Northumberland County: Local Tree Planting

Trees Ontario, local planting partner Northumberland Stewardship Council and Lou Rinaldi, MPP Northumberland-Quinte West, hosted an official tree planting ceremony today in recognition of the important tree planting work that is being done across the province for the Ministry of Natural Resources’ 50 Million Tree Program.

In August 2007, the Ontario government introduced a program to plant 50 million trees by 2020, as part of its commitment to help fight climate change and green the province.

The 50 Million Tree Program is Ontario’s contribution to the United Nations Billion Tree Campaign, and is the single largest commitment made to date to this worldwide campaign.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is partnering with Trees Ontario, a not-for-profit organization, to deliver the first phase of this program. This spring, Trees Ontario’s partners will plant a total of 1.2 million trees for the program, mostly on rural privately owned land.

“Today’s tree planting activity, and ones like it right across southern Ontario demonstrate that we can and will meet the 50 million target,” said the Hon. Donna Cansfield, Minister of Natural Resources. “This is an example of how Ontario landowners are joining the battle to reduce our greenhouse gases and helping green our province.”

“I am very pleased to participate in today’s event,” said Lou Rinaldi, MPP for Northumberland-Quinte West. “This demonstrates that everyone in our community can help in the important battle against climate change. More than 30,800 trees been planted in this area over the past year with assistance from Trees Ontario and Northumberland Stewardship Council, and many more can and will be planted in the years ahead.”

Participants in today’s event planted red oak trees grown from seeds native to the Oak Ridges Moraine. These seeds were collected through funding provided by the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation to help ensure the maintenance of the Moraine’s biodiversity.

Participants also had a first-hand opportunity to see how large-scale tree planting is being done. This scale of planting not only helps to capture carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, but also contributes to the protection of our watersheds and the diversification of our landscape. One healthy mature tree releases enough oxygen back in the atmosphere to support two human beings for one year.

Northumberland County: Local Tree Planting Contributes to Ontarios 50 Million Tree Goal - Environmental Communication Options/Huff Strategy.

Healing a bruised forest

Deep ruts lead through the bog to the hideaway in the woods. Under a sagging tarp, the ground is littered with broken beer bottles, car parts, remnants of automotive fluids and a couple of barbecues.

Off-roaders did their oil changes at the makeshift "Jiffy Lube," explains the custodian of this ecologically sensitive property that has been battered and bruised by years of illegal activities by trespassers.

Kristie Virgoe has a message for those who would mistreat East Cross Forest Conservation Area: Get out and stay out. To everyone else: Give Kawartha Conservation a chance to assess the damage and get the forest on the road to recovery before venturing back – as invited visitors.

"The illegal activity this spring is particularly concerning," says Virgoe, citing surface damage and water contamination from off-roading and burning vehicles. "A zero-tolerance policy is in full force to protect this ecologically sensitive area."

When the conservation authority acquired the biggest chunk of the property from a private donor in the fall of 2006, they immediately put up `no trespassing' signs and hired a security firm to patrol the 337 hectares, located in the southeast corner of Scugog Township. Vandals had destroyed the first sign before they got back to the office, recalls Virgoe, manager of environmental protection and restoration.

A year and a half later, the problems persist. Police have made more than a dozen arrests for offences related to drinking, driving, hunting, firearms and drugs.

In a recent trespassing incident, an off-roader told police he didn't see any signs. But when they opened his trunk, they found four of them, says Mike Brennan, of Canadian Shield Anticrime, which is working in partnership with Durham Region police to crack down on lawbreakers.

Security guards have been almost run down by ATVs and had loaded shotguns pointed at them, says Brennan, operations officer of logistics. A burned-out stolen vehicle had to be hauled away recently.

Trespassers include everyone from kids and families to birdwatchers and grandfathers. "We get every excuse from `I didn't see the signs' to `I've been coming here since I was a kid,'" says Brennan.

And therein lies part of the problem, says Virgoe. People believed the property was Crown land – still believe it, in fact – and they could do whatever they wanted on it.

Part of the Oak Ridges Moraine, East Cross Forest boasts red pine plantations, sand dunes, natural hardwood forest, tall grass prairie remnants and wetlands. It's home to a variety of plant species, birds, small mammals, deer, coyotes, a black bear and possibly a cougar.

"Every time I come out here, it's my joy and my sorrow," says Virgoe, frustrated over trespassers and troublemakers who care little about the breathtaking beauty. She points out one of the worst examples of ecological damage: "Mount Baldy," a 150-metre-long sand dune that people would charge up in old vehicles, until the cars gave out. Now, with vegetation stripped from the dune tops, deep gullies facilitate erosion and hinder the travel of small animals and insects.

"That's a long way down for some of those little critters," Virgoe says.

The property's sand and gravel floor are particularly vulnerable to pollutants from vehicles and ATVs because "anything that hits the ground travels quickly into the ground water."

It will take years to rehabilitate some of the worst-hit areas.

But by this time next year, they'll have made a good start and can open the gates to the public – except abusers.

TheStar.com | GTA | Healing a bruised forest.

Zero tolerance policy

Durham Regional Police and Canadian Shield Anticrime have charged at least 7 people caught trespassing in East Cross Forest Conservation Area.

Located in the southeast corner of Scugog Township in Durham Region, Kawartha Conservation is rehabilitating and managing the area to protect important water features, a variety of plant species and cold-water fish habitat after years of ecological devastation from illegal activities.

The charges range from trespassing and driving without a license to having open alcohol in a vehicle. As well, a recently stolen vehicle was found burned-out on the property.

One of the off-roaders charged with trespassing claimed that he didn’t see any of the ‘no trespassing’ signs. However, a search of his vehicle uncovered 3 of the signs in his trunk.

As part of the Oak Ridges Moraine, East Cross Forest provides vital recharge areas for groundwater aquifers and headwaters for creeks and rivers. The East Cross Forest Conservation Area is closed to the public until next spring.