Hundreds of young students from the Humber Valley area got to learn all about the value of the forests around them during Explore Forestry Day Wednesday.

The Grade 5 and 6 students spent the morning at Margret Bowater Park in Corner Brook, where a number of displays revolving around forest stewardship and innovation were set up.

They were able to learn about forest insects, including how pests are managed; how forest fires can be prevented and fought when they do break out and about how the renewable resource is a vital part of the provincial economy.

The event was hosted by the Forest Service of the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agrifoods, Resource Innovations Inc., Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Inc., Canadian Institute of Forestry-NL Chapter, the Forestry Safety Association of Newfoundland and the Association of Registered Professional Foresters for Newfoundland and Labrador.

During the event, Fisheries, Forestry and Agrifoods Minister Steve Crocker planted a tree on the bank of the park. A tree planting ceremony was also held during a similar Explore Forestry Day event in St. John’s.