On Friday, Niagara Parks released its first-ever Sustainability Report, outlining its progress in 2025-26 in environmental conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable operations across the 56-kilometre Niagara River corridor.
Niagara Parks’ official mandate is to protect the natural and cultural heritage of the Niagara River corridor, while also providing opportunities for guests to experience the area’s infamous landscapes.
Niagara Parks is a self-funded agency of the Government of Ontario, meaning the organization invests the revenues it earns at tourist attractions and through guest experiences back into its properties, which includes environmental and cultural stewardship.
The Niagara Parks Foundation also provides funding for Niagara Parks’ conservation work. Through the Foundation, members of the public and corporations can directly contribute to help maintain the public park system.
The 2025-26 Sustainability Report outlines achievements across five key pillars which were previously identified as part of Niagara Parks’ long-term strategy. This includes forest canopy growth, invasive species management, shoreline restoration, operational sustainability, and public education.
Some key outcomes over the past year include:
- Planting 7,050 new trees, which increased total forest canopy coverage to over 28 per cent. Niagara Parks’ long-term goal is to have 35 per cent coverage by 2028. Niagara Parks’ goals is to plant at least 5,000 trees each year until 2028, meaning that goal was exceeded in 2025-26.
- Restoring more than 100 metres of shoreline, strengthening erosion protection and aquatic habitat.
- In order to support native grassland and species recovery, 38.5 hectares of land was managed through prescribed burns.
- Seventy dead trees were repurposed into in-river fish habitat structures.
- Over 3,000 kilograms of food was donated to local food banks through the Bridge food recovery program.
- Three thousand native trees and shrubs were planted over four community tree planting events with over 250 students and volunteers.
- More than 400 trees were treated against the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid.
- Over 45 tree and shrub native species were planted.
Key outcomes over the past several years include:
- A 21 per cent increase in waste diversion rates since 2018.
- Since 2020, 24 water-filling stations have been installed, helping to eliminate an estimated 433,000 single-use plastic water bottles.
Graham Coveney, Chair of the Niagara Parks Commission, issued a statement regarding the release of the report.
“Since our founding in 1885, stewarding the Niagara River corridor has been central to Niagara Parks’ purpose,” said Coveney. “This first Sustainability Report reflects the dedication of our staff and partners and the meaningful progress we are making toward protecting these lands for future generations, while continuing to deliver exceptional guest experiences.”
Jay Goldberg is the Canadian Affairs Manager at the Consumer Choice Center. He previously served as the Ontario Director at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and a policy fellow at the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. Jay holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
