Since 1979 the Region of Sudbury Land Reclamation Programme has reclaimed more than 2500 hectares of acid, metal-contaminated land. The operational procedure consists of creating a grass-legume cover following treatment with limestone and fertilizer. Subsequently, the grassed areas are planted with tress at a low rate of stocking in an attempt to increase species diversity, provide suitable habitats for wild life and to create an aesthecically pleasing landscape. Of the 20 species used in the programme species native to central Ontario are preferred. Pines (Jack, Red and White) account for more than half of the 0.75 million trees planted since 1983. A monitoring programme has indicated that these trees have the best survival and have growth rates similar to trees in commercial regeneration sites in the area. White pine has shown a good performance in plots close to the Sudbury smelters in spite of its relative sensitivityt o sulphur dioxide. Among the hardwoods Red Oak shows a good rate of survival and Black Locust (north of its natural range) increases in biomass rapidly. Although there is metal uptake into the tree tissues the levels do not appear to be toxic.