50 Million Tree Program
Trees Ontario is a partner in the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources' 50 Million Tree Program, part of the United Nations Billion Tree Campaign.
The United Nations' goal is to plant one billion trees worldwide each year.
Ontario is committed to plant 50 million trees by 2020.
Trees Ontario and MNR Partner to Plant 50 Million Trees by 2020
In the first phase of the program, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) will invest up to $4.2 million and will partner with Trees Ontario. Trees Ontario will be the delivery agent for the ministry, and the target in this phase is to plant 2 million trees.
The goal of the program is to sequester carbon; enhance and diversify southern Ontario’s landscape; increase adaptive capacity to withstand climate change; moderate local climate by providing shade, moderating temperature extremes and reducing the effects of storms; increase wildlife habitat; increase soil and water conservation, and provide local economic opportunities.
The program is designed to significantly reduce landowner’s costs of large-scale tree planting and thereby increase the number of trees planted.
Trees Ontario will work with local tree planting agencies in Ontario, including regional Conservation Authorities and local Ontario Stewardship councils to implement this program, as well as continuing to work with these agencies on its ongoing tree plant subsidy programs.
Planting agencies will work directly with landowners to determine site eligibility, allocate funding and coordinate planting.
Landowner and Site Requirements
- Have a productive area at least two hectares in size; smaller areas may be considered depending on the landscape context
- Ensure land is open or mostly open and has not been a woodland as defined by the Forestry Act for 10 years prior to this
- Sign a 15-year management agreement to maintain the trees
- Employ good forestry practices
- Contribute $0.15 per tree towards initial establishment costs
- Assume some of the additional costs to implement the plan and maintain the trees
50 Million Program Leaflet: Click here to download the leaflet
How to Apply
Interested landowners should contact their local planting agency or Trees Ontario at 1.877.646.1193 or consider using our online landowner registration system. Local planting agencies, including forestry experts, Conservation Authorities and local Ontario Stewardship councils, should contact Trees Ontario or visit our Planting Agency Partners page for more information.
Click here to view 50 Million Tree Program media coverage.
Click here to learn about the other tree planting subsidy programs offered by Trees Ontario.
