This reforestation project on Similkameen Community Forest land is revitalizing ecosystems, strengthening community, and advancing fire resilience through collaborative restoration efforts.
Watch short videos showcasing the incredible partners behind this project. Click the icon on the top right to view the full playlist.
Guided by the sməlqmix (Similkameen) principles of fire resilience, food sovereignty, economic self-sufficiency, and biodiversity, this project is an important step in restoring unceded sməlqmix lands.
Reforestation and Restoration Goals
This collaborative effort combines Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) from the sməlqmix people with the technical expertise and support of CCS, CEC and Tree Canada. Seed collection has focused on native species, ensuring the long-term health and resilience of the landscape.
Post-fire restoration efforts began in the fall of 2023 with the initial planting of 16,235 trees and shrubs, with an additional 46,440 trees planted in the spring of 2024.
(1) Charred landscape, Similkameen Community Forest land
(2) Remnants of trees after wildfire, Similkameen Community Forest land
(3) River flowing through Similkameen Community Forest land
(4) Map of Keremeos, Google Maps
Rebuild Critical Forest Habitats
The wildfire that swept through Similkameen Community Forest left large areas barren, disrupting the delicate ecosystems in the area. This project focuses on re-establishing key habitats by planting native species that will restore biodiversity and provide wildlife with food and shelter.
Promote Biodiversity and Fire Resilience
Rebuilding the forest after wildfire damage is not just about restoring what was lost; it’s about ensuring that the forest is more resilient in the face of future challenges. This project actively promotes biodiversity by reintroducing a variety of native tree species that were historically present in the region. This diversification helps to enhance the forest’s ability to withstand future fires and environmental stresses related to a changing climate.
Support the sməlqmix Community
The sməlqmix community has long maintained a deep connection to their traditional lands, and this project honours that relationship by supporting their economic self-sufficiency and food sovereignty. Reforestation offers more than ecological benefits—it creates new opportunities for local employment, skills development, and community engagement. As the community plays an active role in restoration, they reclaim stewardship over their ancestral lands and benefit from the project’s economic opportunities.
Get to know the trees we’re planting
The trembling aspen, also known as quaking or quivering aspen, is a fast-growing and adaptable tree. It thrives across Canada’s forested areas, quickly establishing itself in disturbed or burned sites. Its ability to grow on nutrient-poor soils and send up new shoots from its large root system allows it to stabilize landscapes and create protective shade, paving the way for other plants to flourish. This tree also supports a wide range of wildlife, offering food and habitat for deer, moose, ruffed grouse, and many other birds.
Image: Trembling aspen, photo courtesy of The Tree Atlas, Government of Ontario
Whitebark pine is a resilient, slow-growing tree found in the high mountains of Western North America. Its primary value lies in protecting watersheds, supporting biodiversity, and enhancing the beauty of mountainous ecosystems.
This tree is one of the first to grow back after a disturbance, helping to stabilize soil and pave the way for other plants to thrive. Its deep and spreading root system keeps it well-anchored, even on rocky, wind-swept slopes, making it an excellent choice for reforestation in harsh environments.
Whitebark pine seeds are an essential food source for wildlife, including birds and grizzly bears, while its presence supports a variety of other species. The tree’s ability to survive extreme conditions—like poor soils, high winds, and snow—makes it invaluable in maintaining ecological balance. They can live up to 1,000 years!
Image: Richard Sniezko, US Forest Service – Forest Service Dorena lab, Public Domain
Lodgepole pine is a resilient and adaptable evergreen tree. The species thrives in a wide range of environments, from dry, nutrient-poor soils to moist, well-watered sites, making them an essential part of many forest ecosystems.
One of the lodgepole pine’s standout features is its ability to regenerate after wildfires. Its serotinous cones remain closed until exposed to the intense heat of a fire, which triggers them to open and release seeds. This unique adaptation helps the tree quickly repopulate burned areas, stabilizing the landscape and supporting the return of wildlife and plant diversity. In the early stages of forest recovery, lodgepole pines often grow in dense, even-aged stands, providing important cover and habitat.
Image: Rudi Riet from Washington, DC, United States – Weathered pine, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Douglas-fir is one of Western North America’s most important and resilient tree species. It is a staple of temperate forests and a vital part of healthy ecosystems. This evergreen conifer thrives in a wide range of climates and soil conditions, from dry, mountainous areas to moist, coastal zones.
Douglas-fir is often one of the first species to establish itself on burned landscapes, helping to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion. Its rapid growth and ability to regenerate naturally creates a foundation for other plants and trees to take root and flourish.
Beyond its environmental benefits, the Douglas-fir supports diverse wildlife, offering habitat and food sources for many species. Its deep root system helps it withstand strong winds, and its longevity makes it a lasting presence in the forest. Some live over 1,500 years!
Image: Walter Siegmund (talk) – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Western larch is a resilient tree species; one of its greatest strengths is its deep and extensive root system, which helps stabilize soil and prevent erosion.
Western larch is well-adapted to thrive in a variety of environments, from dry to moist soils, and it grows best in areas rich in calcium and magnesium. It’s a fast-growing species after its initial establishment period, and with a lifespan that can exceed 900 years, it offers long-term environmental benefits. Its ability to withstand both snow and wind makes it a hardy addition to any forest ecosystem. The species is well-suited to regenerate in open areas with exposed mineral soil or burnt forest floors. This makes it a key player in restoring forest health, bringing life back to areas impacted by fire.
