Forests

When the early settlers arrived two centuries ago they found a watershed that was essentially one large forest.

However, by the turn of the 20th century, forest cover had declined to about six per cent as land was cleared for farms and settlements.

Now after many decades of tree planting and natural regeneration, forests cover about 19 per cent of the watershed.

Environment Canada recommends 30 per cent forest cover for a healthy watershed.

The GRCA and its partners plant hundreds of thousands of trees each year. Tree locations and species are carefully selected to have the biggest positive impact.

For example, trees increase biodiversity when they are planted along a waterway, since they cool the water and allow more species of fish to live there.

Forests made up of diverse native trees attract a bigger variety of wildlife, insects and plants. These forests are also resilient and are likely better able

to withstand disease and environmental damage.

For this reason, the GRCA encourages native plantings that are suitable to the climate zone. It has its own tree nursery where trees are grown from seeds

that have been collected from the watershed.

Go to our Tree planting page and our Landowner grants and resources page for more information on how the GRCA helps landowners plant trees on their property.

Forest facts

• Historic size: 5,700 square kilometres - 85 per cent of the watershed
• Current size: 1,200 square kilometres - 19 per cent of the watershed
• Strategy: Plant trees to reach 2,000 square kilometres - 30 per cent of the watershed
• Species at risk: Acadian flycatcher, grey fox, American chestnut tree, green dragon wildflower