After four years of hard labour, the Province has completed its Trees for Tomorrow program, which saw six million trees planted across Manitoba.

Premier Greg Selinger made the announcement on Thursday, which marked National Tree Day as the program's final tree was planted in Winnipeg at the Forks.

“Planting a tree is one way to make a difference and support the health of our environment,” said Selinger in a statement.  “These six million trees will help reduce greenhouse gases, as well as reduce soil erosion, create wildlife habitat, enhance the beauty of property and provide health benefits for families around the province.”

The program was launched in 2008 and set a goal to plant five million trees by 2012. The target was increased to six million in 2011.

The trees have been used to create plantations and shelterbelts in rural areas on private lands.

Dave Green, city parks manager in Portage la Prairie, said that while the trees don't really help life in urban areas, they will do well for rural areas.

"It doesn't help much in the urban centre and what they're disturbing are seedlings, which don't get planted in the urban areas because they're too small," said Green.

"It's more for the rural areas and it's a good thing because it provides a break from the wind and it helps to clean up the environment."

Earlier this year, the City of Portage planted between 150 to 200 larger trees in the area as they try to combat losses.

"We plant trees every year and we gradually try to make up for some of the losses due to Dutch Elm disease and damage. We're holding our own," he said.

Selinger also spoke about the Province's TomorrowNow program, which will develop a new long-term program to manage public demand for tree planting.

“Now that we have met our commitment to plant six million trees in five years, we will begin work to create a long-term tree-planting initiative to help us enhance urban and rural forests throughout Manitoba,” said Selinger.

To see more information about the new tree program, visit the website at www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/tomorrownowgreenplan/.

cphl.news@sunmedia.ca