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Two Billion Trees and Counting: The Legacy of Edmund Zavitz
Edmund Zavitz (18751968) rescued Ontario from the ravages of increasingly more powerful floods, erosion, and deadly fires. Wastelands were talking over many hectares of once-flourishing farmlands and towns. Sites like the Oak Ridges Moraine were well on their way to becoming a dust bowl and all because of extensive deforestation. Zavitz held the positions of chief forester of Ontario, deputy minister of forests, and director of reforestation. His first pilot reforestation project was in 1905, and since then Zavitz has educated the public and politicians about the need to protect Ontario forests. By the mid-1940s, conservation authorities, provincial nurseries, forestry stations, and bylaws protecting trees were in place. Land was being restored. Just a month before his death, the one billionth tree was planted by Premier John Robarts. Some two billion more would follow. As a result of Zavitz's work, the Niagara Escarpment, once a wasteland, is now a UNESCO World Biosphere. Recognition of the ongoing need to plant trees to protect our future continues as the legacy of Edmund Zavitz.
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 22, 2018
While there were scattered settlers in Ontario as early as the 17th century, they did not start carving their way in earnest into the landscape until the late 18th century, when the United Empire Loyalists were "resettled" as a result of the American Revolution. At that time, Ontario was still a vast, dark wall of trees. A century later, the place was essentially a desert, the landscape having been stripped to its roots, quite literally, by the ever-increasing need-greed for farmland. The irony was that in their pursuit for arable land, the farmers had destroyed the ecosystem and consequently destroyed the productivity of the land.
To mitigate some of the blame, it should be noted that the Crown itself was more than responsible for this uncontrolled deforestation. While granting the immigrants their parcel of land, a condition applied that each family be required to clear it of its trees -- the best ones to be shipped back to Great Britain to be used, in the main, for the shipbuilding industry. (Which would bring more settlers; which would strip even more land. But that's another story, for another day.)
Enter Edmund Zavitz in 1904, then a 29-year-old professor at University of Toronto -- a young man with a vision to save the ecosystem, and a backbone to match his intellect. He emerges, in this modest little biography, as the protector-in-chief of the Ontario landscape, by convincing the Ontario government to establish an aggressive tree-planting program. By 1912, he had joined the Ontario Ministry of Lands, Forests and Mines (as it was then called) and by 1935 was appointed Chief of Reforestation --a new title, built with him in mind, who had accomplished so much for the Ontario environment. His is a fascinating story of dedication and persistence: what one person can accomplish, with enough determination.
Edmund Zavitz amid the desolation he worked to redeem. Photo: Edward Borczon
Zavitz began his aggressive tree-planting program in the early decades of the 20th century. He proposed, and implemented, a vigorous monoculture planting, which in the hippie-dippie days of the late sixties and seventies was much criticized as being single-minded and unsound. By planting vast forests of one species, later critics argued, was doing as much of a disservice to the ecosystem as was the single-minded mentality of previous generations of farmers. Detractors pointed out that single-species forests weakened the entire woodland by preventing growth of diversity.
Funny thing was, Zavitz really knew what he was doing: there was sound biological and scientific basis to his madness. By planting huge swathes of pine trees, or spruce, he was sowing the seeds of stability. Since the Ontario landscape resembled more a desert than a vibrant ecosystem, there weren't many species that would effectively take root in the denuded soil. Pine and spruce trees have rather shallow rooting systems, fanning outwards across the soil, and seeking out any available water source. It turns out these species were admirably suited to re-establishing forest cover. By allowing single-species planting to take over the depleted soil, Zavitz argued, the forests would regenerate much more naturally, and more quickly, than if the soils were force-fed to accept species which, at that time, were unsuited to the land.
While vibrant forests had existed at one time, abounding with maple, oak, walnut, hickory, beech, ash and birch species, the soil lacked the nutrients to promote their vitality. Had those species been planted from the get-go, it was likely they wouldn't have survived their first decade of life. The monoculture allowed pine and spruce to take hold firmly: their rooting systems re-established stability, thus eliminating soil erosion, which in turn attracted even more species of grasses, flowers, shrubs, trees to re-establish their cultures; which in turn re-attracted birds and animals who now had shelter and cover and food; and which in turn re-established stable waterways and re-introduced bees and butterflies and other healthy insects. The monoculture began to die back naturally, and natural forests began to re-establish their strength in the province.
