Marley Moose, 22, is dedicating her third summer to reforesting areas in northern Manitoba that have been devastated by wildfires. Despite her efforts and those of her crew, the task has become more difficult due to the discontinuation of a federal initiative aiming to plant two billion trees by 2030.
The forest in Manitoba’s Interlake region, previously damaged by a jack pine budworm infestation in 2016, faced further destruction in 2021 when wildfires swept through the Devils Lake area, hindering its regeneration process. The cancellation of the federal tree-planting program has added challenges to initiatives like the one Moose is involved with through Nekoté LP, an Indigenous corporation representing seven Swampy Cree First Nations in northern and central Manitoba.
According to the Canadian Tree Nursery Association (CTNA), Canada is losing trees at a rapid rate due to various factors, including deforestation for development, lumber, and paper production, as well as the impact of pests like the mountain pine beetle. The CTNA estimates that approximately 10% of Canada’s forests were destroyed by wildfires between 2023 and 2025, requiring 7.3 billion seedlings to replace just 15% of the lost trees.
The CTNA’s 2 Billion Trees Program, launched by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, aimed to address the declining tree cover in Canada. However, the current government, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, decided to scrap the initiative last fall to reallocate resources to defense and infrastructure projects, jeopardizing reforestation efforts like the one Moose is part of.
As Canada grapples with consecutive severe fire seasons and a concerning trend of managed forests releasing more carbon than they absorb, the need for tree-planting initiatives has never been more critical. Despite the setback caused by the cancellation of the 2 Billion Trees Program, stakeholders in the forestry industry are collaborating to find alternative funding solutions to continue reforestation efforts.
Farron Sharp, a project manager with Blue-Green Planet Project, is actively seeking new sources of funding to support reforestation projects. Sharp, who has been working with Nekoté LP in Manitoba’s Devils Lake area, emphasizes the importance of planting trees as a way to mitigate the environmental impacts of deforestation, carbon emissions, and unsustainable practices.
While the challenges of reforestation are significant, Moose and her team remain committed to the cause, driven by the hope that their efforts will create a healthier environment for future generations to enjoy.
