Climate Change & Nature Blog
Tap into the expertise of climate scientists and forestry professionals to gain valuable insights and knowledge. Discover the benefits that Smart Forest™ Stewardship offers.
SEEING THE FOREST, AND THE TREES.
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.
National Forest Week 2023
Today is the first day of National Forest Week and Canada’s Forest Trust Corporation is marking the occasion by engaging a number of our partners and experts on the topic of the Future of Forests in Canada. Keep an eye on our social posts featuring interviews with a variety of our advisors and sector [...]
Amazon Clicks on Supply Chain Scope 3 Emissions.
The landscape of corporate environmental responsibility is about to experience a seismic shift, with Amazon, the e-commerce titan, leading the charge. In a move that underscores its commitment to a more sustainable future, Amazon has announced it will require its suppliers to report on greenhouse gas emissions starting in 2024. While few details were provided, [...]
The Future of Canada’s Forests Lies in Greater Diversity
In 2007, the Canadian Forest Service division of Natural Resources Canada undertook a study examining the labour market profile and forecast for Canada's Forest Industry. They found that enrollment in Forestry programs had dropped dramatically and that the Forestry sector itself was very "insular." The work centred primarily around logging and timber, and was becoming [...]
National Forest Week + Climate Week NYC – The Future of Forests
While we mark the end of National Forest Week in Canada, we also acknowledge that #ClimateWeekNYC has made the news for a number of good reasons this week. Since its inception in 2009, Climate Week NYC has grown from a shoestring series of small panel discussions to a weeklong "can't miss" event. One of this [...]
Our take on the Coalition for a Better Future’s first-ever Scorecard Report
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
World Wildlife Day Calls for Canadian Forests
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 Canada’s Green Economy, with Indigenous Leadership at the Centre
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 [...]
Growing a Healthy Tomorrow at Forests Ontario’s 9th Annual Conference
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 […]
Wetlands Soil – The New Gold | World Wetlands Day
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 […]
Screens to Nature – Supporting Youth Mental Health With Climate Action
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 […]
Cleaning up voluntary carbon credit markets. What’s “good enough”?
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[…]
Launching the First School Smart Forest – Canada’s Forest Trust
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.