Forests Ontario and its partners planted approximately 2.5 million trees across the province this season as part of its 50 Million Tree Program. This brings the program’s total to almost 40 million trees planted since 2007. “As we continue to see the effects of climate change – including unprecedented wildfires across Canada and around the world – it is imperative that we do everything we can to combat it. This includes the creation of healthy, new forests as well as managing and improving the diversity and health of existing forests,” said Jess Kaknevicius, chief executive officer of Forests Ontario. The program has created more than 18,400 hectares of new forest on nearly 8,000 project sites, according to Forests Ontario. The organization added that creating new forests is one of the most effective, nature-based solutions in combating and mitigating climate change.