Healthy, vibrant and sustainable Canadian forests is the theme of a new youth-focused initiative announced today by Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and Earth Rangers, the kids’ conservation organization.

Announced on the sidelines of the GLOBE Forum, the largest and longest-running leadership summit for sustainable business in North America, the joint Living Forests Initiative will focus on educating youth about the many benefits healthy, living forests provide – and what needs to be done to ensure they continue to thrive for generations to come.

To help raise awareness of the central role forests play for all life in Canada, the initiative kicks off on May 1, 2018 with the launch the first ever Earth Rangers Living Forests Photo Competition, which is open to aspiring photographers aged 12 and under across Canada. Categories include “best wildlife photo,” “best forest landscape,” and “best tree photo.” A panel of expert judges will review all entries, and prizes will be awarded for the top photos in each category after the competition wraps up on June 18, 2018.

Canadian forests provide huge environmental, economic, and social benefits. Home to almost 70% of Canada’s terrestrial species, healthy forests provide us with the air with breathe and help reduce the impacts of climate change. They also play a crucial role in Canada’s economy, with the forestry sector acting as one of the largest sources of employment in the country while also supplying important products like lumber and newsprint.

Tovah Barocas, VP of External Relations at Earth Rangers, says, “As future stewards of some of the world’s most vibrant forests, kids in Canada need to have a direct stake in the health of this incredible natural resource. Earth Rangers is looking forward to working with FPAC on this exciting new initiative to help educate and inspire the next generation of conservation leaders.”

Derek Nighbor, CEO at the Forest Products Association of Canada, adds,
“We view this partnership with Earth Rangers as an important part of FPAC’s continuing efforts to engage and communicate to the public the important work our sector plays in sustainable resource management and putting Canadians to work.”