Forestry Services

South Nation Conservation (SNC) plays a leading role in protecting and growing forests across Eastern Ontario. Over the past 30 years, SNC and its partners have planted more than 4 million trees, helping to strengthen natural heritage, improve water quality, and build healthier communities.

Each year, more than 100,000 trees are planted across the region through the efforts of SNC staff, conservation partners, and participating landowners.

Through sustainable forest management, stewardship programs, and partnerships with landowners and municipalities, SNC is working to ensure forests remain a lasting legacy across our watershed.

Our Forests

Ontario’s forests help clean the air we breathe, protect the water we drink, and provide habitat for abundant wildlife. Forests also support local communities through recreation, biodiversity, and renewable forest products.

Maintaining and expanding forest cover across the region is a key priority for SNC and its member municipalities as development pressures and land use changes have continued to impact forest cover and the connectivity of natural heritage areas.

Protecting and Increasing Forest Cover in the South Nation Conservation Jurisdiction: SNC engaged municipal partners, all local federations of agriculture, forestry partners like Forests Canada, Ontario Woodlot Association, Boisés Est, and local stewardship and environmental groups to review the state of forest cover and deliver recommendations to Conservation Authorities and Municipalities on ways to conserve and increase forest cover.

Forests are important natural resources, vital to our communities and the environment. They provide important environmental, economic, social and cultural benefits - and they're worth conserving, restoring and managing.

Forest Management on SNC Properties

SNC supports the management of approximately 20,000 acres of forested land, including significant natural heritage areas with species at risk, rare ecosystems, and old-growth features.

Our forests are managed using sound, sustainable practices under Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, ensuring conservation values are protected while supporting responsible long-term management.

Forest management activities on SNC lands may include:

Sustainable harvest planning
Forest health and regeneration work
Habitat protection and restoration
Tree planting and maintenance
Public education and stewardship opportunities

Forestry Services for Municipalities and Landowners

SNC’s forestry expertise is also available beyond our own properties. We provide professional forestry services to:

Member municipalities and conservation partners
Private landowners interested in improving their woodlots or planting trees on idle land

SNC provides support through agreements with local municipalities to help manage forests, urban trees, and tree planting intiaitives in public spaces.

Since 2009, SNC has delivered the Woodlot Advisory Service, helping landowners better understand the environmental, social, and economic value of their forests. Through site visits, education, management guidance, and grants supporting Forest Management Plans, we help promote healthy and resilient woodlots across the watershed.

Since 2022, SNC has also offered a Woodlot Storm Recovery Service to support woodlot recovery for properties damaged by severe storms.

👉 For more information on these programs, visit: Woodlot Management

Tree Planting Support and Grants

SNC helps landowners plant trees on private property through stewardship programs supported by municipal, provincial, and federal partners. Funding may be available to assist with:

Tree and shrub planting
Forest restoration
Erosion control and habitat improvement

To learn more or apply for support, please access our Tree Planting Program via our Grants page.

Learn More

We work with communities to create a legacy of healthy forests. Workshops and planting events provide hands-on learning experiences, promote local stewardship, and educate participants about plantations. Our annual forestry tours draw attention to current forestry issues and management activities on public and private lands. As part of SNC’s longstanding commitment to forestry programs, we make every effort to educate residents about practicing healthy, sustainable forest management.

For more information on SNC’s forest management and forestry services, please contact SNC's Forest Manager: ppiitz@nation.on.ca.

For a map of SNC Forest compartments, public spaces and hunting and trapping areas
please click here to visit our geoportal.

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