"In planting a tree, Manitoban's can think about the historic, economic and social impact of trees in our world. In addition to cleaner air, forests prevent soil erosion and create wildlife habitat and offset greenhouse gases," said Manitoba Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie.

• Sept. 17 - Morden Community Hall, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m
• Sept. 20 and 21 - Manitoba Conservation office, 200 Saulteaux Cres., Winnipeg, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sept. 20 - Manitoba Conservation offices in Lac du Bonnet, The Pas, Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage and Snow Lake, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sept. 21 and 22 - The Forks Market, Winnipeg, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sept. 21 - Riverbank Discovery Centre, Brandon, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

National Forest Week is an annual event held since the 1920's, which initially started as Forest Fire Prevention Week. National Forest Week, as it has been known since 1967, focuses the public's attention to the importance of managing Canada's forests to meet present and future needs.

As part of the Manitoba government’s plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, the Trees for Tomorrow program was launched in 2008. Under this program, the province committed to planting more than five million trees in Manitoba by 2012. So far, Manitobans have planted or been provided with approximately 2.4 million hybrid poplar cuttings and conifer seedlings. It is not clear exactly how many of these tree have actually been planted.