Jess Kaknevicius

Forests Ontario is a charitable organization dedicated to conserving, restoring, and growing forests to sustain life, communities, and ecosystems. Forests Ontario collaborates with Indigenous peoples to enhance their role in forest stewardship and implements restoration projects as part of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The private company is based in Toronto, Canada. The organization conducts large-scale tree planting, seed collection and forecasting, forest stewardship, and recovery efforts following wildfires and extreme storms, including reforestation projects in northern Ontario. The organization promotes nature-based, knowledge-driven solutions to improve forest health, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Educational programs are offered for students in grades 4 to 12, including competitions, classroom presentations, identification tools, and field trips, as well as guides for landowners to support sustainable forest management. Public involvement is encouraged through donations, volunteering, partnerships, and outreach, with initiatives that support local jobs and economies and address challenges such as increasing wildfire risks. Jess Kaknevicius has been the CEO of the Canadian company since 2023.