Anyone with at least 2.5 acres of open land can request to can request to have a minimum of 1,500 trees planted. The government will in turn cover 75-90 per cent of the costs through the program.
However, Forests Ontario Field Advisor Greg Greer said planning the planting process takes a great deal of time, and any Ontario residents interested in tree planting are urged not to wait."If you're going to wait until February or March, your not going to get much to choose from," he said. "It takes time to plan all of this stuff... don't wait, because if you do, you're going to have to wait another year before you get on the list."
Greer added that planning for spring tree planting in the fall allows planting partners to review the site and more accurately predict and visualize the end results.
Advisors with Forests Ontario, the non-profit organization tasked with implementing the program across the province, will ensure the majority of the work is taken care of for each tree planting. The 50 Million Tree Program connects landowners with professionals who will help to design and implement site plans; purchase, transport, and plant trees; and conduct follow-up assessments.
Greer added that the goal of the 50 Million Tree Program, which began in 2007, is to plant around 3-million trees each year. The program aims to have a total of 50 million trees planted by 2025.
He said committing to large-scale tree planting is an excellent way to increase property value, improve a farming operation, or create a wildlife habitat."We like to it's maybe a legacy for this generation," said Greer. "[This generation] isn't going to be around to enjoy it, but we like to think it's there for future generations [like] our grandkids."
He added that the program is also a way to make a positive contribution to environmental health by combatting climate change.
"When you look at all the land we're losing, or forests we're losing, to development... If we don't have trees to take the carbon dioxide out of the air, you're going to see a lot more people being sick with breathing issues," said Greer. "It's needed and that's why it's so important."
Ontario's 50 Million Tree Program is part of the part of the United Nations’ Billion Tree Campaign to plant one billion trees worldwide each year. To learn more about Ontario's program, click here.