Forests Canada
Forests Canada is a national charity founded in 1950 that restores Canada's forests through subsidized tree planting, seed forecasting, and post-fire recovery programs. It serves landowners, Indigenous communities, corporate partners, government agencies, and students, having supported the planting of over 50 million trees since 2004.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1950
- HeadquartersBarrie, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Forests Canada does
Forests Canada is a national charity founded in 1950 and headquartered in Barrie, Ontario, dedicated to restoring and growing Canada's forests. The organization operates a vertically integrated forest recovery system spanning seed collection and forecasting (managing 200M+ viable seeds annually), subsidized tree planting programs (covering 50-90% of project costs for landowners planting 500+ trees), post-fire recovery coordination, and educational programming. Since 2004, Forests Canada has supported the planting of over 50 million trees across 10,400+ restoration projects in 10 provinces, with cumulative deployment exceeding $90M over the past 12 years. The organization's technology stack centers on a proprietary Seed Forecasting System, a Live Impact Dashboard tracking environmental metrics, and a multi-step Restoration Program Application System connecting landowners with local planting partners.
The business model combines donation-based and program-based revenue streams: individual donations (one-time, monthly, workplace, legacy giving including bequests and RRSPs), corporate partnerships and sponsorships, government grants (e.g., Ontario Species Conservation Program), and landowner cost-sharing for planting projects. Customer segments include private landowners, Indigenous communities (via the Shared Pathways reconciliation program), corporate partners, government and conservation authorities, and K-12 educational audiences. Distribution is delivered through a trusted network of planting partners, conservation authorities, and forestry professionals rather than direct retail channels.
Forests Canada rebranded from Forests Ontario in 2024 to reflect its national scope, and recent strategic moves in 2026 — including a National Working Group on Post-Fire Forest Recovery Practices, a Forest Restoration After Wildfire report, a BC partnership with Cariboo Carbon Solutions for 2.3M trees, and the Take Root urban planting program — signal an accelerating pivot toward wildfire-driven restoration demand and geographic expansion beyond Ontario.
Forests Canada firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Forests Canada
- Legal name
- Forests Canada
- Website
- https://forestscanada.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1950
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Forests Canada is a national charity founded in 1950 that restores Canada's forests through subsidized tree planting, seed forecasting, and post-fire recovery programs. It serves landowners, Indigenous communities, corporate partners, government agencies, and students, having supported the planting of over 50 million trees since 2004.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Forests Canada industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Forest Restoration Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (1132)
- SIC
- Forestry (800), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services (IMAMAJAM), Tree Planting & Establishment Services (Manual/Mechanized) (AFAMACAE), Forest Carbon Projects & Ecosystem Services (Carbon Credits, Biodiversity) (IMAMAAAJ), Urban & Community Reforestation / Street Tree Planting (AFAMACAL)
Keywords
Where Forests Canada is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barrie
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Forests Canada business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations through one-time, monthly, celebration, memorial, and workplace giving programs. Revenue is generated through voluntary contributions from individuals supporting forest restoration causes.
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Revenue from corporate partners who sponsor programs, events, and restoration projects. Includes workplace giving programs and event collaborations.
- Program Cost Sharing: Landowners contribute to costs of tree planting projects based on project size, species, site preparation, and planting method. Funding covers 50-90% of total project costs.
- Legacy Giving: Gifts in wills, life insurance, securities, RRSPs/RRIFs, and charitable remainder trusts. Plan your legacy as an environmental leader.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free educational programs for schools and community groups |
| Hybrid | Pay-as-you-go | Tree Planting Program with subsidized costs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels12 records
Forests Canada product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Forests Canada is a national charity that restores and grows Canada's forests through subsidized tree planting programs for landowners (Plant Trees With Us / 50 Million Tree Program), seed collection and forecasting infrastructure (200+ million viable seeds managed annually), post-fire forest recovery coordination via a National Working Group, Indigenous-led reconciliation planting (Shared Pathways), urban tree distribution (Take Root), the Highway of Heroes tribute campaign, and K-12 environmental education (Ontario Envirothon, Forestry in the Classroom, Tree Bee, Focus on Forests). All programs are funded primarily through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, government grants, and landowner cost-sharing, with planting costs subsidized at 50-90% for eligible projects of 500+ trees.
