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A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
Protecting Canada's Forests Q& A WITH
Paul Zizka
Mediaplanet spoke with Canadian landscape and adventure photographer Paul Zizka on his passion for photography and the importance of protecting Canada's natural beauty and forests.
How has your experience as a Canadian nature photographer shaped your appreciation for the importance of protecting Canada's forests? I believe seeing the world through the lens enables me to be a more acute observer of the wilderness. Venturing into wooded areas with the camera helps me take in the true beauty and complexity of forest environments, from the tiny details to the big scenes.
Paul Zizka Canadian National Parks Photographer
In your view, what role do Canada's forests play in maintaining the country's unique landscapes, biodiversity, and ecological balance? As an artist, I feel our forests play a crucial role from a purely aesthetic
standpoint. I would argue that forests are in large part responsible for Canada’s iconic beauty. They are also environments that support an incredible web of life and offer a unique array of recreational opportunities to our own species. People are more likely to care for and protect our forested spaces when they spend time in them.
As an advocate for nature through your photography, what message do you hope to convey to the public about the urgent need to conserve and sustain Canada's precious forest ecosystems? I hope that fellow Canadians can take time to immerse themselves in forested environments, to put some effort into connecting with these special places and get a feel for how interconnected all of the forest-dependent organisms are, including Read the full interview with Paul ourselves. From city to national parks, there are many Zizka at innovatingcanada.ca. opportunities in Canada to get amongst the trees.
Q & A WITH THE HON OU R A BLE
Jonathan Wilkinson What are the key objectives of Canada's 2 Billion Tree Program and how does it align with the broader goals of preserving and safeguarding our country's valuable forested landscapes? Jonathan Wilkinson Minister of Energy & Natural Resources of Canada
Canada’s 2 Billion Trees Program is a part of recognizing that while nature may be under threat by climate change, it is also an ally in the fight against it. Nature-based climate solutions such as the 2 Billion Trees Program harness the power of nature to reduce emissions, increase human well-being, and protect biodiversity. By investing up to $3.2 billion in tree planting efforts across sectors and levels of government with the goal of planting two billion trees over 10 years and growing Canada's forest cover by an area twice the size of Prince Edward Island, we are taking a significant step forward in our fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. The program speaks directly to our objectives of preserving and
safeguarding Canada’s natural landscape by enhancing ecosystems and natural areas across Canada, on provincial and federal Crown lands, in cities and communities, on farms and on private rural and urban lands. The co-benefits of the program are numerous. Forests capture and store large amounts of carbon (CO2), which will clean the air Canadians breathe and water we drink, and cut pollution. The forests we plant will also make communities more resilient to extreme weather and create thousands of jobs for tree planters, technicians, nursery growers, field biologists, urban planners, and many others. Not only that, but healthy forest ecosystems are also a bedrock of Canadian biodiversity, so planting and enhancing forestry will give a home to thousands of living organisms. Finally, forests supply Read the full interview with Minister Wilkinson at at us with food, provide shelter and shade, and hold innovatingcanada.ca. spiritual significance for many, particularly within Indigenous cultures.
From Seed to Healthy, Resilient Forest Creating and restoring healthy forests requires the right seed, from the right source, planted in the right place. Jess Kaknevicius
N
ational Forest Week provides an opportunity for us to reflect on the many integral ways healthy forests enrich our daily lives. At Forests Ontario, we’ve worked hard to build strong relationships with a comprehensive network of experienced partners who understand the transformative power of healthy forests. This includes everything from partners who are growing and planting new trees to those who manage and maintain the health of our forests to those who educate and train the next generation of forest stewards.
The need for seed
Jess Kaknevicius CEO, Forests Ontario & Forest Recovery Canada
After working with our partners over the years to plant approximately 43 million trees and being named an official Restoration Implementer of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, we’re proud to be a trusted authority for those seeking to invest in the growth, resiliency, and future of our forests. During all that time planting trees, we’ve learned a simple truth: it all starts with high-quality, source-identified tree seeds. If we don’t have seed, we can’t grow trees — and we need a lot of seed to be able to continue to plant the millions of trees we do with
our partners each year. Currently, Forests Ontario has over 200 million viable seeds in storage to ensure we’ll always have a reliable source to produce the trees for our large-scale planting projects. The trees and shrubs grown from those seeds are resilient, native varieties that will support biological diversity and increase habitat for wildlife, help combat the impacts of climate change, and improve the health and longevity of our forests. By paying close attention to seed every step of the way from collection to growth to planting, we can evaluate seed quality and monitor how they perform in the nursery and on the landscape, informing critical decisions on sourcing high-quality seed that will produce healthy, resilient forests. Especially this year, after we’ve seen wildfires raging throughout Canada and around the world, we need to invest in seed so we can restore our existing forests and grow healthy, resilient, new forests for generations to come. As we take this opportunity to celebrate National Forest Week, don’t forget that the forests you’re celebrating all started with a seed.
Visit forestsontario.ca to see how you can help. This article was sponsored by Forests Ontario.
Canadian Forests are Crucial to Supporting Biological Diversity Canadians are invited to participate in National Forest Week from September 17-23, 2023, a one-week campaign led by the CIF-IFC. Canadian Institute of Forestry / Institute forestier du Canada (CIF-IFC)
T
his year’s National Forest Week theme, “Canada’s Forests: Supporting Biological Diversity,” emphasizes how biological diversity in forests is essential to our survival. From fresh air and water, food security, medicines, and shelter to innovative products and technologies, forests and trees provide many cultural, societal, environmental, and economic benefits. Canada’s many tree species play a significant role in supporting biodiversity, and are home to a variety of wildlife and plants. “National Forest Week provides an exciting platform for us to share the crucial role Canada’s forests play in maintaining biodiversity and combating climate change,” says CIF-IFC Executive Director Mark Pearson. “Forests are a renewable resource, and the sector is working to ensure our forests are sustainably managed for generations to come.”
Mark Pearson Executive Director of CIF-IFC
Visit cif-ifc.org to learn more about participating in #NationalForestWeek. This article was sponsored by the Canadian Institute of Forestry
Publisher: Ian Vidovich Business Development Manager: Sarah Ferreira Senior Strategic Account Manager: Anna Sibiga Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Production Lead: Michael Taylor Creative Lead: Kylie Armishaw Designer: Giuliana Bandiera Web Editor: Christina Morgan Digital Media Coordinator: Kristen Neals Digital Traffic Strategist: Karm Rathod All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The National Post or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.