National Forest Week events taking place across Newfoundland and Labrador

The Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands is marking National Forest Week with a series of events across Newfoundland and Labrador from September 21 to 27.

The events are aimed at highlighting the importance of the province's forests and giving residents an opportunity to learn more about forest resources, wildfire prevention and the forest industry.

On Wednesday, September 23, the department will co-host Forestry Day in the Park at Margaret Bowater Park in Corner Brook.

More than 200 elementary students from local schools are expected to attend and learn about the forest industry through hands-on exhibits and demonstrations. Representatives from Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd., Natural Resources Canada – Canadian Forest Service and the Forest Safety Association of Newfoundland and Labrador will participate.

September 23 is also National Tree Day. In St. John's, Tree Canada, the City of St. John's and community partners will mark the occasion at the Shea Heights Community Centre by planting more than 100 yellow birch trees with Grade 4 students from St. John Bosco School.

The Community of Glovertown is also hosting a tree-planting event at Ken Diamond Memorial Park, while staff and students at Glovertown Academy will participate in their own tree-planting activities.

National Forest Week activities will continue Sunday, September 27, with a public open house at Thomas Howe Demonstration Forest in Gander.

Department staff, FireSmart practitioners and local fire department members will be on hand at the outdoor, interactive site, where visitors can explore trails, displays and demonstrations focused on Newfoundland and Labrador's forests.

The open house will include wildfire mitigation information, FireSmart demonstrations and a community barbecue.