Product overview
Forests Canada operates as a national charity focused on forest restoration and education, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a single software product. The core offering includes tree planting programs (Plant Trees With Us, 50 Million Tree Program) that provide funding support to landowners, seed forecasting services to ensure tree planting infrastructure, and post-fire recovery initiatives including a National Working Group and research reports. Educational programs encompass Ontario Envirothon (academic competition), Forestry in the Classroom (volunteer expert presentations), Tree Bee (tree identification), and Focus on Forests (curriculum-linked resources). Community engagement includes Shared Pathways (Indigenous reconciliation tree planting) and Take Root (urban tree distribution). The organization accepts donations through multiple channels including one-time, monthly, celebration, and legacy giving options. All programs are delivered through a network of planting partners, conservation authorities, and community organizations across Canada's provinces and territories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TreeBee.ca: Tree identification tool for communities, families and classrooms
- ItTakesAForest
- TreeLine
- Our Forest Magazine
Products and services
- Plant Trees With Us A tree planting program that makes increasing forest cover easier and more affordable for landowners by significantly reducing costs for projects of a minimum of 500 trees. Supports afforestation, riparian buffer planting, windbreak establishment, and forest restoration project types across Canada.
- 50 Million Tree Program A large-scale tree planting initiative that supports landowners with funding to make tree planting more affordable, helping to increase forest cover across Canada.
- Seed Forecasting A program that collects tree seeds, tracks their development, and compiles information about tree seed availability, location, type, and quantity to strengthen Canada's tree planting infrastructure. Forests Canada collects and manages more than 200 million viable seeds annually to ensure reliable tree supply for future projects.
- Shared Pathways A reconciliation-focused program providing support for First Nations communities and organizations in creating spaces for sharing stories, restoring connections to land through ecological restoration, and highlighting Indigenous leadership in forest stewardship.
- Take Root A community-powered initiative providing residents access to low- or no-cost native trees for their homes and neighbourhoods, with education on urban tree canopy importance, tree selection, and planting and care techniques.
- National Working Group on Post-Fire Forest Recovery Practices A multidisciplinary working group supporting coordinated national action, knowledge exchange, and development of best practices for post-fire reforestation and forest resilience, with expertise spanning restoration, forest management, silviculture, post-fire ecology, Indigenous knowledge, nursery operations, and policy.
- UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration Forests Canada's program delivered under its official designation as a Restoration Implementer of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, promoting ecosystem protection, conservation, and revitalization worldwide.
- Ontario Envirothon An environmentally-themed academic competition for students in grades 9-12 that provides hands-on experience with forests, soils, wildlife, and aquatic ecosystems, with team-based activities designed to develop critical thinking and environmental leadership.
- Forestry in the Classroom A program that matches schools and community groups with forestry and natural resource practitioners to facilitate hands-on forest lessons for grades 4-12 on topics including tree identification, forest careers, invasive species, and forest management.
- Tree Bee An interactive tree identification resource tool and program for communities, families, and students in grades 4-6, helping participants recognize common Ontario tree species through interactive activities and educational resources.
- Focus on Forests A collection of free curriculum-linked educational resources including lesson plans, study guides, activities, fact sheets, and presentations for K-12 teachers covering topics such as biodiversity, climate change, and forestry careers.
- Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign A tribute program planting 2 million trees along Highway 401 from Cornwall to Windsor in honour of Canadian armed forces members, past and present.
- Donations and Fundraising Charitable giving programs accepting one-time and monthly donations, celebration donations, workplace giving, and legacy gifts (wills, life insurance, securities, RRSPs/RRIFs, and charitable remainder trusts) to support forest restoration and education programs across Canada.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50+ million trees planted since 2004
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Forests Canada
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Forests Canada technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Forests Canada partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Ontario Power GenerationcoreOPG partnership resulted in planting 10 million native trees and shrubs across Ontario. Multiple collaborations including support for Shared Pathways events and reconciliation plantings.
- Greenbelt FoundationcorePartnership with Greenbelt Foundation nearing one-million-tree milestone in Ontario's Greenbelt, with 750,000 trees planted since 2022 to enhance near-urban and rural forest cover.
- Integrity ReforestationcoreWorking closely to restore the Ogoki Forest in Northern Ontario after devastating 2023 wildfires. Planting over 3 million trees by hand over two years, with 2.2 million trees already planted.
- Tree CanadacoreCollaborative partner in Ogoki Forest restoration project alongside Integrity Reforestation, Agoke Development LP, and Arbor Day Foundation.
- Arbor Day FoundationcoreCollaborative partner in Ogoki Forest restoration project supporting post-wildfire recovery in Northern Ontario.
- Agoke Development LPcoreIndigenous partnership collaboration in Ogoki Forest restoration project for post-wildfire recovery.
- Cariboo Carbon SolutionscorePartnership with forestry consulting firm to plant 2.3 million trees in British Columbia areas devastated by 2023 Bush Creek East wildfire, with 100,000 trees already planted in North Shuswap and Criss Creek.
- Bruce Trail ConservancymajorOver 20 years of partnership planting more than 2 million trees within 1km of the Bruce Trail to restore and reconnect forest cover along the Niagara Escarpment corridor.
