Japanese tree-planting technique helps combat climate change in cities

Dec 27

The Westboro Beach tiny forest after planting. Photo submitted by Forêt Capitale Forest

By Ryan Clark

An Ottawa charity is planting urban forests in the nation’s capital that grow at 10 times the speed of conventional ones, a strategy it says can fight climate change.

Forêt Capitale Forest is a registered charity operating in Ottawa, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change by planting so-called “tiny forests” on unused parcels of land. The group planted their first forests in 2022 at the Just Food Community Farm in Eastern Ottawa. Now, their forests are popping up all over the city and turning heads.

“In the first year, we were reaching out to groups and organizations to work together,” Shelley Lambert, a director at the non-profit, said. “Now, people come to us because they know what we can deliver.”

The charity is establishing itself as many are growing concerned about the federal government’s commitment to climate policy. As part of the 2025 budget, Ottawa announced it was ending the 2 Billion Trees program. Understanding the importance of trees, communities across the country from Nanaimo to Wiarton, have taken things into their own hands, coming together to plant tiny forests.

These forests sequester and store greenhouse gases, preventing them from polluting the atmosphere.

All reporting produced as part of this project is free to the public and is not behind National Observer's paywall.

Peter Allan

Japanese tree-planting technique helps combat climate change in cities

Wind energy project empowers Vancouver Island First Nation

Meet the director at the heart of Carleton's sustainability efforts