MANITOULIN—Thinking of tree planting next spring? Fall planning brings spring planting! Forests Ontario and its planting partners want to remind landowners that fall is the most opportune time for planning next spring’s planting activities.
Tree planting is an excellent way to increase the value of your property and make a positive contribution to environmental health. Forests Ontario offers funding assistance for tree planting through the 50 Million Tree Program (50MTP), providing the benefits of tree planting at a reduced cost. Eligible landowners may receive from 75 to 90 percent coverage of total planting costs through the program.
The 50MTP has been designed to make the tree planting process as easy as possible for landowners. If your property has at least one hectare (2.5 acres) of open land available for tree planting, all you have to do is register. A Forests Ontario representative or planting agency will contact you to confirm your eligibility and determine the best approach for you and your property. Whether you’re interested in improving your farming operation, creating wildlife habitat, increasing your property value, leaving a legacy for future generations, or helping to fight climate change, planting through the 50MTP can help you achieve your goals.
Successful tree plantings take time, which is why it’s so important to start planning early. “Fall is the best time to start planning,” says Peter Gagnon, field advisor with Forests Ontario. “You’ll get a much better result than if you begin the process during the winter, as fall site visits provide planting partners with much better information about the property.”
This information could include potential wildlife conflicts, weed competition and soil type. Fall planning also allows planting partners and landowners to identify the number and types of trees they require in advance, which is important, as stock may be limited and hardwoods in particular sell out early.
“The 50MTP has been designed to make the tree planting process as easy as possible for landowners,” says Mr. Gagnon. The program takes care of all the operational aspects of tree planting: anything from designing and implementing site plans to ordering, transporting, and planting trees. “In addition to being a comprehensive package, it also encourages landowner involvement and builds relationships.”
Through the 50MTP, you are able to improve your property while helping the Government of Ontario reach its goal of planting 50 million trees by 2025. To learn more about this program, visit us online at www.forestsontario.ca or contact our Forestry Program Manager, Stephanie Burns, at 1-877-646-1193 ext. 222 or info@forestsontario.ca.
Apply this fall to begin planting next spring!