- Ontario ParkscorePlanted 12,000 native trees and shrubs across nine provincial parks to restore areas impacted by extreme weather, invasive species, and shoreline erosion.
- Saugeen Valley Conservation AuthoritycoreLong-standing planting partner that has planted 25 million trees as part of Conservation Authorities across Ontario initiative.
- Toronto and Region Conservation AuthoritycorePartner hosting field tours at Albion Hills Conservation Area for Annual Planting Partners Meeting, showcasing ecological restoration approaches.
- Indigenous Partners NetworkcoreNetwork includes Assembly of First Nations, Beausoleil First Nation, Kayanase Greenhouse, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Moose Deer Point First Nation, Plenty Canada, South Nation Conservation, and Survivors' Secretariat for reconciliation-focused restoration.
- Nottawasaga Valley Conservation AuthoritymajorPlanted 8,000 native trees in 2026 near the Bruce Trail in partnership with Forests Canada.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Forests Canada competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tree Canada: Canada's other national tree-planting charity, running community planting programs, urban forestry initiatives, and tree giveaway campaigns. Most directly comparable peer in terms of mission, donor base, and program mix.
- Evergreen Canada: Canadian nonprofit focused on urban forestry, school ground greening, and city-building through naturalization. Comparable as a Canadian environmental charity delivering nature-based programs with corporate and government funding.
- One Tree Planted: Global reforestation nonprofit operating a low-friction donor-to-planting model with corporate partnerships. Comparable business model (donor-funded tree planting at scale) with broader geographic reach.
- Nature Conservancy of Canada: Canada's largest land conservation charity, securing and stewarding natural areas including forest habitat. Comparable as a national environmental nonprofit with corporate partnerships, donor base, and conservation mandate.
- Ducks Unlimited Canada: Canadian wetland and habitat conservation charity with a major forestry and landowner stewardship component. Comparable as a national conservation nonprofit delivering habitat restoration with donor and government funding.
- Cariboo Carbon Solutions: Forestry consulting and planting partner working with Forests Canada on BC wildfire recovery. Comparable as a privately-held forestry services firm delivering post-wildfire planting at scale.
Broad incumbents
- Arbor Day Foundation: The largest tree-planting nonprofit globally, with the most recognized brand in the sector. Direct collaborator on the Ogoki Forest project. Functions as a broad incumbent with significantly larger scale and US-centric operations.
- WWF-Canada: Large established environmental nonprofit operating across species, climate, and habitat in Canada. Functions as a broad incumbent with overlapping corporate partnership, donor, and policy channels.
Regional players
- Conservation Ontario: Network of Ontario's 36 conservation authorities — Forests Canada's most important implementation channel (25M trees planted). Comparable as a regional delivery organization for conservation programs and landowner services.
Others
- Greenbelt Foundation: Ontario charitable foundation funding near-urban forest cover (750K+ trees planted in partnership). Functions as a partner/funder with adjacent mandate rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Forests Canada social profiles
Digital presenceForests Canada compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Forests Canada financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Forests Canada leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Forests Canada subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Forests Canada funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Forests Canada M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Forests Canada
What does Forests Canada do?
Forests Canada is a national charity that restores and grows Canada's forests through subsidized tree planting programs for landowners (Plant Trees With Us / 50 Million Tree Program), seed collection and forecasting infrastructure (200+ million viable seeds managed annually), post-fire forest recovery coordination via a National Working Group, Indigenous-led reconciliation planting (Shared Pathways), urban tree distribution (Take Root), the Highway of Heroes tribute campaign, and K-12 environmental education (Ontario Envirothon, Forestry in the Classroom, Tree Bee, Focus on Forests). All programs are funded primarily through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, government grants, and landowner cost-sharing, with planting costs subsidized at 50-90% for eligible projects of 500+ trees.
Is Forests Canada a public or private company?
Forests Canada is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Forests Canada founded?
Forests Canada was founded in 1950. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Forests Canada based?
Forests Canada is headquartered in Barrie, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Forests Canada make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships, program Cost Sharing and legacy Giving.
Who are Forests Canada's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tree Canada, Evergreen Canada, One Tree Planted, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada and Cariboo Carbon Solutions. Broad incumbents are Arbor Day Foundation and WWF-Canada. Conservation Ontario is listed as a regional player. Greenbelt Foundation is listed as an others.
Does Forests Canada have an API?
No public API is recorded for Forests Canada.
What industry is Forests Canada in?
Forests Canada's product category is Forest Restoration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAD, Forestry & Reforestation, with a secondary code of IMAMAJAM, Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services. Its NAICS code is 115310 and its SIC code is 800.