Recognizing Old Trees
The oldest trees in Ontario often aren’t particularly big or impressive – in fact many of the oldest are surprisingly diminutive – but they do have distinct characteristics that show their age to those who are in the know.
Old Trees List
The oldest tree in Ontario is a cedar growing on the cliffs of Lion’s Head that germinated in the year 688 AD, it is over 1330 year old. The oldest hardwoood tree in Ontario is a black gum near Niagara that is over 580 years old.
Algonquin’s Old Forests
Algonquin Park is known for canoeing and moose, but it’s also one of the most important old-growth forest reserves in eastern North America. Large tracts of old-growth remain in the park, and some are unprotected from logging.
Ontario’s Greenbelt
Ontario’s Greenbelt is the largest in the world. It also protects spectacular and ecologically sensitive areas – including many old-growth forests, the oldest tree in Ontario, rare oak savannas, urban old-growth forests, and world-class hiking trails.
Guidebooks
Ontario’s old-growth forests is a guidebook with history, ecology, maps and trail descriptions information for 59 old-growth forests throughout the province. A long-anticipated updated new edition will be out autumn 2021.
Citizen science
Your phone is not merely a useful piece of outdoor gear (GPS / camera etc.), it’s probably the most powerful conservation tool you own. It helps you learn new species, report invasive species or disease-resistant trees, report rare species, and navigate in the woods.