British Columbia anticipates a significant reduction in tree planting activities, with projections indicating 50 million fewer trees will be planted in 2025, marking a 17-percent decrease from the 2024 planting season. The report, released in Victoria, highlights several contributing factors to this decline, including U.S. tariffs on Canadian lumber and increasing wildfire intensities that render vast areas unsuitable for planting. The document was presented to the industry in September, shortly before the commencement of the B.C. 2024 provincial election campaign.
B.C. continues to play a pivotal role in Canada's tree seedling production, generating nearly $130 million in revenue by late 2024. This figure represents approximately half of the $256 million amassed nationwide, with more than half of Canada's tree seedlings grown in the province. The Canadian Tree Nursery Association underscores the economic significance of this industry, noting its extensive footprint within the country's economic landscape.
The association further estimates that it would require 5.3 billion seedlings to reforest just 15 percent of Canadian forests devastated by wildfires in 2023 and 2024. This ambitious undertaking could potentially create nearly 31,000 jobs and add $3.9 billion to Canada's GDP. The industry has traditionally supplied seedlings to logging companies for replanting cut forests, but the increasing prevalence of wildfires is expected to drive up demand for seed production in the coming years.
Despite these challenges, the BC NDP has committed to planting 300 million trees annually across the province, aiming to bolster forest resilience. However, experts like Erik Piikkila, a forest technician and watershed ecologist, caution that the intensity of wildfires is causing severe damage to the soil, complicating reforestation efforts.
“As the importance of this sector is set to grow in the coming decade, driven by factors such as climate change and wildfire risks, continued investment is essential,” – Canadian Tree Nursery Association
The report emphasizes the potential benefits of government investment in the tree nursery industry. Such investments could enhance rural communities, support forest ecosystems, and contribute to a climate-resilient future for Canada.
