Mississauga Achieves Prestigious Forest Stewardship Council® Certification

The City of Mississauga has achieved the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification (FSC® C018800) for the management of 36 woodlands through the Eastern Ontario Model Forest (EOMF) program. Receiving the certification confirms that a forest is being managed sustainably, preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers. The FSC® certification will assist the City with maintaining high forest stewardship standards.

“Mississauga is a city that values the vital role trees play in our community. The FSC® certification showcases our commitment to sustainable forest management and protecting Mississauga’s woodlands,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “The City recognizes the importance of trees for the environment of large urban cities like Mississauga. They provide shade and habitat for wildlife while filtering pollution and controlling flooding.”

To become certified, an organization must meet the FSC®’s standard for forest management. Mississauga’s woodlands were evaluated against 10 principles ranging from maintaining high conservation values to monitoring the environmental and social impacts of forest management. The certification complements a growing network of certified forests across southern Ontario under the EOMF’s Forest Certification Program.

“This certification assures the local community that our forest management activities are meeting the highest of standards,” said Nadia Paladino, Director, Parks, Forestry and Environment. “Mississauga manages more than 200 hectares of forests, including wetlands, woodlands and natural forests. We are very proud to have received this certification and to be a leader in sustainable forest management in Ontario. Receiving the FSC® certification helps us raise awareness about the value forests play within our economy, culture, traditions, history and future.”

FSC® certification benefits include sharing solutions to help raise the standard of forest management, connecting to a global network of organizations and businesses and protecting forest ecosystems while helping to fight climate change.

Benefits of Forests

As a valuable part of Mississauga’s ecosystem, the city’s forests help:

• Combat climate change: Trees absorb carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, removing and storing the carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air.
• Cool our streets and city: Trees provide shade to our homes and streets while releasing water vapor into the air through their leaves.
• Provide food to people and wildlife: Certain trees provide fruits (e.g. apple, pear), nuts (e.g. walnut, hickory) and berries (e.g. serviceberry, yew).
• Prevent water pollution: Trees absorb stormwater (e.g. rain and melting snow) and prevent pollutants from being carried to Mississauga’s creeks, rivers and lake Ontario.
• Reduce flood risk: Trees and shrubs capture water through their canopies and absorb it through their roots, reducing runoff from storms.
• Provide homes to wildlfe: A single tree can provide habitats for many species like squirrels, birds and insects. Forest ecosystems offer even more habitat functions for wildlife and provide the necessary material to support their growth, feeding, breeding, movement and long-term survival.

Currently, the City is developing a Woodland Management Plan. As part of this process, staff are asking for resident feedback to prioritize management objectives across these City woodlands. If you have questions, email public.info@mississauga.ca or call 311 (905-615-4311 from outside Mississauga).

About the Eastern Ontario Model Forest (EOMF)

The EOMF is a not-for-profit, charitable organization. The EOMF works with government, landowners, industry, First Nations, non-government organizations and others to develop new ways to sustain and manage our forest resources. The EOMF Forest Certification Program now includes 70 private woodlot owners, 14 community forests.

About the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®)

FSC® is an international, membership-based, non-profit organization that supports environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. FSC® Canada’s national forest stewardship standard provides tangible actions that positively impact forests, safeguarding forests, biodiversity protection, places to work and play sustainably, the elimination of deforestation, fair work environments, and community rights, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

To learn more about FSC®, visit ca.fsc.org.

Source: City of Mississauga