Vegetation and Habitats

Vegetation and Habitats

The Greater Golden Horseshoe is rapidly growing, and Metrolinx is committed to building a sustainable transit system. As part of the largest transit expansion in Canadian history, some trees and shrubs need to be removed to make room for safe construction and operation of new transit services. To offset these required tree and shrub removals, Metrolinx follows a science-based approach to ecological restoration.

Learn more about the Metrolinx Vegetation Guideline

Since 2020, Metrolinx has:

Planting more trees

Metrolinx commits to ensuring more trees are planted than removed across our network. For every tree removed, we plant as many as 50, depending on the size, location, and health of the tree.

Learn more about tree compensation and removals

Protecting ecosystems through sustainable practices

Metrolinx incorporates our existing practice of prioritizing avoidance of impacts to sensitive environments in the 2025 Vegetation Guideline update. When tree removal is necessary, we minimize disruptions, mitigate effects and replace losses only as a last resort. This Guideline update means going forward impacts to wildlife habitats – like meadows, wetlands and forests – are replaced at a 1:1 ratio to maintain ecological services and wildlife habitat. Beyond tree planting, Metrolinx also focuses on rebuilding habitats for at-risk species like bats, birds and fish.

Additionally, we repurpose removed vegetation as mulch or use for community projects, habitat restoration or art — reducing waste while supporting local ecosystems.

Learn how Metrolinx helps Ontario's endangered bats

Partnering to improve ecosystems 

Our approach involves collaborating with Indigenous communities, municipalities, conservation authorities and environmental organizations across the region to enhance local ecosystems. We ensure that tree and vegetation replacement efforts align with local environmental goals and contribute to long-term sustainability. By collaborating with these groups, we go above and beyond municipal regulations to protect and restore green spaces.

Incorporating Indigenous community input

Metrolinx has updated its Vegetation Guideline based on engagement with Indigenous communities, supporting the inclusion of Indigenous worldviews and knowledge to guide our planning and restoration efforts.

Changes to our replacement practices, like increased tree replacement ratios and expanded Butternut tree planting efforts (endeavoring to plant up to 40 butternut trees for every removed butternut, and up to 200 butternut trees for every removed large, healthy butternut), are based on recommendations from Indigenous communities. These include: 

• Increasing tree replacement ratios 
• Expanding efforts to replace butternut trees 
• Extending duration of restoration monitoring
• Taking a more holistic approach to restoration planning 
• Ensuring minimization of environmental impacts
• Considering climate change and using emerging and advanced restoration methods to promote long-term ecosystem health