• National charity Forests Canada is dedicated to conserving, restoring, and growing Canada's forests.
• The organization's proven approach to large-scale restoration, specialized expertise in forest recovery efforts, and trusted partnerships help strengthen the long-term health and resilience of Canada's forest landscapes.

TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2026 /CNW/ -- As forests across Canada – and around the world – face growing pressures from increasing wildfires, biodiversity loss, and extreme weather events, national charity Forests Canada has been working to ensure the long-term health and resiliency of Canada's forests today, and for future generations.

In a recent report titled The State of the World's Forests 2026 published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Forests Canada's work in Ontario's Greenbelt was cited as an example of restoration success.

Among the global examples featured in The State of the World's Forests 2026, Forests Canada's case study titled Keeping the Green in the Ontario Greenbelt (page 202), authored by Forests Canada GIS Analyst Aidan O'Brien, outlines the power of collective action across the landscape over the course of over 15 years.

"Since 2008, Forests Canada's work in the Greenbelt region has resulted in the planting of more than seven million trees on over 2,800 project sites, resulting in the creation of close to 4,000 hectares of new forests," O'Brien says. "The case study showcases how supporting large-scale restoration is vital to helping create healthier, more connected ecosystems that provide multiple ecological, social, and economic benefits across the province's fastest growing region."

The United Nations report presents forest and landscape restoration not simply as an environmental responsibility, but as a pathway to a more sustainable and resilient future. The report highlights restoration as one of the most effective investments we can make, delivering benefits for people, nature, and economies alike.

"The Ontario Greenbelt is an 800,000-hectare mosaic of forests, farmlands, wetlands, grasslands, rivers, and urban areas situated within the most densely populated region of Canada," Jess Kaknevicius, Chief Executive Officer, Forests Canada, says. "Forests Canada's collaborative restoration efforts in the Greenbelt have enhanced forested landscapes, strengthened climate resilience, and established ecological corridors that connect fragmented habitats, all while contributing to the restoration economy."

As one of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration's Supporting Partners, Forests Canada has played a vital role in connecting lands, partners and funders to deliver landscape restoration at scale over the past 18 years.

"The report reminds us that restoration is not a cost – it is one of the smartest investments societies can make," Kaknevicius says. "It rebuilds ecosystems, supports communities and livelihoods, and leaves a lasting legacy for future generations."

Learn more about The State of the World's Forests 2026 at www.fao.org/interactive/2026/state-of-the-worlds-forests or visit www.ForestsCanada.ca/PlantTrees to learn more about Forests Canada's Tree Planting Program.  

About Forests Canada

Forests Canada is a national charity working to conserve, restore, and grow Canada's forests to sustain life and communities. With interactive education programs inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards, and high-quality forest recovery efforts supporting local jobs and economies, we have proudly built the infrastructure and network needed to help ensure the greatest possible outcomes for Canada's forests from coast to coast to coast.

Learn how you can get involved today. Visit www.ForestsCanada.ca or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn to find out more.

SOURCE Forests Canada