Key Takeaways
➡️ Over 5.3 billion seedlings are needed to restore just 15% of forests lost to wildfires in 2023 and 2024.
➡️ Provinces requiring the most seedlings include Quebec (1.47 billion), NWT (1.31 billion), and BC (880 million).
➡️ The Canadian Tree Nursery Association (CTNA-ACPF) warns that delayed action and budget cuts will worsen the crisis.
➡️ British Columbia plans to plant 58 million fewer trees in 2025 than in 2024, despite record-breaking fire damage.
➡️ The CTNA-ACPF calls for increased federal and provincial commitments to Crown forest restoration.
The Growing Forest Restoration Challenge
During the Atlantic Forest Nursery conference in Vernon Bridge, PEI, the Canadian Tree Nursery Association-Association Canadienne des Pépinières Forestières (CTNA-ACPF) unveiled alarming data highlighting Canada’s post-wildfire reforestation challenge. According to Executive Director Rob Keen, “We need over 5.3 billion seedlings to begin restoring only 15% of our forests destroyed by 2023 and 2024 wildfires. Action on this is urgently required by our Prime Minister, Premiers, and Forest Ministers.”
Seedlings Required by Province According To The Canadian Tree Nursery Association in Canada
The estimated number of seedlings required to restore 15% of burned forest areas is as follows:
➡️ Quebec – 1.47 billion seedlings
➡️ Northwest Territories (NWT) – 1.31 billion seedlings
➡️ British Columbia (BC) – 880 million seedlings
➡️ Alberta – 697 million seedlings
➡️ Saskatchewan – 620 million seedlings
➡️ Ontario – 110 million seedlings
➡️ Yukon – 88 million seedlings
➡️ Manitoba – 104 million seedlings
➡️ New Brunswick – 237,000 seedlings
➡️ Newfoundland and Labrador – 8 million seedlings
➡️ Nova Scotia – 5.6 million seedlings
Total: 5.3 billion seedlings
(Note: These estimates assume planting densities of 1,500–1,800 seedlings per hectare, as per jurisdictional standards.)
Challenges Facing Forest Restoration
The planning and growth of seedlings for reforestation typically take two to four years, requiring long-term investments in workforce and infrastructure. CTNA-ACPF Chair Mike Downing emphasized the economic and ecological importance of nurseries, stating, “Our tree nurseries serve as significant local employers in rural Canadian communities, offering jobs for both permanent and seasonal workers. Strategic planning positively impacts the health of our forests, communities, climate, and economy.”
Call for Policy Action
The CTNA-ACPF stresses that current reforestation efforts are inadequate given the record-breaking wildfires. The Federal Government’s 2 Billion Tree (2BT) program, launched in 2020, was not designed to address the scale of recent wildfire destruction.
Keen noted, “The 2BT planting target and execution mechanisms are insufficient to address the catastrophic losses of 2023 and 2024. However, lessons learned from the 2BT program set the stage for increasing overall restoration efforts beyond its 2031 end date. Governments must invest in public natural resource assets to ensure their long-term health and benefits.”
CTNA-ACPF Recommendations
The association proposes five key actions for government and industry leaders:
1️⃣ Expand and ensure long-term Federal and Provincial commitment to Crown forest restoration, allowing public and private growers to plan and invest effectively.
2️⃣ Extend the 2 Billion Tree Program beyond 2031 to address ongoing wildfire destruction.
3️⃣ Integrate western science with traditional Indigenous knowledge to ensure “the right trees are planted in the right place.”
4️⃣ Address labor shortages in the nursery sector by investing in workforce training and skills development.
5️⃣ Act now! Delayed action will only worsen the crisis and prolong the ecological and economic damage.
A Call for Immediate Action
The CTNA-ACPF urges all stakeholders—including government agencies, private sector partners, and the public—to support a significant increase in tree planting efforts. Doing so is essential to counteract wildfire devastation, support rural economies, and strengthen Canada’s environmental resilience.
“Together, we can ensure our forests thrive for generations to come,” the CTNA-ACPF stated.
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