Ontario Protecting the Environment and Fighting Climate Change

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Province Investing in Tree Planting and Ecosystem Health

August 22, 2017 – Guelph, Ontario

Ontario is investing in programs to improve ecosystem health in urban and rural communities across the province in order to help fight climate change. These programs are part of Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan and are funded by proceeds from the province’s carbon market.

Kathryn McGarry, Minister of Natural Recourses and Forestry, was in Guelph today to announce support for two programs that aim to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. They include:

Support to reduce the costs of tree planting for landowners in urban areas, as part of the province’s initiative to plant 50 million trees by 2025.
The development of a Land Use Carbon Inventory which will allow Ontario to assess the potential of agriculture, forestry and other land uses, such as wetlands and grasslands, to emit, remove and store carbon.

Fighting climate change while protecting the environment is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

“Our government is committed to increasing our knowledge of how natural systems can store greenhouse gases, and investing in successful tree planting to create more forests near our cities, parks and communities across Ontario. Forests are critical to reducing carbon in the atmosphere, and these projects are a key part of our fight against climate change.” Kathryn McGarry, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.