Ontario's forests weave a rich thread through the fabric of our provincial, federal and local histories. From pre-settlement times to the present, our forests have variously intimidated us, challenged us, provided us with food and shelter, given us jobs and pleasure. Ecologically our forests have changed in response to variations in climate, geology, fire and human activity. Pre-settlement aboriginal communities were intimately linked to our forests, and continue to be; in the 1700's the new settlers were often intimidated by our forests and battled with them, removing them for agriculture and cutting them for local uses; in the 1800's world industrialization led to intense harvests of our provincial tree emblem, the magnificent white pine, to supply international markets; the 1900's saw the rise of modern, science-based forestry practices that support sustainable development and conservation; the 2000's will be known for the development of a stewardship ethic and the changes taking place in our far north.

Most rural Ontarians have a close link to our forests and forest history, and urbanites are connected to our forests through their personal landscapes, the trees on their streets and in their ravines and parks.

Significant political battles have been fought over our forests; they have been the centre of several large disasters; and they have made, and continue to make, a huge contribution to our economy.

It is the history associated with these different aspects of our forests that Forest History Ontario wants to discover, preserve and make available. Not only is this history interesting in its own right, what we know of the past can shape the future.