Tree Canada

Tree Canada

Founded	1992
Focus	Trees and urban forestry
Location	Ottawa
Coordinates	45°24′51″N75°41′59″W / 45.414058°N 75.699610°W / 45.414058; -75.699610
Method	Education, policy engagement, provision of resources (including grants) and expertise
Revenue	fully funded by corporations, organizations and donors
Employees	18
Website	www.treecanada.ca

Tree Canada (French : Arbres Canada) is a non-profit charitable organization ^[1] that promotes the planting and nurturing of trees in Canada's urban and rural areas. It provides tree-related education, technical assistance and resources to communities, corporations, individuals and non-profit organizations. ^{[2] [3]}

History

Tree Canada began in 1992 under the name "The National Community Tree Foundation" ^[4] and was originally funded by the Canadian Forest Service (CFS), a branch of the government ministry Natural Resources Canada. ^[5] In collaboration with CFS, the foundation was tasked with delivering the Canadian governmental program Tree Plan Canada, which provided assistance for tree-planting projects across Canada and also sought to educate the public about the importance of trees in fighting climate change. ^[6] In 1993, the first Canadian Urban Forest Conference was held. ^[7] Tree Canada has been a principal organizer since the inception of the conference. ^[8]

In 2007, the Government of Canada ceased funding the organization, prompting it to rebrand as "Tree Canada" as it transitioned to a privately funded charity. ^[9]

Programs

• Greening Canada’s School Grounds provides grants and resources to schools to enable them to plant and care for trees on their grounds. ^[10]
• TD Green Streets provides assistance to municipalities, aboriginal communities, and selected business improvement associations in the areas of tree planting, tree-related urban design, and outreach. ^[11]
• Grow Clean Air allows companies, households, municipalities and events to calculate their carbon dioxide emissions and take steps to offset those emissions. ^[12]
• Operation ReLeaf provides assistance in replanting trees in areas affected by natural pests or disasters. The current ReLeaf program is directed at replanting trees in Alberta that were lost to the mountain pine beetle. ^[13]
• Edible Trees provides funding and resources to community groups and organizations to allow them to grow fruit and nut trees. ^[14]
• National Tree Day, inaugurated by the Canadian parliament in 2011, is a national day devoted to tree-related education and activities. ^[15]
• Partners in Planting and the National Greening Program both provide opportunities for community and corporate groups to plant and care for trees in their neighbourhoods. ^[16]

Criticism

Tree Canada has been accused of greenwashing large oil companies such as Shell Canada. ^[17]

References

1. Canada Revenue Agency, Canadian Registered Charities - Detail Page."
2. Government of Canada (Environment Canada),"The Green Source Funding Database - Tree Canada."
3. Government of Canada, "Forests." "Forests - Government of Canada Web site". Archived from the original on 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
4. International Institute for Sustainable Development, "Offsetting CO2 Emissions: Tree Planting on the Prairies," p. 19.
5. The Canadian Press and Journal Staff, "Ottawa to fund millions of trees," Edmonton Journal, 1992-05-14, p. A10.
6. Ip, David W.(September 1996). "Community Tree Planting: Early Survival and Carbon Sequestering Potential, Journal of Arboriculture 22(5): p. 222.
7. Forest History Society of Ontario Newsletter, "Urban Forests," Vol.1, Issue 2 (Fall 2010), p. 4.
8. Stueck, Wendy, "Forests not just for tree huggers in Vancouver," The Globe and Mail (Toronto) 2012-08-24.
9. "About us – Tree Canada" . Retrieved 2019-10-28.
10. Canadian Forestry Association, "Greening Your School Grounds," (Canadian Forestry Association Teaching Kit Series, Vol. 2) p. 30. [usurped]
11. ReForest London, "TD's Green Streets brings trees to London yards," 2011-08-03.
12. Government of Canada (Environment Canada),"The Green Source Funding Database - Tree Canada."
13. Quinlan, Susan, "Alberta government partners with Tree Canada to restore landscapes and shelter belts," The Prairie Post 2011-11-18 (Swift Current, Saskatchewan).
14. The Halton Environmental Network, "Tree Canada's Edible Trees Program," 2012-02-23.
15. Canadian Wildlife Federation, "National Tree Day."
16. "Tree Canada - Arbres Canada :: Programs."
17. Balamir, Selçuk. "Fueling green capitalism: Big Oil and greenwashing".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)