NEWS RELEASE
COUNTY OF SIMCOE
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Earlier today (Thursday), County of Simcoe warden, county councillors, and representatives from the county’s forestry department and Forests Ontario gathered to unveil the new #ItTakesAForest billboard located in the Simcoe County Forest’s North Barr Tract.
It Takes a Forest, an awareness initiative led by Forests Ontario, began in 2016 as a grassroots billboard campaign, featuring fact-based messaging used to build awareness for sustainable forestry in Ontario and directly address misconceptions of forestry. The billboard network has now expanded across the province with more than 35 signs and support from over 45 organizations.
“Our Simcoe County Forest is a real point of pride, as it plays a key role in our community’s environment, economy, as well as social and physical well-being,” said Warden Basil Clarke. “By partnering with Forests Ontario and joining the #ItTakesAForest campaign, the county is further solidifying our role as environmental stewards, now and into the future.”
“Forests clean our air and water, protect biodiversity and contribute to healthy communities and economies,” said Rob Keen, registered professional forester and departing chief executive officer of Forests Ontario. “Some of the country’s most vibrant forests are right here in Simcoe County, and we are proud to partner with them on this billboard and celebrate their leadership in sustainable forest management.”
Spanning more than 33,000 acres, the Simcoe County Forest is the largest and one of the most productive municipal forests in Ontario. In 2022, the county celebrated 100 years of the Simcoe County Forest and was recognized as the Forest Capital of Canada by the Canadian Institute of Forestry, which acknowledged the county’s leadership in forestry and environmental stewardship.
The #ItTakesAForest billboard can be viewed from Horseshoe Valley Road (County Road 22) just west of Line 3 in the Township of Oro-Medonte.
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