Conservation Authority Offering Subsidized Trees until March
It’s not too early to start planning your property beautification projects for this spring! Residents from across South Nation Conservation’s (SNC) 4,384 square-kilometer jurisdiction in Eastern Ontario can still take advantage of ordering over-the-counter trees directly from the Conservation Authority at a subsidized cost until March 1, 2020.
The price per seedling can be as low as $0.58 depending on the species, and a minimum of 100 seedlings in multiples of 50 per species can be ordered while supplies last. SNC’s over-the-counter trees are locally sourced and are native stock to Ontario.
The remaining tree species available for purchase include: Silver, Black and Sugar maple; Poplar; Black willow; and Red and White pine. Residents are encouraged to contact SNC for a complete list of available remaining species.
“Based on orders to date, over 145,000 trees will be added to the local landscape in 2020,” says Cheyene Brunet, SNC’s Forestry Technician. “This will bring the total amount of trees planted by SNC to 3.4 million since 1990.”
SNC also offers a subsidy to landowners for 1-acre tree plantings alongside watercourses and farm fields. Tree planting along waterways protects water quality by acting as an organic filter while windbreak planting along farm fields provides wind shelter and protects soil from erosion.
Property owners with larger open planting areas of at least 2.5 acres can receive additional cost savings by purchasing trees from SNC through a partnership with Forests Ontario. The program provides seedlings, planting, and site preparation and tending for a $0.20 fee per tree for conifers and $0.50 fee per tree for deciduous.
“Trees provide many unique benefits; they add aesthetic appeal, provide shade and can even increase property value,” said Cheyene Brunet, SNC’s Forestry Technician. “Plus, planting trees is a great way to protect the environment and enhance local forest cover.”
The 2020 order form as well as more information on SNC’s forestry services can be found here: www.nation.on.ca/land/forestry-services/tree-planting-services.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Cheyene Brunet, SNC Forestry Technician, cbrunet@nation.on.ca, 1-877-984-2948, ext. 295.
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