Want a stable future? Then we need resilient forests.
We all want generally the same things in life: good health for our loved ones and ourselves, clean air and water, safety, prosperity, and a stable future. The good stuff. This vision of a safe and secure Canada relies on healthy ecosystems and flourishing forests. Without ecosystems, we don’t have much: from our recreation in local woodlands to the national parks that are part of our identity to the backbone of our economy, trees and forests are the foundation for our well-being.
A Canada without forests
Our forests, however, are under threat. (Warning: Bleak information here! Jump ahead to the next section if you have had enough doom and gloom.)
In 2025, Canada is seeing its second worst wildfire season on record, before the year is even done. An alarming 7,318,421 hectares of land in Canada have burned due to wildfires by mid-August alone, with climate change exacerbating and prolonging the burning. Experts are warning that chemicals like glyphosate which are sprayed on Crown Land and other Canadian forests reduce biodiversity and increase fire risk. These record-breaking wildfires are altering ecosystems and reshaping forest habitats.
The human impacts of these fires on Canadians include evacuations, fear, uncertainty, poor air quality, and loss. Our Canadian economy relies on resilient Canadian ecosystems, and severe wildfire seasons also impact livelihoods and the economy. Fires hinder Canada’s ability to supply forest products, leading to increased timber prices and supply chain challenges, and even affecting homebuilding and housing affordability. While the economic cost is still being fully understood, we know that there are hundreds of millions of dollars in insured damages, in addition to lost value (in every sense of the word). Impacts are not experienced equally, with some hard hit regions seeing up to a quarter of their regional economy at risk.
The good news? The resilience of forests, and the resilience of people.
Forests offer us a bounty of benefits. Forests are dynamic ecosystems that purify the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and house more than 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. Forests stand at the frontline of our fight against climate change by naturally sequestering carbon. What’s more is the resilience that forests model for us every day, as they stand up to threats, evolve, navigate complexity, and offer opportunities from the ashes. That’s why the Canadian Institute of Forestry gave this year’s National Forest Week the theme “Roots of Resilience: From Seed to Canopy”.
Why we keep going (and growing)
At Canada’s Forest Trust Corporation and Cool Climate Club, we don’t let these stark realities get us down: rather, we know we need to work harder, and plant trees smarter. That’s why we continue to partner with some courageous Canadian brands who are dedicated to our radical vision of planting and stewarding millions of trees across the country—and using smart technology to monitor forest health.
This year, we started planting in New Brunswick with The Printing House and plan to expand in other regions, announced an ambitious partnership with Forests Canada,and continue to work with organizations of all sizes like: Retail Council of Canada, Arcadia Earth, Scouts Canada, Canadian Club Toronto, Georgian Bay Spirit Co and Luminato , to name just a few examples. We are committed to the enduring health of our Smart Forest™️ ecosystems, where we plant a mix of tree species and use a unique six-phased approach: procure, prepare, plant, preserve, protect, and promote.
By bringing together nature’s wisdom and advanced technology, along with unrelenting ambition and the best partners, we know we can rise to the challenge and boost forests across the country. And that is one of the ways that we can chase our shared goals of safety, security, and a good future.
