With Earth Day just a month away, I would like to tell you about a celebration that is less often talked about… but deserves our full attention: International Forest Day.

Proclaimed in 2012 by the United Nations, it is celebrated every March 21 to highlight the importance of forests.

This post is a simple invitation: to see them differently, to recognize what they offer us, and to appreciate them with respect and gratitude.

The place of forests in the world

Forests cover nearly one-third of the planet’s land area and play several essential roles: carbon storage, climate regulation, water filtration, soil protection, habitat for biodiversity, and support for communities.

The latest report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shows that deforestation is slowing down compared to previous decades, thanks to awareness-raising, protection policies, and responsible forestry practices^[1].

Despite this, millions of hectares are lost each year, mainly due to changes in land use, but climate change is also increasing pressure on forests. Droughts, heat waves, fires, and pests weaken trees and increase their risk of dying.

Source: https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/2dee6e93-1988-4659-aa89-30dd20b43b15/content/FRA-2025/key-findings.html

Forests of Canada

Nearly 40% of Canada’s land area is covered by forests, representing approximately 10% of the world’s forests^[2]. Forest cover has remained stable for several years, with a very low deforestation rate (0.02%)^[3], but this stability does not mean that there have been no disturbances.

In recent years, Canadian forests have been marked by exceptional forest fire seasons. In 2023, nearly 18 million hectares burned, a historic record^[4]. These fires disrupt forest ecosystems, degrade air quality over vast areas, and sometimes force communities to evacuate their homes.

Photo: Government of Saskatchewan

New forests in the spotlight

To address these challenges, reforestation initiatives are multiplying around the world^[5].

In Canada, Earth Day Canada is contributing to this collective effort through its Tomorrow’s Forest program, which has planted more than one million trees across the country over the past 20 years. Its approach is science-based: planting diverse species adapted to local conditions to create forests that are resilient to disturbances and climate change.

Since I joined in 2022, I have helped plant more than 150,000 trees. It gives me immense pride to know that they will form new forests and leave a real legacy for future generations.

Photo: Earth Day Canada

What can citizens do?

Here are a few simple things we can do to help create and protect our forests:

• Participate in tree planting activities in your community
• Plant a tree at home, preferably a native species that is different from those already present in the vicinity, to promote diversity
• Choose certified wood and products from responsible forestry practices
• Practice safe behavior in the forest: stay on the trails, light fires only in designated areas, and respect the flora and fauna
• Support organizations that work to restore and manage forests, such as Earth Day Canada

 

Every action counts: planting, protecting, supporting… all help our forests grow for tomorrow.

[1] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (FAO). (2025). Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025.
[2] Government of Canada. (2025). The State of Canada’s Forests: Annual Report 2025.
[3] Government of Canada. (2026). Deforestation in Canada: Key myths and facts.
[4] Radio-Canada. (2025). Le Canada vit une des pires saisons des feux de son histoire : la nouvelle norme?
[5] Tree-nation. (2026). Reforestation projects.

Director of Plantations

Mathieu Neau

An optimist by nature, Mathieu remains hopeful that humanity will take action for its own benefit and that of our planet. Wishing to get actively involved, he joined the Earth Day Canada team. His mission? To plant trees (lots of them!). For him, forests are a source of well-being. He also likes to play cosom floor hockey, share a good meal with friends, and think of himself as a fine strategist when playing board games.

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