National Greening Program

Tree Canada works closely with local authorities and private landowners to select planting sites that need reforestation, afforestation and/or biodiversity restoration: 

• Reforestation is the process of replanting trees in areas where existing forests and woodlands have been degraded due to human activity or natural causes, such as pest infestations or fires. 
• Afforestation is the process of establishing new forests or woodlands in areas where there was no tree cover over a long period of time, such as abandoned agricultural or industrial lands. 
• Biodiversity restoration focuses on enhancing ecological diversity by planting a wide range of native tree and shrub species in areas with high ecological value, such as Key Biodiversity Areas, Important Bird Areas, and critical habitats for species at risk. 

How we select planting sites: 

1. Priority is given to planting on municipal or Indigenous lands where there is a guarantee that they will remain in forest cover and where the landowner’s primary objective is forest conservation.  
2. The land should be a candidate for afforestation, restoration, or biodiversity enhancement. This means that the land currently has enough space for a mass seedling planting – for example, marginal or fallow farmland, former aggregate extraction sites, sites affected by disturbances (wildfires, windstorms, insect outbreaks, etc.), or riparian areas like shorelines, stream banks, and wetlands.  
3. Sites located in or near protected conservation areas, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), or critical habitats for species at risk will be considered high priority under a separate funding stream. 
4. Sites currently under a forest tenure license for commercial harvest will not be considered.  

Every National Greening Program planting project follows a specific silvicultural prescription that is approved by a registered forestry professional. This ensures that all projects are prescribing the appropriate species mix, density, and pre- and post-planting treatments to maximize the establishment and survival potential of the trees. 

Tree Canada prioritizes plantings of native tree and shrub species suited for each planting site. Since native species are currently growing or once grew in a particular area, they are more likely to re-establish themselves and thrive than non-native species. They also tend to offer significantly greater benefits to a wide range of native species, including insects, birds, and mammals. In biodiversity-focused projects, we emphasize planting a greater diversity of species to support pollinators, wildlife, and resilient ecosystems.  

Tree Canada organizes survival assessments to measure the success of plantings and determine maintenance requirements. Sampling is done in the 1st, 2nd, and 5th years after planting. If tree survival falls below an industry standard threshold, it is considered for replanting using Tree Canada funds. If a site is deemed unsuitable for replanting, Tree Canada will choose a different site. 

For biodiversity-focused projects, Tree Canada also requires biodiversity monitoring and reporting to track the project’s ecological impact over time. This may include monitoring the presence of species of interest, ecosystem restoration progress, and other key biodiversity indicators. 

Survival assessments are conducted by third-party assessors, such as Registered Professional Foresters, to ensure accuracy and accountability. 

View our past planting sites and survival rates:

• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016

National Greening Program project proponents and landowners must be committed to each project’s long-term success. Landowners sign an agreement that requires them to steward the planted trees for a minimum of 20 years up to 50 years. 

For biodiversity-focused projects, landowners may also be asked to help support biodiversity monitoring on their property, such as submitting wildlife observations or maintaining habitat features that were created as part of the planting. 

During and after planting, our forestry professionals may provide landowners with maintenance advice including any actions to be taken (e.g., removing competitive grasses, watering, corrective pruning). 

Explore how we ensure long-term growth post-planting by watching our video here.