In July 2023, Reclaimit ventured northwards, beyond the 60^th parallel, to the Hub of the North, Hay River, Northwest Territories (NWT) . Within this vast northern region of Canada, the Boreal Forest covers a land area 3 times larger than the United Kingdom (40⁺ million hectares)! The drawing card was one that was as large and daunting as the size of this vast territory: take on the NWT leadership of Canada’s 2-billion Trees Program (2-BT).

Reclaimit arriving at the 60th parallel only to discover vast tracks of Boreal Forest, 2023.

Being integrated with Forest Resources (GNWT), Reclaimit took on the task of Canada’s 2-billion Trees Program (2-BT), with a goal of making it a meaningful contributor to the federal mandate and the citizens of NWT. Quite the challenge in a land that recovers naturally, prolifically, and without assistance. And yes, even after the grandest forest fire events! But for this environmental services professional, the challenge was greater than the establishment of seedlings. For land with no commercial forestry sector, the opportunity was to develop a program that contributes to territorial citizens, compliments the environment, supports the federal mandate, and proves proper fiscal stewardship.

A black spruce (Picea mariana) tree that is off to a good start. This germinant emerging from the ashes, is the result of an enormous wildfire (> 500 000 hectares) in August-September of the previous year.

Getting a Design and Tools

Go-forward systems were needed to meet the emerging needs of the 2-BT program. To have a chance of mandate delivery, understanding the issues and meaningfully meshing them with territory-relevant solutions and practices, was the only way to ensure success. To accomplish this requires multiple meetings, coffee-connects, community visits, field visits, inter-intra department learning, and more. No overnight success. This took time, patience, learning, observing, and more time.

NWT-relevant tools needed to be crafted to deliver the program. There were none, and that made complete sense. For why would reforestation tools be needed if there was no commercial forestry sector to necessitate their use? So, to get started, I looked at the rules; those requirements, the non-negotiables that one must attain to start, operate, and complete. And where regulatory gaps could be filled by Best Management Practices (BMP), this was the chosen route.

And so, it was designed, a 2-BT program in NWT that adheres fully to federal and territorial legislation for the environment, health and safety, and the like, and maximizes the opportunity to introduce and effectively apply BMPs. This leaves room for the introduction of new ideas and innovations to solve problems and get better. On the arrival of Spring 2025 a federal-territory agreement was ratified to plant 8,000,000 seedlings, between 2025-31. This nation’s leading strategy is designed to meet the social-economic-environmental requirements of NWT and grow into success.

A collection of tamarack (Larix laricina) cones in August 2024, soon to be sent for processing and growing seedlings.