Ontario is partnering with families, community organizations and businesses across the province to reach its goal of planting six million trees this year to promote cleaner air and help fight climate change.
Ontario's Green Leaf Challenge, launched today, calls on the public to get involved in making the province a greener, cleaner place to live. The initiative is supported by Forests Ontario and the province, and honours Ontario's 150th anniversary. Each year, Ontario plants approximately three million trees under its 50 Million Tree Program (50MTP), and the government is now challenging the public to match its target in 2017.
Individuals, organizations and businesses can participate by planting a tree, participating in a community tree planting event or making a donation to have a tree planted on their behalf, and can track their progress at greenleafchallenge.ca. The website allows people to register their trees on an interactive map and access resources, support and events in their communities.
The Green Leaf Challenge and 50MTP are part of Ontario's efforts to improve air quality across the province by planting new trees to remove approximately 6.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2050 - the equivalent of taking 1.1 million cars off the road for an entire year.
Improving air quality, restoring Ontario's forests and fighting climate change are part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.
Source: Ontario