Image: Walter Siegmund (talk) – Own work, CC BY 2.5
Yellow pine, commonly known as ponderosa pine, is a resilient and fast-growing evergreen tree that plays a crucial role in reforestation and ecosystem restoration. It thrives in a wide range of climates and soil conditions, from dry, sandy soils to richer, well-drained environments. One of its greatest strengths is its ability to withstand drought and grow quickly, making it especially valuable in post-wildfire recovery efforts. Yellow pine’s deep root system helps stabilize soil, prevent erosion, and access deep water reserves, even in coarse, dry soils where other vegetation may struggle.
As it matures, the tree’s open canopy provides vital habitat for wildlife and supports a diverse understory of plants. It also plays an important role in maintaining healthy watersheds and creating spaces for recreation and grazing.
Image: ChuckThePhotographer on Flickr – Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Engelmann spruce is an evergreen conifer native to British Columbia and Western North America. It thrives in high-elevation interior forests and can live for more than 600 years. The seeds establish well on exposed mineral soil or burnt forest floors, making it a key species in restoring damaged ecosystems.
This adaptable tree grows in a wide range of soil moisture and nutrient conditions, from fresh to very moist soils and from poor to very rich nutrients. It prefers sites where calcium and magnesium are well-balanced and often grows alongside subalpine fir and lodgepole pine. Despite its slow initial growth, Engelmann spruce’s potential productivity remains high, and it becomes a valuable long-term presence in mixed-species forests.
Image: By Jsayre64 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Paper birch is a versatile and valuable tree species known for its important ecological contributions. It thrives in various climates, from subarctic to montane boreal regions, and plays a crucial role in the recovery of landscapes, especially after disturbances like wildfires. Paper birch is quick to establish itself in disturbed areas, helping to stabilize soil and improve soil quality. Its shallow root system and ability to regenerate from stump sprouts make it well-suited for these conditions.
Paper birch provides vital habitat and food for wildlife, with its seeds, buds, and bark being consumed by many species.
Image: InAweofGod’sCreation – 13. The Fall of Acadia, CC BY 2.0
Black cottonwood is a dynamic, fast-growing tree that thrives in floodplains and moist areas, where it contributes to the stabilization of soil and supports a variety of wildlife.
Black cottonwood’s tolerance to flooding and fluctuating water tables ensures its ability to thrive in disturbed environments, helping to rebuild ecosystems. The tree’s broad, nutrient-rich leaves also provide important food sources for various animals. It quickly establishes itself in the early stages of forest regeneration, paving the way for other, more shade-tolerant species.
Image: CC BY 2.5
The red huckleberry is a vibrant and valuable native shrub that brings both beauty and benefits to natural areas. It often thrives on rotting logs and stumps, creating a unique and important ecological niche. This plant plays a key role in supporting wildlife. Its bright red berries are a vital food source for many birds and animals. The birds help spread its seeds when they perch and feed.
After a wildfire, red huckleberry’s ability to grow on fallen, decomposing trees helps stabilize and enrich the recovering forest floor, creating a nurturing environment for other plants to take root.
Today, red huckleberries remain a favourite for foragers and home cooks, often made into jams, frozen, or canned. By planting red huckleberry are helping preserve a plant with rich ecological, cultural, and culinary importance.
Image: Walter Siegmund – Own work, CC BY 2.5
Planting efforts began in 2023 and are expected to continue through 2026.
Restoring Biodiversity: A Soundtrack for Renewal
Little Symphony is a talented team of Canadian sound artists who travel the world capturing the melodies of waterfalls, waves, jungles, and rivers, blending them with ambient music for a truly immersive experience. With over a billion streams and 1 million monthly listeners, they’re redefining the connection between music and nature.
In 2024, Little Symphony visited the Similkameen Community Forest, including the area impacted by the Crater Mountain wildfire. Here, they recorded the subtle and profound sounds of the forest and wildlife, capturing a moment in the ongoing recovery. The forest, burned so intensely that it left an eerie silence, is now in the early stages of regrowth. Working with the sməlqmix community, they have created an album that reflects the sounds of the land as it begins to heal.
Little Symphony’s work helps to convey the connection between the land and the people who have lived with it for generations. They plan to return periodically to capture the land’s evolving sounds, documenting its progress and transformation over time.
Collaboration at the Core
“Our principles and protocols, and the way we are connected to the land, truly dictate how we approach restoration work. I think our allies resonate with that because they have also seen the impacts that monoculture has—not only on the land but also on themselves, on our animal people, and on our plant people. They agreed and were fully on board with the values we uphold in our restoration work.”
txulaxʷpicaʔ (Tiinesha Begaye)
Parks Working Group Archaeologist & Natural Resources Technician,
Lower Similkameen Indian Band
“When working with children, biodiversity is explained as a community of families supporting one another—complex relationships happening at every level. And just from our own perspective, we don’t have all the answers. We need everybody to help one another.”
wusxnalqs (Rheana Marchand)
Environmental Technician
Colville Tribal Member
Natural Resources & Parks Working Group, Lower Similkameen Indian Band
“Community-based conversations are built on trust, respect, and communication, as well as an understanding of local cultures and languages, the environment, and everything that makes a community what it is. It’s really important to approach that with great humility.”
Nicole Hurtubise, Chief Executive Officer, Tree Canada
“We won’t see the full impact of this work in our lifetime, but through careful planning and collaboration, we are creating something lasting and vital for the future.”
MacKendrick Hallworth, RPF
Restoration Silviculturist, Project Lead for Cariboo Carbon Solutions
Project Partners and Support
This reforestation project is made possible through the support of private philanthropists, the federal government’s 2 Billion Trees program, and the ongoing contributions of the sməlqmix peoples. This partnership demonstrates how diverse stakeholders can come together to address environmental challenges and promote community resilience.
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