The announced closure of a provincial tree seed facility is causing concern among some in Ontario’s forest industry.

In a letter to the editor submitted by Barb Boysen, general manager of the Forest Gene Conservation Association and Melissa Spearing, FGCA’s Seed Program Coordinator, the authors explained: “Management of high quality seed of known origin is crucial if our future forests are to withstand the impacts of climate change. Despite this, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) has decided to close the Ontario Tree Seed Plant (OTSP) in less than a year.”

They also issued a call to action: “There is no future without forests, and no forests without seed. The plan to close the OTSP must be reconsidered.”

Groups concerned about the closure of this seed facility have launched an online petition, which had more than 3000 signatures as of Nov. 22.

View the petition here.

Read the full letter from Boysen and Spearing, plus reader comments, here.