Guest column: Roots of tomorrow — Canada’s forests need our support

Article content

By: Kristen Bernard

On this Earth Week, the significance of forests for conservation, community benefits and human health has never been more urgent to acknowledge.

Forests play many critical roles for nature and people: they provide habitat for hundreds of species, act as water filters, reduce air pollution and are places of community connection, recreation and refuge. They regulate temperature and weather patterns and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Article content

However, many pressures, including severe storms and wildfires, invasive species and habitat loss, threaten these ecosystems, the benefits they provide and the relationships they support. When our woodlands are compromised, so too is the quality of the air we breathe and the water we depend on. The well-being of every Canadian, from the bustling urban centre to the most remote rural town, is at stake.

Canada’s forests make up nearly one-tenth of the world’s total. We are one of the most forested countries in the world, ranking ahead of the United States and just behind Russia and Brazil. Our country boasts connected, intact forest habitats and significant terrestrial carbon stores. With around 140 native tree species, Canada has a unique role and collective duty to protect these areas.

One-third of the 426 bird species that breed in Canada rely on forests for survival. Canada’s northern forests provide nesting habitat for an abundance of diverse migratory birds that winter in the U.S., Central America and beyond. From tiny warblers to large swans, it’s estimated that between three and five million birds migrate south from Canada’s boreal forest every fall.

Article content

The economic value of our forests is just as vital as their ecological importance. According to the Forest Products Association of Canada, more than 200,000 Canadians earn their livelihood directly from forestry, sustainable agriculture and eco-tourism, contributing an impressive $87 billion in annual revenue.

From remote, majestic boreal forests in the north to rich Carolinian deciduous forests in the south, Ontario’s forests are hubs of biodiversity. These vast woodlands, stretching over 70 million hectares and representing 20 per cent of Canada’s forests, are more than just trees — they are a living, breathing testament to nature’s power.

In Southwest Ontario, where opportunities for landscape-scale conservation are rare amid a fragmented and highly converted landscape, NCC is working to protect and restore forests and wetlands that sustain nature and our communities.

The organization has recently announced newly conserved areas that support mature and restored forests near Essex and Leamington.

Article content

Situated within the Carolinian region, these areas shelter species at risk, including some of Ontario’s rarest birds, like eastern wood-peewee. These habitats also store and filter water, absorb carbon and help lessen the impacts of climate change and flooding on surrounding communities.

Together, the newly established nature reserves add to a ribbon of green that extends southeast from the Windsor area through a patchwork of developed lands, all the way to Lake Erie. We are also restoring habitats in the area through wetland and forest restoration projects to improve biodiversity and enhance natural cover in the region.

NCC is exploring new and exciting opportunities to build healthy and resilient ecosystems where it matters most. With an ambitious goal to conserve an additional one million hectares of nature by 2030, NCC is leading the charge to secure our natural heritage. Our work is not just about caring for the land; it’s about ensuring that our communities continue to thrive with nature.

We encourage the private sector, foundations and individuals to join us in investing in forest conservation and restoration efforts. NCC has a track record of bringing together landowners, people and communities.

Our forests are not just a backdrop to our lives; they are the very essence of our future.

Kristen Bernard is Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Ontario region associate director of conservation.

Article content