IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: A version of article was originally published by ThoroldToday on October 18.
Thorold's about to look a whole lot greener! The NPCA and Niagara Region have partnered up to plant trees in Waterworks Park on Decew Road.
The project will not only add to the Niagara Region’s tree canopy, but it will also enhance a natural corridor stretching from Lake Moodie to the Short Hills Conservation Area.
“Projects like this are an opportunity for us to increase forest canopy cover, increase biodiversity and increase habitat for everything,” said Stuart McPherson, who is a restoration specialist for the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.
McPherson was leading the tree planting at the Decew Road park on Thursday afternoon, which will see a total of 1,000 trees and shrubs planted at the site near Lake Gibson and the Lake Moodie. The man-made lakes were created to facilitate hydroelectric power generation at the Decew Falls stations 1 and 2.
The planting, which was being done by volunteers from the Region, will also create more biodiversity along the shoreline, McPherson said.
“It's by water, which is always great, because it means less stuff going into the water as well,” he said.
Angela Stea, the Director of Corporate Strategy and Community Sustainability for Niagara Region, praised the partnership between the upper tier municipal government and the NPCA and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation, which funded the initiative.
“The collaboration is vital for our efforts to improve environmental health and restore our watersheds, and by working together, we're able to leverage resources, expertise and enthusiasm to achieve these goals,” she said.
Likewise, NPCA Chief Executive Officer Leilani Lee-Yates said establishing partnerships in the community can go a long way environmental protection and sustainability. The tree planting, she said, was a good example of that ideal.
“I think the importance of these community events are to bring our partners together in our efforts to improve the health of our watershed and improve water quality through restoration efforts such as tree planting,” she said.
The trees, as they mature, will “provide shade and habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species,” she added.
Thursday’s planting was a part of the NPCA’s Trees for All initiative to plant 1 million trees by 2031. In its first five years, the program has averaged 90,000 trees being planted annually.
More information and updates on the program can be found at getinvolved.npca.ca.
