York Region grows greener while strengthening roots in community and climate resilience

May 28, 2026
Annual update reported record setting 150,000 trees and shrubs planted last year

Newmarket – York Regional Council received the 2025 Greening Strategy achievements, demonstrating the ongoing progress to support a healthier, more sustainable environment driven by strong partnerships with local cities and towns and community partners.

“York Region’s Greening Strategy continues to deliver meaningful environmental, economic and health benefits for residents and visitors,” said Eric Jolliffe, York Region Chairman and CEO. “Investments in trees and forests strengthen our ability to respond to changing environmental conditions while supporting community well-being. York Region remains focused on expanding tree cover with record high plantings, building ecological resilience and stewarding healthy forests for generations to come.”

2025 Greening Strategy key accomplishments include:

  • Planting a record-high 150,320 trees and shrubs through the Greening Strategy; more than doubles the Region’s target to plant 70,000 trees and shrubs annually
  • Delivering 133 resident engagement events to inspire stewardship and action, including guided walks, forest festivals and tree planting events, leveraging more than $2.6 million in external funding
  • Advancing Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund priorities by planting 52,635 trees and shrubs in urban areas and 50,520 seedings on land secured through the fund
  • Becoming the first municipality to achieve Sustainable Forestry Initiative Urban and Community Forest Sustainability certification, reinforcing Regional leadership in sustainable forest management
  • Increasing tree canopy cover to almost 34% and woodland cover to almost 25% and securing 1.4 hectares of environmental land, strengthening climate resilience and natural heritage across York Region

“York Region demonstrates strong environmental leadership through innovation, partnership and community action,” said City of Richmond Hill Mayor, David West, Chair of Public Works - Environmental Services. “As we review the Greening Strategy annually, we identify opportunities to enhance green infrastructure, improve air and water quality, reduce flood risks and protect wildlife habitats across the region.”

York Region continues to demonstrate leadership in sustainable forestry and urban greening. Community stewardship remains central to this work, with more than 15,700 participants engaged in building a greener future.

York Region continues to monitor, educate and prepare threat assessments for emerging invasive species with mitigation options to help protect Regional assets and awareness for residents. The top three of concern include Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (most recently discovered in the Rouge National Urban Park), Oak Wilt (found in the City of Niagara Falls in 2023) and Spotted Lanternfly (most recently found in the City of St. Catharines). Learn more about each invasive species and how to report a sighting at york.ca/InvasiveSpecies

In April 2026, York Region was also presented with a 2025 Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation for the York Regional Forests’ 100th anniversary celebrations.

Learn more about York Region’s Greening Strategy at york.ca/Greening

The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to more than 1.3 million residents and over 58,000 businesses with 624,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available at york.ca/RegionalServices

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Media Contacts:

Melissa Pinto, Corporate Communications, The Regional Municipality of York
437-997-6821, @email

Tiki Reid, Corporate Communications, The Regional Municipality of York
@email