Blog

In the last few decades, greater attention has been paid to the role of trees in mitigating climate change. We now specifically value trees for their role in capturing carbon in the atmosphere to slow down climate change. Forest planting has become a go-to strategy in striving toward net-zero climate goals and part of the toolkit that is termed “nature-based solutions.” What now needs to be more recognized is the multitude of roles that forests play in our well-being, including helping us adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Today’s youth demand credibility and commitment to climate change action and have powerful communication channels to influence change as consumers and voters. However, they remain underrepresented in decision-making tables globally. Youth experience eco-anxiety and ecological grief and bring valuable skills and perspectives necessary for innovation in the green economy. Creating opportunities for youth and making room for their voice is vital for a more sustainable and prosperous future, and senior leaders must make space for them in decision-making tables.

Through colonization and displacement, Indigenous people’s political, cultural, educational, and spiritual institutions were annihilated. With that went Indigenous knowledge and traditional stewardship practices. Building a sustainable and inclusive approach to forestry is important in the reconciliation process between Indigenous peoples and settler societies. This blog discusses four key pillars of change: land rights acknowledgement, true collaboration, combining traditional knowledge with innovation, and mutual sustainability and inclusive economy, as important steps towards rebalancing relationships and creating more resilient and biodiverse forests in North America.

As the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffet, once said, it is “…only when the tide goes out, [that] you discover who’s been swimming naked.” Buffet was speaking about making money in a strong market, but I think a case can be made for another type of investment scenario.  

Consider this:  You can only discuss reducing the Earth’s greenhouse gas emissions by discussing healthy forests. And you can only speak about healthy forests if you talk about biodiversity. 

The business case for forest restoration is not just about compensating for your carbon footprint. Business leaders and boards are now shifting how they deal with the climate agenda, looking through the lens of what their various stakeholder groups prefer to see in terms of climate action – it’s not a one size fits all [...]

On April 22, we will join the United Nations International Mother Earth Day celebrations. But it’s crucial everyone understands that one day is simply not enough to influence the scale of change needed. So, we’re taking the entire month of April to share insights from highly regarded leaders across various industries.

The relationship between Nature-based solutions (NbS) and business is powerful. With 100% of the global economy, valued at US$95 trillion, dependent on nature, investing in NbS is key when building future-proofed businesses’. Giving nature a seat at the table through investments in forest restoration and preservation is a strategic option for businesses to tackle more [...]

On March 7, the Coalition for a Better Future launched “Canada at a Turning Point,” the Scorecard Report — an update on how Canada is faring on 21 economic, social, and environmental indicators. They group these indicators into three themes: Winning Globally, Growing Sustainably, and Living Better.  As it turns out, we’re doing well in [...]

Women’s Day: The forest sector is primed for new growth, offering opportunities for more women to take their place as leaders and contributors. But, to promote a sector that is a viable career path for women, more needs to be done.

World Wildlife Day calls for a reminder of the role forests play in preserving and protecting Canada’s wildlife. 

Canada is home to about 80,000 species. Canada’s Boreal Forest alone is host to over 85 species of mammals and 32,000 insects. An estimated 3 billion birds breed in the boreal forest each year and as the largest intact forest on earth, many other species rely on the Boreal forest for their habitat, food and shelter. Across Canada, many species face numerous threats to survival.

Growing up in the north has been an incredible privilege, so much so that after 30 years, I’ve returned to help repatriate our First Nation, Sand Point, located on the southeast shores of Lake Nipigon. The people of Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek have been occupying these lands since time immemorial. In more recent times, the people [...]

I’m heading to Forests Ontario’s 9th Annual Conference February 16-17.  Here are a few things I’m looking forward to… The theme of this Forests Ontario Conference is “Growing a Healthy Tomorrow,” focusing on the integral role nature and forests play in our everyday lives. This two-day event will bring  together a wide variety of academics, forestry, conservation and biodiversity experts, Indigenous innovators, business leaders, sustainability professionals and government policymakers […]

I was catching up on my news last week and came across RBC’s John Stackhouse’s reflections on Davos. In his piece The MehMeh-conomy & Matterhorn-sized risk: 12 themes for a fragmented world, I was very pleased to see #8 in particular. “Soil, the new gold.” Why so pleased, you might ask?  Stackhouse explains that Davos sessions on […]

On #NationalMentalHealthDay, I’m reflecting on the topic of youth mental health and the need for more nature in young people’s lives. The research on the correlation between screen time and poor mental health is telling.  Every additional hour above the recommended 2-hour threshold that a young person spends on their screen is connected to a higher likelihood of having health issues like […]

I reflected on this over the weekend as I dug into The Guardian’s recent investigation into the voluntary carbon credit market. The subject of its reporting is Verra, currently the world’s most widely used greenhouse gas (GHG) crediting program… I could delve into the duelling methodologies that are fueling this back-and-forth exchange between The Guardian and Verra, but I’ll cut to the point for carbon market investors[…]

Canada’s Forest Trust Corporation (CFT) has exciting news to share with students and teachers nationwide. We have just launched the first Smart Forest location in New Brunswick’s endangered Acadian forest region. Through the support of School Smart Forest Stewards, we will restore 95 acres of previously devastated land, bring back biodiversity, clean air and water, and support the local economy.

CFT: Joanna – Like us, you believe that “services from natural assets should be valued.” Following COP15, how widely do you think this view is shared globally? Joanna: I certainly think there were some very positive signs to suggest that services from natural assets are being valued in decision-making. For a long time, finance […]

With growth and impact driving innovation and investments, climate-tech start-ups are proving that when focusing on profits as the most important metric to success, they will achieve greater planetary impact in the long-term.

School fundraisers have earned a mixed reputation. Fundraising is a powerful tool that allows students to select and support causes they believe in, fund new opportunities, clubs, sports teams, and events, deepen their connections to their community, and develop valuable organization and leadership skills. For example, in 2019 public schools across Ontario raised over $583 [...]

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) skills have been traditionally valued and rewarded in spaces such as medical, software engineering, and financial careers. With the number of severe environmental issues (biodiversity loss, climate change, air pollution...) the world faces, there is a need for STEM subjects and skills to be at the forefront of solving [...]

Planting billions of trees around the world has been proven to be one of the biggest and cheapest ways of tackling climate change. According to scientists, planting billions of trees is possible and is an effective, nature-based approach to removing CO2 from the atmosphere to mitigate the climate crisis.  Quick facts about planting billions of [...]

The global response to COVID-19 and recent adoption of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are strong reminders of the value of applying a climate lens to big systemic challenges and risks. To tackle COVID-19, the World Bank, IMF, other international financial institutions, and national governments pursued a green recovery strategy to manage the ensuing [...]

According to several studies, employees are willing to accept a lower salary to work for a sustainability-conscious employer. In addition to this shift in employee priorities, customers and consumers in all economic sectors also prefer ethical brands to those that openly pollute and cause environmental harm.    Before the 21st century, keeping companies accountable for [...]

Becoming a corporate leader in reducing carbon emissions will require significant investments in carbon reduction or offsetting initiatives that will vary depending on your industry. These initiatives are becoming more and more critical for business continuity, employee retention, governance and meeting your overall ESG targets as new standards and status-quos are set across the board.

Over the last decade, tree planting initiatives have taken the stage across Canada and the world. From one million to one trillion trees and beyond, commitments from organizations, governments and companies are expansive.