Building New Inroads

Trees for Life and the 407ETR Announce Partnership

Trees for Life is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the 407 ETR that will result in 20,000 trees planted in the fall of 2024. 

In September of 2022, the 407 ETR Highway Corridor Biodiversity Project was launched.  Its objective is to revolutionize the 407’s vegetation management approach and to develop a healthy, ecologically sustainable, and biodiverse landscape running through the heart of the Greater Toronto Area. The project seeks to eradicate invasive plant species and increase the number of native plants (including trees), growing within and adjacent to the 407’s 108 km corridor. 

In 2023, the first 10,000 trees were planted as a pilot project for the program.  This year by teaming up with Trees for Life, that number will be doubled. Furthermore, as part of the 407 ETR Highway Corridor Biodiversity Project, these trees will also be a Trees for Life, Trees for Heroes feature project. First responders, including fire services, police, and paramedics across the GTA rely on the 407 to help them get to emergencies quickly.  Recognizing their important role, all 20,000 trees planted in 2024 will be dedicated to the first responders of Southern Ontario and the GTA.

Like the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign of 2015-2022, this partnership will not only help recognize some of the heroes who regularly use this transportation corridor, but we are also planting trees where they are needed most to combat the climate impacts of one of the busiest roadways in the country.

Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting partnership as the project takes shape later this fall!