Canada used recycled Christmas trees to restore Niagara River fish habitat

What if a discarded Christmas tree could help bring a damaged river ecosystem back to life? For years, the Niagara River’s shoreline has been losing an important part of its natural ecosystem. More than 75% of the original coastal wetlands on the Canadian side had disappeared, reducing the shallow, sheltered areas that fish need for feeding, breeding and growing. In response, conservation teams began using an unusual but practical material: dead trees, including recycled Christmas trees, anchored directly into the riverbed. The structures help slow waves, reduce erosion and create calmer areas where aquatic life can thrive.According to Niagara Parks, the coastal wetland restoration programme began in 2016 in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and Environment and Climate Change Canada. The programme was designed to restore shoreline habitat at strategic locations along the Niagara River.