Designing the 2-Billion Trees Program for the Northwest Territories: Lessons Learned
Forests Exist Beyond the 60th Parallel
Implementing Canada’s 2-Billion Trees Program (2-BT) in the Northwest Territories (NWT) is not as simple as planting seedlings. Travelling beyond the 60th parallel, one is struck by the vast stretches of Boreal Forest that thrive even after severe wildfires. Unlike what many assume, the forest here doesn’t suddenly give way to tundra, and polar bears don’t greet you at the border. Instead, the forest abounds, covering a landscape nearly as large as Alberta.
Beyond the 60th parallel, the vast tracks of Boreal Forest continue, as seen by this treed bog.
Why Plant Trees Where Forests Regrow Naturally?
Tree planting is meaningful where it is needed. Yet, in NWT the forests regenerate naturally after disturbances like fire and the meniscal volume of wood harvested to heat homes in the Winter. So, to the challenge: How do we establish plants for carbon sequestration and not upset natural processes in the forest?
Emerging life, after the 2023 fire left behind vast lands of scorched earth. This jack pine (Pinus banksiana) seedling and surrounding herbaceous vegetation near McNallie Creek, NWT, are evidence of resilience.
Better Equipped With Humility
Theodore Roosevelt gets to the heart of the matter.
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
To lead this program meaningfully, we needed to replace any “command-and-control” mindsets with humility and patience. Our approaches included spending time listening, learning, and understanding how NWT residents live, think, and measure value. Earning trust was the first and only sustainable path forward to shape a program that supports communities, respects the environment, and delivers to the mandate of the 2-billion Trees Program.
Discovering the Right Projects: Rock and Meadows
For 16 months, the land was explored, territorial residents met, and opportunities vetted. Two clear projects emerged—one centred on rocky sites and another within wet meadow landscapes that are spotted with small islands of upland forest vegetation communities. Both project areas were decimated by recent forest fires.
These projects allow us to align a territorial-driven value framework with defensible, meaningful reforestation activities. Through this process, we shaped a 2-BT program for the Northwest Territories that supports the federal carbon mandate while respecting the unique ecological and cultural landscape of the North.
Moving Forward
Building a successful program in the North is not about racing ahead; it’s about pacing efforts to ensure alignment with the land and its people. At Reclaimit, we are committed to advancing meaningful reclamation and reforestation in Canada’s North, one thoughtful step at a time.
Have questions about this approach or want to discuss how Reclaimit can support your forestry or reclamation projects in the NWT? Click here to email us. We’re ready to help.
