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 […]

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.

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.

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 [...]

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.

Meet Kira, an inspiring young change-maker in Grade 6 that is blending art with environmental activism. From crafting sustainable products inspired by her love for the Georgian Bay’s windswept pine to spearheading eco-initiatives at Sunnybrook School, discover how this young changemaker is making waves in the fight against climate change.

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.

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 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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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

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 […]