News Release

Published on April 21, 2021

Finalized Forest Strategy will ensure that the Capital’s forests are more diverse, connected and resilient

In celebration of Earth Day, the National Capital Commission (NCC) is proud to publish its Forest Strategy, released following three rounds of public consultations, as well as contributions from various partners, including Algonquin communities, throughout the process.

The NCC’s Forest Strategy will guide how the NCC manages forests and trees on its lands in the context of climate adaptation and mitigation.

This blueprint will ensure that forests are more diverse, connected and resilient, emphasizing the importance of trees and forests in urban areas, as well as in conservation areas such as the Greenbelt and Gatineau Park.

The strategy includes a five-year action plan, which comprises 20 short-term actions to tackle climate change and urban development — such as planting 100,000 trees and maintaining 2017 levels of canopy cover well into the future.

We encourage everyone to discover the tremendous diversity of tree species that thrive within the forests of Canada’s Capital and tell the story of our culture and history. With the NCC’s Remarkable Trees of Canada’s Capital interactive map, residents and visitors can discover the Capital’s natural heritage at their own pace, in any and every season.

Key Facts

  • The NCC’s Forest Strategy is a key initiative of the Sustainable Development Strategy, 2018–2023, and one of the milestones of the Plan for Canada’s Capital, 2017–2067.
  • Trees and forests provide many environmental, social and economic benefits:
    • helping filter air pollutants and releasing oxygen for us to breathe
    • providing habitat for wildlife
    • providing protection from the sun, and decreasing noise pollution
    • helping to drain away excess rain and snowmelt
    • increasing property values, and enriching the beauty of our landscapes
    • contributing to the social and psychological well-being of our communities.
  • According to a 2016 study, the value of forest ecosystems on NCC lands is estimated at $174 million per year.
  • A 2019 study undertaken by the University of Vermont in collaboration with the NCC, City of Ottawa and Ville de Gatineau analyzed the extensive tree canopy in Canada’s Capital Region. It found that, overall, the region has a robust tree canopy.
  • A total of 74 percent of NCC-managed lands are forested. The canopy cover varies by portfolio, from 56 percent in the Greenbelt to 95 percent in Gatineau Park.

Media Information:

Mario Tremblay
NCC Media Relations
613-859-9596 (cellular)
mario.tremblay@ncc-ccn.ca

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