HALTONhikes

The BIG Picture When you participate in the Footsteps for Trees hiking campaign, you will not only become more active and healthy but you will be helping Conservation Halton plant trees to improve the health of the environment. The Footsteps for Trees hiking campaign contributes to Conservation Halton’s ongoing tree planting efforts. The environmental agency has a target of planting 500,000 trees over five years to increase forest cover in the region. This contributes to Ontario’s target of planting 50 million trees by 2020. On a global scale Ontario has pledged its tree planting targets to the United Nation’s “Billion Trees Campaign” that is promoting a worldwide planting program of one billion trees per year. Why Plant More Trees? Planting large numbers of trees on private and public lands will remove millions of metric tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – and that means cleaner air and water for all of us. Trees and wood products are about 50 per cent carbon by weight. As trees grow, they reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by absorbing it and storing the carbon in stems, branches and roots.
Planting Large Numbers of Trees...
	Increases the capacity of southern Ontario’s forests to withstand the effects of climate change. Restores open land so it will eventually support a diverse, naturally regenerating forest including native hardwoods such as maple and oak. Increases the amount of wildlife habitat and supports biodiversity. Conserves soil and water. Moderates local climates by providing shade, moderating temperature extremes and reducing the effects of storms.

Trees are vital for the quality of the air we breathe, and play an important role in reducing the greenhouse gas effect. One healthy, mature tree provides enough oxygen for four people each day. It takes about 80 mature trees to remove from the air the four tonnes of emissions per year that a mid-sized car produces.

In southern Ontario, tree planting efforts will primarily take place in the Greenbelt. The Footsteps for Trees program is a great way to make a contribution to global tree planting efforts.