林业

哈尔顿保护组织在我们整个流域拥有和管理着超过10,500英亩的土地,其中大部分是森林。这些森林为我们社区的居民和生活在这些栖息地的野生动物提供了重要的经济生态和娱乐服务。

The forestry team at Conservation Halton works to create and support healthy forest ecosystems through sustainable forest management, forest health monitoring and tree planting (known as “afforestation”) programs. As a result, this work increases water, air and soil quality, reduces erosion, provides wildlife habitat and improves habitat connectivity.

Tree planting is one of the primary forestry programs at Conservation Halton. Over the past 60 years, we have planted more than 4 million trees on our own lands and on other private and public properties. Each year, the forestry department plants around 50,000 trees and shrubs on both private and public lands, in an effort to reach their goal of 30 percent forest cover in the watershed.

Conservation Halton is looking for landowners interested in planting trees on their properties, and there are a number of funding opportunities that can help offset the costs.

计划要求。

  • Minimum 500 trees to be planted 
  • Minimum 0.5 acres of open land that can be planted 
  • Property is located within the Conservation Halton watershed 
  • Willing to protect the trees from livestock, wildlife, and machinery damage 
  • Able to cover the remaining costs of the tree planting after subsidies 
  • Eligible project types include afforestation, riparian, windbreak, and restoration 
  • Willing to sign a 15-year agreement stating you will not cut, harvest, or otherwise remove the trees from the planted area for a minimum of 15 years after planting 

Forestry staff will conduct a (free) site visit to discuss your project objectives, create a plan that is designed for your property and support you in accessing funding program. Staff will manage the process of planting the trees, and monitoring will be carried out at years one, two and five. 

If you are interested in tree planting, and your property meets the requirements, please complete and submit an application form.

The Conservation Halton Strategic Forest Management Plan, which will guide us as a leader in sustainable forest management for next 20 years, includes:

  • Landscape-approach to forest management with a focus on landscape-based management of our forests
  • Commitment to sustainable management practices by identifying forest health as the primary outcome
  • Key pressures and challenges that our forests are faced with and what we can do to address them
  • Accountability in sustainable forest management with annual performance indicators built into the plan 

The Strategic Forest Management Plan will be delivered with a five-year outlook and a focus on three objectives:

  • Improve forest health conditions using current and future accepted methodologies and science 
  • Maximize the value of our forests in delivering environmental goods and services, social and health benefits, and enhanced forest diversity 
  • Maintain and, where possible, increase forest cover across our watershed through afforestation of private, municipal, and corporate lands, and through public education and landowner outreach programs.  

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SUMMARY

拥有4公顷(9.88英亩)或更多的森林土地,并同意为其财产准备和遵守森林管理计划的土地所有者可以享受管理森林税收优惠计划。根据该计划,土地所有者将其财产的森林部分进行评估,并将其归类为 "管理森林",并按住宅物业的市政税率的25%征税。

哈尔顿保护组织可以协助土地所有者根据林业实践和土地所有者的目标编制和提交森林管理计划。参与该计划的相关费用可以通过哈尔顿地区的资助机会来减少。

Check your eligibility for the MFTIP program. Forestry staff can help you prepare a Managed Forest Plan.

有关管理性森林税收激励计划的更多信息,请访问自然资源和林业部,或通过电子邮件联系我们的管理性森林计划审批人,地址是:forestry@hrca.on.ca

Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive beetle that is known to be damaging and destructive to Ash trees. Once an tree has been infested with Emerald Ash Borer, it is usually killed within two or three years, and becomes more susceptible to falling over or dropping branches. Dead trees can provide many ecological benefits to a forest, but unfortunately, they can also be dangerous and hazardous if the tree is within striking distance of a trail, road, hydro, building or other assets.

As a result of this risk, Conservation Halton is in the process of removing around 100,000 trees infested with Emerald Ash Borer from our properties, so that they don’t hurt anyone or damage anything. In order for us to remove these trees, safely, we sometimes need to close trails, so we appreciate your patience, understanding and respect. In these cases, signs will be posted in the areas where work is taking place, and service disruptions will be shared on our website.

恢复

In areas where a large number of trees need to be removed, the tree canopy will be more open, the forest will appear emptier, and there may be many logs on the ground. It won’t be pretty, but after a year of natural restoration, the area will look like a healthy, young forest again. Most restoration occurs from the seeds and roots of existing trees, but we will be supporting this restoration with new trees and shrubs planted in the area.

预防

The forestry team at Conservation Halton would like to remind you to not transport firewood from one area to another, as this is a common way that Emerald Ash Borer is spread. Transporting firewood might not seem like a big deal but it could lead to a infestation, which can impact the value of your property and limit your ability to enjoy the environment around you. Help protect our trees and “buy it where you burn it!”

Oak wilt is a fungal pathogen that has been confirmed at two locations in Ontario, making it the first known cases of the disease in Canada. Red oaks are very susceptible, and tree death can occur within a single season.

The fungal disease grows on the outer sapwood and moves through the vascular system of the tree, slowly restricting the flow of water and nutrients. The fungal spores are spread by small nitidulid beetles that feed on sap from fresh wounds and carry the disease from infected trees to uninfected trees. As the beetles feed on sap, the fungus moves into the vascular tissue and the tree reacts by walling off the spread of the disease, plugging cells. This response is what causes branches to wilt. Another method of spread is through interconnected root systems (root grafts) between infected and healthy oak trees allowing the disease to spread within a stand.

The most noticeable symptoms are sudden wilting and premature dropping of leaves in mid-summer. Leaves at the edge of the canopy are usually the first to wilt, with this wilting progressing toward the inner canopy.

The signs of oak wilt are:
• Dull green, brown or bronzing of the leaves
• Premature leaf drop
• Vertical cracks on the trunk from pressure pads that emit a fruity smell
• White, grey or black fungus

What can you do?
• Don’t prune oak trees between 四月 and 11月
• Do NOT move firewood
• Report suspected signs to the CFIA
• Check oak trees for signs and symptoms of oak wilt

For more information or to report oak wilt, click here.

Close-up of hemlock woolly adelgid insects on green hemlock needles

Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is a small, aphid-like insect that attacks and kills Eastern hemlock trees.

This invasive insect spreads by wind, birds and mammals. It can also travel long distances via infested nursery stock, logs and firewood. HWA attaches its mouthparts to the base of hemlock needles to feed on nutrient and water storage cells. As they feed, the trees are slowly killed from the lack of nutrients and reduced photosynthesis. HWA infestations can take anywhere from four to 20 years to cause mortality — all Eastern hemlock are susceptible, regardless of age.

The signs of HWA are:
• Discoloured foliage
• Thinning crown
• Visible injuries

Monitoring

In 2012 and 2013, HWA was detected in infested nursery stocks in Etobicoke and Niagara Falls, Ontario.

As of 2023, HWA populations have been confirmed in Ontario in the Niagara Peninsula, in Grafton and in the Cootes Paradise near Hamilton.

HWA is federally regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The CFIA continues to monitor current populations. Through early detection and continued monitoring, the impact of HWA can be reduced.

What can you do?
• Do NOT move firewood
• Report suspected signs to the CFIA
• Check Eatern hemlock trees for signs of HWA

For more information about HWA, click here.

如果你有森林财产,哈尔顿保护组织为土地所有者提供免费访问,以了解更多关于你的森林,找出如何改善你的森林质量,并获得关于政府项目的信息,以节省一定比例的财产税。请联系我们,treeplanting@hrca.on.ca,了解更多信息。