On this Earth Day, 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.
However, many pressures, including severe storms and wildfires, invasive alien 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.
The economic value of our forests is just as vital as their ecological importance. According to the Forest Products Association of Canada (fpac.ca), more than 200,000 Canadians earn their livelihood directly from forestry, sustainable agriculture and eco-tourism, contributing an impressive $87 billion in annual revenue.
Since 1962, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has championed the cause of forest conservation, safeguarding over 1.6 million hectares of forests — an area more than twice the size of Prince Edward Island. Working in partnership with landowners, corporations, governments and Indigenous Nations, these special places are important for nature and deliver economic, community and health benefits.
Across the country, NCC is putting conservation into action. One inspiring example is Nebo, a property near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, which offers a place to hike among a remarkable transition zone that bridges boreal forest with prairie grasslands. The geography is spectacular; rolling hills end in secluded forest-fringed wetlands, and a small creek meanders through this property. You may come across NCC’s forest restoration work that began in 2017. More than 32,000 white spruce seedlings have been planted with the generous support of Tree Canada. As you look over the hills, you may spot wildlife such as deer, moose, songbirds and many waterfowl. Places like Nebo showcase how conservation efforts today are securing the forests — and futures — we all depend on.
The call is clear: safeguarding Canada’s forests means safeguarding ourselves. Our natural resiliency, our economic prosperity and our health require us to do our part. As Canadians, we have both the duty and the privilege to conserve our forests. Let us unite and embrace this challenge with determination and care. Our forests are not just a backdrop to our lives; they are the very essence of our future.
content provided by Nature Conservancy of Canada