ERCA Plants Six Millionth Tree

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Gerry Waldron, MP Jeff Watson, Past Chair Ray Renaud, Phil Roberts and Richard Wyma

Volunteers, partners and supporters of the Essex Region Conservation Authority gathered today, on National Tree Day, to celebrate the planting of ERCA’s six millionth tree.

“It’s fitting that we commemorate this milestone today, when Canadians from coast to coast to coast are celebrating the great benefits that trees provide us – clean air, wildlife habitat, reducing energy demand and connecting with nature,” said ERCA Past Chair Ray Renaud.

“That’s enough trees to fill every seat in the WFCU Centre Arena 923 times, sequester more than 461,500 pounds of carbon from our atmosphere every single year, and replace 500,000 tons of paper,” he added.

ERCA says that when it was established in 1973, less than 3.5% of the region was identified as forested lands. Over the past four decades, the Authority has planted and distributed six million trees.

A recent mapping and calculation effort with improved technology has identified that forest coverage in the region now measures 5.4%, and that the percentage of total natural areas is 8.5%.