As we continue to experience the effects of climate change through more frequent and intense storms, floods or wildfires, it’s increasingly important that we maintain efforts to plant and nurture trees in our communities and wild spaces.
Through our National Greening Program, Tree Canada plants trees across five Canadian regions – British Columbia, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces – in areas where there is a need for reforestation or afforestation. However, we can’t do it alone.
We depend on individuals, organizations and communities to provide land to support this mass seedling planting program. Since 2005, Tree Canada has partnered with more than 17 First Nations communities to plant over 1 million trees on their traditional territory. By the end of 2022, we expect to see that number surpass 1.2 million trees.
“We’re honoured to work with First Nations communities and learn about their forestry needs. With a mutual respect for natural spaces, these partnerships help rehabilitate forests and restore ecosystems for the benefit of local communities and wildlife” says Tree Canada’s CEO, Nicole Hurtubise.
National Greening Program – Partner Profile
Who? This planting project is a collaboration between the McLeod Lake Indian Band and Tree Canada. McLeod Lake Indian Band is part of the Tse’khene group of Aboriginal peoples and includes bands at Fort Ware (Kwadacha) and Ingenika (Tseh Kay Dene).
Where? South of Mackenzie, British Columbia.
Project Details: This project is the second year of a two-year planting program. In 2021, the McLeod Lake Indian Band planted 4,500,000 trees of which Tree Canada sponsored 225,000. In 2022, they will be planting another 1,700,000 trees to complete the reforestation project. This formerly pristine forest was subject to a spruce beetle infestation that killed most of everything. The site consisted of 150-year-old spruce and pine and various other species including aspen and interior fir.
The site has been salvage harvested and will be rehabilitated to a total of 3,750 hectares. The reforestation project advances natural reforestation by approximately 30 years.
All photos on this page are courtesy of Spectrum Resource Group Inc.
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