Press Release
Millions of tree seedlings will be planted to create jobs and support the renewal of Ontario’s forests.
Under a one-year supplemental forest renewal program, Ontario will purchase up to 13.5 million tree seedlings from greenhouse producers this winter and the seedlings will be planted on roughly 6,700 hectares next spring and summer.
The planting will be focused in areas damaged by fire and other natural disturbances.
In addition to increasing Ontario’s future forest resources, this effort also will give an immediate economic boost to companies and communities that provide forest renewal services.
As well, it will create up to 70 jobs in seedling production this winter, and 420 jobs in the site preparation and planting sectors in the spring and summer of 2010.
The program will be administered by the Forestry Futures Trust Committee, which has issued a call for proposals for projects that will include the growing of seedlings, site preparation, and the planting of seedlings.
Interested Sustainable Forest Licence holders and managers of Crown units will have until Nov. 27 to respond.
“Our government is focused on strengthening the economy, creating jobs, and building for the future,” said Northern Development, Mines and Forestry minister Michael Gravelle.
“This supplemental forest renewal program will stimulate job creation in forest renewal and is an investment in the future of the forest,” he added.
“Our ministries are working co-operatively to support the forest services sector and ensure our forest resources are managed in a sustainable way,” echoed Natural Resources minister Donna Cansfield.
“By providing a boost to forest renewal, we are helping to ensure our forests remain healthy for the benefit of all Ontarians.”
The Ontario government is investing $6 million in this program to create jobs and hope for communities and forest renewal businesses, invest in the future of the forest resource, and support the future forest industry.
This additional planting, which will supplement that already planned by Sustainable Forest Licence holders, will boost Ontario’s 2010 planting program by roughly 20 percent.