Those who harangued against this method in third quarter-20th-century, and changed to a multi-species planting in woodlots under management, soon discovered the wisdom of Zavitz's methodology, and reverted to his approach in the late 20th century. Today, in the 21st century, we continue to benefit from Zavitz's prescience and wisdom. Last year, we planted 10,000 trees under the 50 Million Trees Ontario plan, in our desire to contribute to Zavitz's wise legacy.
The province benefitted immeasurably from this tree planting system and rich ecosystems were re-established gradually. Unfortunately, in the early 21st century, factory farming is taking over Ontario farmland, and woodlots and natural forests are again being stripped faster than you can say "oak moraine". Plus ça change ...
I came to read this book only through the thinnest of chances: while researching the forest management program, a little footnote led me to this biography. It is a tribute to Zavitz, but only in the most prosaic way. While I am very glad the biography exists, I only wish it was a little more compelling. Unless you are a dedicated fan of woodlot management, you would not likely even find it; and if you read it, you might find it rather dry -- so unlilke the person who inspired it, and established conservation in Ontario -- and set standards across North America.
The writing -- is 3 stars.
For the subject -- a million stars, and counting, for having saved my "home" province before I was even born. As a latter-day immigrant to this province, Zavitz colours my vision a century after his methods were implemented, and gives me hope for the future.
Mr. Noch, a contemporary of Edmund Zavitz, a farmer in Norfolk County and a graduate of the Ontario Agricultural College, was one of the first farmers to see Zavitz's wisdom, and adopted his practices early. "I am going to leave something behind when I die, and I would just as soon leave some pines growing, as a bank account. ... Zavitz is not afraid to take off his own coat and help do the work."
In that spirit, it suits us very well to leave behind "some pine trees" rather than a bank account, as a legacy to this province.
To mitigate some of the blame, it should be noted that the Crown itself was more than responsible for this uncontrolled deforestation. While granting the immigrants their parcel of land, a condition applied that each family be required to clear it of its trees -- the best ones to be shipped back to Great Britain to be used, in the main, for the shipbuilding industry. (Which would bring more settlers; which would strip even more land. But that's another story, for another day.)
Enter Edmund Zavitz in 1904, then a 29-year-old professor at University of Toronto -- a young man with a vision to save the ecosystem, and a backbone to match his intellect. He emerges, in this modest little biography, as the protector-in-chief of the Ontario landscape, by convincing the Ontario government to establish an aggressive tree-planting program. By 1912, he had joined the Ontario Ministry of Lands, Forests and Mines (as it was then called) and by 1935 was appointed Chief of Reforestation --a new title, built with him in mind, who had accomplished so much for the Ontario environment. His is a fascinating story of dedication and persistence: what one person can accomplish, with enough determination.
Edmund Zavitz amid the desolation he worked to redeem. Photo: Edward Borczon
Zavitz began his aggressive tree-planting program in the early decades of the 20th century. He proposed, and implemented, a vigorous monoculture planting, which in the hippie-dippie days of the late sixties and seventies was much criticized as being single-minded and unsound. By planting vast forests of one species, later critics argued, was doing as much of a disservice to the ecosystem as was the single-minded mentality of previous generations of farmers. Detractors pointed out that single-species forests weakened the entire woodland by preventing growth of diversity.
Funny thing was, Zavitz really knew what he was doing: there was sound biological and scientific basis to his madness. By planting huge swathes of pine trees, or spruce, he was sowing the seeds of stability. Since the Ontario landscape resembled more a desert than a vibrant ecosystem, there weren't many species that would effectively take root in the denuded soil. Pine and spruce trees have rather shallow rooting systems, fanning outwards across the soil, and seeking out any available water source. It turns out these species were admirably suited to re-establishing forest cover. By allowing single-species planting to take over the depleted soil, Zavitz argued, the forests would regenerate much more naturally, and more quickly, than if the soils were force-fed to accept species which, at that time, were unsuited to the land.
