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Growing the area of protected natural forest ecosystems

Forests form the backdrop to our lives. They play a crucial role in filtering the air we breathe, moderating temperatures and improving our water quality. Forests are also home to one-third of North America’s plant and animal species, many of which are threatened.

These resources, so often taken for granted, are increasingly under threat. Much of our accessible natural forest ecosystems have been lost through urban and agricultural development.

TD has been involved in forest stewardship and education for more than 20 years through the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. TD Forests builds on this legacy and expands it to include our employees, business operations and community initiatives together under one canopy. We’ve made a $13 million commitment over the next five years to:

• Increase the area of protected forest habitat; • Increase urban tree cover; and

• Raise awareness of the value and benefits of forest ecosystems.

We’re working with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in the U.S. to protect an area equivalent to 2.5 football fields of natural forest ecosystem each and every day for the next five years. By protecting forest ecosystems, we’re helping to protect not only trees but everything in between.

In 2012, year one of the TD Forests initiative, we announced five valuable properties representing 487 hectares of forest across North America that are now protected through our partnerships with NCC and TNC.

Since 1990, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation has supported more than 20,000 local environmental projects, many associated with forest conservation, biodiversity and education. And in 2012, the City Parks Foundation recog- nized TD for our continuing support of their environmental education programs in New York City.

TD Tree Days is our centrepiece employee volunteer program. In 2012, approximately 3,600 TD employees along with other volunteers planted more than 40,000 trees in 138 communities across Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Luxembourg. TD works with experts such as Tree Canada and the U.S.-based Alliance for Community Trees, as well as community conservation groups to plan the initiatives, ensuring that the trees selected are indigenous to the areas where they’re planted and suited to the conditions of specific locations.

TD Forests

There’s Something About Trees

40,000 trees

planted in 138 urban and rural communities during the 2012 TD Tree Days campaign.

475+ organizations received TD Green Streets grants in

2012 to help green their communities through tree planting, inventory, maintenance and educational activities.

TD Tree Days encourages volunteers of all ages to get involved.

TD 2012 Corporate Responsibility Report