Lead paragraph
Durham TREES is a climate action initiative led by Durham Region in partnership with its five local conservation authorities, offering a subsidized tree planting program for private landowners with at least two acres of land. Participants commit to planting a minimum of 500 trees—primarily hardy conifers like white spruce, red pine, and cedar—with the goal of creating resilient, biodiverse forests that clean the air, support wildlife, reduce erosion, and sequester carbon. The program also helps eligible landowners enroll in the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program, potentially reducing property taxes by up to 75%. With over 23,000 trees planted in 2023, Durham TREES is a powerful nature-based solution aimed at increasing regional forest cover by over 30%, enhancing watershed health, and building long-term climate resilience.