Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) Community Stewardship Program offers hands-on conservation activities for local residents and community, school, and corporate groups to take practical, ground-level action to help the local environment.
Who We Are
What We Do
Select the thumbnails below to learn more about Community Stewardship Program services.
Tree & Shrub Plantings
Tree and shrub plantings restore essential wildlife habitat by creating biodiverse and resilient natural systems.
By planting native trees and shrubs, our program helps to sequester carbon from our atmosphere, reduce runoff and flooding events, provide cleaner air, create essential wildlife habitat, and enhance community well-being.
Maintenance & Monitoring
Maintenance of tree and shrub planting sites is integral to their success and establishment. Community Stewardship Program (CSP) staff and volunteers maintain planted sites by:
- Mulching plantings to increase water absorption, suppress weed growth, and regulate the temperature of the root system.
- Watering to support young plants and encourage establishment in their new environment.
- Trimming and shearing vegetation around the planting to reduce competition to young trees and shrubs.
- Pruning plants for optimized growth.
Tree and shrub health data is collected by CSP staff and volunteers to determine the most successful plant species at each site to inform future restoration opportunities and to monitor the success rate of the material planted.
Invasive Species Management
Invasive species management has an immediate, positive impact on naturalized areas by removing non-native and noxious weeds that are competing with native species, allowing the native species to grow and thrive.
Removing invasive species also helps birds and pollinators find the most nutritious and resilient plants for food and habitat and stops the spread of noxious weeds into your homes and trails.
Watershed Clean-up
Watershed Wide Litter Clean-ups help to remove thousands of cigarette butts, plastic bags, bottles, cans, and other illegal dumping from our natural areas. In doing so, we can have an immense impact on the health of our watersheds.
Meadow Restoration
Meadow plots support the needs of pollinator species by establishing native herbaceous plants, wildflowers, and habitat structures in urban spaces. Meadow habitat provides food sources, migratory staging areas, and overwintering or nesting sites for many bird and butterfly species.
Installing and supporting meadow plots educates residents on the importance of pollinators and brings a heightened awareness of a healthy, diverse greenspace within an urban setting.
Special Projects
Select the thumbnails below to learn more about Community Stewardship Program special projects.
Citizen Science Volunteer Program
The Citizen Science Volunteer Program provides training for registered volunteers to develop new skills that could be transferrable for future career opportunities in the environmental field, and offers unique and interesting learning activities for anyone who is passionate about the environment and would like to give back.
Through the program, volunteers will help make areas more resilient and adaptable, increasing success and population growth.
Visit TRCA’s volunteer portal to learn how to get involved.
EXPLORE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
About the Community Stewardship Program
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Select the thumbnails below to view the information sheets full-sized.
Booking Requests & Contact Details
- Is your community or school group interested in the following stewardship activities: native tree and shrub plantings, invasive species removal, and litter clean-ups? Contact vince.delia@trca.ca.
- Is your corporate group interested in stewardship activities? Learn about the Look After Where You Live Program.
- Interested in volunteer opportunities? View and apply here.
- Interested in attending an event near you? Check out our events calendar.
Help Communities Grow Stronger
by Supporting Local Environmental Stewardship!
Your donation to TRCA’s Community Stewardship program empowers hands-on conservation that restores habitats, supports wildlife, cleans our watersheds, and fosters community.