York Region first municipality to achieve Sustainable Forestry Initiative certification

On April 17, 2025, The Regional Municipality of York (York Region) became the first municipality in the world to achieve the Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s (SFI) Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard certification. This recognition reflects York Region’s environmental leadership and commitment to sustainable forest management.

The certification applies to over 7,700 hectares of urban and community forests including: 

• 4,610 hectares along Regional Road rights-of-way
• 416 hectares of Regional properties maintained by staff
• 2,675 hectares within the York Regional Forest 

The Sustainable Forest Initiative is an independent, non-profit organization that certifies forests, including community and urban forests as sustainably managed. The SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard is the world’s first forest standard for urban and community forests, which promotes nature-based solutions, resilience to climate change and community well-being. This historic milestone was achieved after successfully completing a rigorous audit process conducted by the certification body Preferred by Nature. 

The SFI certification complements the Region’s existing Forest Stewardship Council (FSC©) certification of the York Regional Forest and builds on the success of the Region’s Greening Strategy which in 2024 delivered: 

• 123,823 trees and shrubs planted across schoolyards, parks, private lands and conservation areas
• 159 outreach events engaging over 16,700 participants
• Acquisition of the 65-hectare Sylvestre Woods in the Town of East Gwillimbury   to expand public greenspace
• Maintenance of over 77,000 street trees along Regional roads 

Learn more about the Greening Strategy at york.ca/Greening