While vibrant forests had existed at one time, abounding with maple, oak, walnut, hickory, beech, ash and birch species, the soil lacked the nutrients to promote their vitality. Had those species been planted from the get-go, it was likely they wouldn't have survived their first decade of life. The monoculture allowed pine and spruce to take hold firmly: their rooting systems re-established stability, thus eliminating soil erosion, which in turn attracted even more species of grasses, flowers, shrubs, trees to re-establish their cultures; which in turn re-attracted birds and animals who now had shelter and cover and food; and which in turn re-established stable waterways and re-introduced bees and butterflies and other healthy insects. The monoculture began to die back naturally, and natural forests began to re-establish their strength in the province.
Those who harangued against this method in third quarter-20th-century, and changed to a multi-species planting in woodlots under management, soon discovered the wisdom of Zavitz's methodology, and reverted to his approach in the late 20th century. Today, in the 21st century, we continue to benefit from Zavitz's prescience and wisdom. Last year, we planted 10,000 trees under the 50 Million Trees Ontario plan, in our desire to contribute to Zavitz's wise legacy.
The province benefitted immeasurably from this tree planting system and rich ecosystems were re-established gradually. Unfortunately, in the early 21st century, factory farming is taking over Ontario farmland, and woodlots and natural forests are again being stripped faster than you can say "oak moraine". Plus ça change ...
I came to read this book only through the thinnest of chances: while researching the forest management program, a little footnote led me to this biography. It is a tribute to Zavitz, but only in the most prosaic way. While I am very glad the biography exists, I only wish it was a little more compelling. Unless you are a dedicated fan of woodlot management, you would not likely even find it; and if you read it, you might find it rather dry -- so unlilke the person who inspired it, and established conservation in Ontario -- and set standards across North America.
The writing -- is 3 stars.
For the subject -- a million stars, and counting, for having saved my "home" province before I was even born. As a latter-day immigrant to this province, Zavitz colours my vision a century after his methods were implemented, and gives me hope for the future.
Mr. Noch, a contemporary of Edmund Zavitz, a farmer in Norfolk County and a graduate of the Ontario Agricultural College, was one of the first farmers to see Zavitz's wisdom, and adopted his practices early. "I am going to leave something behind when I die, and I would just as soon leave some pines growing, as a bank account. ... Zavitz is not afraid to take off his own coat and help do the work."
In that spirit, it suits us very well to leave behind "some pine trees" rather than a bank account, as a legacy to this province.
June 30, 2013
I discovered this book about Edmund Zavitz while working on my family history. Zavitz was my first cousin although a couple of generations removed. I had always known about his work with forestry but had not realized the amount of influence that he had over the reforestation of southern Ontario.
I learned a tremendous amount of general information about the history of forestry in Ontario. I didn`t realize that the 19th century settlers had deforested southern Ontario to the extent that the environment was devastated, especially in areas such as the Oak Ridges Moraine. The forest fires and horrendous loss of life in Northern Ontario during the early part of the 20th century are also long forgotten. Man made environmental disasters are not exclusive to our current times.
I would call this book essential reading for anyone with an interest in forestry or environmental issues. Please go and plant a tree today!!
I learned a tremendous amount of general information about the history of forestry in Ontario. I didn`t realize that the 19th century settlers had deforested southern Ontario to the extent that the environment was devastated, especially in areas such as the Oak Ridges Moraine. The forest fires and horrendous loss of life in Northern Ontario during the early part of the 20th century are also long forgotten. Man made environmental disasters are not exclusive to our current times.
I would call this book essential reading for anyone with an interest in forestry or environmental issues. Please go and plant a tree today!!
March 11, 2018
It took a formidable series of events for Ontario to be spared from shortsighted over development. Dr Bacher channels the spirit of Edmund Zavitz by championing the story of a real agent of change.
October 31, 2019
Extremely insightful history of the deforestation of Ontario and the history and programs implemented to reforest the province.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews