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Over 6.8B seedlings needed to restore just 15% of forests destroyed in 2025, 2024 & 2023 wildfires - Environmental Communication Options/Huff Strategy

Over 6.8B seedlings needed to restore just 15% of forests destroyed in 2025, 2024 & 2023 wildfires

Aug 11th, 2025 7:51 AM

(Ottawa, August 11, 2025) New data revealing the escalating scale of Canada's forest restoration challenge following three consecutive record-breaking wildfire seasons was unveiled at the Canadian Tree Nursery Association-Association Canadienne des Pépinières Forestières (CTNA-ACPF) second Annual General Meeting.

"The scale of destruction in 2023, 2024, and now 2025, is taking a tragic toll on Canadian communities and our forests” stated Rob Keen, Executive Director of the CTNA-ACPF. "We now require over 6.8 billion seedlings to restore just 15% of the forests lost to these catastrophic wildfires. This is not just an environmental crisis, the economic and social costs require immediate action from our Prime Minister, Premiers, and Forest Ministers."

Seedlings Required to Restore Just 15% of Canada’s Forests Destroyed in 2023, 2024 & as of August 2025 Wildfires

(Note: These numbers are conservative and assume 15% of burned areas will be replanted at a density of 1,500-1,800 seedlings per ha. as per standards in each jurisdiction. This planting is separate and distinct from the legal responsibility of the forest industry to replant post-harvest.)

Recent record wildfires have created an urgent need for coordinated, large-scale reforestation, but restoration efforts are being undermined by provincial funding cuts. British Columbia's tree planting numbers have declined significantly from 300 million in 2024 to 240 million in 2025, with projections of just 226 million in 2026. This represents a cumulative reduction of 134 million seedlings since 2024 and signals a troubling shift in the wrong direction. As well, fires have devastated a large portion of Saskatchewan’s production forest, threatening future wood supply and long-term forest industry viability. At this time, no proactive measures are being taken to restore these forests. Urgent restoration efforts must be taken now to avoid significant long-term consequences.

Planning and growing seedlings for forest restoration spans two to four years. This necessitates significant long-term investments from Canada’s nurseries and the entire forest restoration supply chain to ensure the availability of the right tree species and infrastructure to get the trees planted.

The CTNA-ACPF has a four-step plan to respond to this challenge by proposing establishment of a National Forest Restoration Task Team. This Team would bring together experts from the forest restoration supply chain for a coordinated, regionally responsive recovery effort. It would collaborate with provincial, territorial, and indigenous partners to coordinate federal and provincial support and focus on the following:

Mike Downing, Chair of the CTNA-ACPF, emphasized, “Our tree nurseries are vital local employers in numerous rural Canadian communities, providing stable jobs for both permanent and seasonal workers. Strategic, long-term planning in this sector has a profound and positive impact on the health of our forests, the resilience of our communities, our climate goals, and the overall economy”.

Governments must increase their commitment to restoring Crown forests and proactively prepare for future climate challenges, investing in these public assets for long-term health and benefits.

The CTNA-ACPF calls for immediate government actions:

  1. Increasing and Ensuring Long-Term Federal and Provincial Commitment to the Restoration of Crown Forests: The established forest restoration supply chain is ideally positioned to respond to increased planting demands. This requires governments making long-term, predictable demand commitments. This will empower public and private growers to make essential self-investments to meet the challenge.
  2. The Prime Minister Committing to Expanding the 2 Billion Tree Program Beyond 2031: The current target is insufficient given the recent scale of forest loss.
  3. Engaging Western Science and Traditional Knowledge: To ensure the "right trees are planted in the right place" for optimal ecological recovery and resilience.
  4. Addressing Labor Shortages in the Nursery Sector: Equipping workers with the necessary training and skills for sustainable tree seedling cultivation is crucial.
  5. Start Now! The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated.

The CTNA-ACPF urges all stakeholders—including government, private sector partners, and the public—to prioritize an increase in tree planting as essential to address wildfire devastation, support the sustainable rural economy, and champion more aggressive environmental stewardship in response to climate change.

CTNA-ACPF members are capacity-ready and deeply committed to effectively meet the escalating demand for wildfire forest restoration. This will require predictable, long-term government commitments for Crown Forest seedling demand, as current policies hinder essential planning, resource allocation, and the establishment of partnerships crucial for a reliable supply of high-quality seedlings.

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For more information, high-res images or to schedule an interview in French or English contact: Don Huff, (dhuff@ctna-acpf.ca) or (416) 805-7720

Additional information about the Canadian Tree Nursery Association-Association Canadienne des Pépinières Forestières (www.ctna-acpf.ca)

The Canadian Tree Nursery Association-Association Canadienne des Pépinières Forestières (CTNA-ACPF) advocates on behalf of 64 tree nurseries (CTNA-ACPF Membership) from coast to coast to coast. Formed in 2023, the CTNA-ACPF is the only national voice representing tree nurseries in Canada. Our members grow more than 95% of the nation’s forest restoration tree seedlings.

Directors: Ryan Scott, Scott and Steward Forestry Consultants Ltd. Mike Downing, L’office des producteurs de plants forestiers du Québec (OPPFQ), Brent Forbes, Somerville Nurseries Inc., Scott Formaniuk, Coast to Coast Reforestation Inc. Renee Yardley, CCO, PRT Growing Services Ltd.

Sponsors: Harnois Greenhouses - Lumineux de nature | Brighter by design, Lambert Peat Moss