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(Victoria, BC, January 31, 2025) The Canadian Tree Nursery Association-Association Canadienne des Pépinières Forestières (CTNA-ACPF) released a new report, "The Economic Value of Canada’s Tree Nursery Sector," at the Western Forest Contractors Association (WFCA) conference, held in Victoria, BC. Conducted by Green Analytics, this analysis is the first of its kind, detailing the sector's economic contributions from the annual production of 726 million seedlings.
The report was developed to provide decision makers with insights into the significant economic and environmental impacts of this vital industry and the collaborative efforts needed to meet Canada’s future forest restoration challenges.
The Economic Value of Canada’s Tree Nursery Sector report reveals that Canada’s tree nursery sector generates $256.3 million in annual revenue, contributes $535.4 million to the gross domestic product (GDP), and supports 4,378 full-time equivalent jobs in predominately rural communities nationwide. As the nation grapples with the implications of increased wildfires and other natural disasters significantly impacting our forests, these figures highlight the critical role that tree nurseries play in forest restoration efforts, ecological sustainability, and rural economic resilience.
"Recent unprecedented wildfires and windstorms have dramatically escalated the need for post disaster reforestation," stated Rob Keen, RPF and Executive Director of the CTNA-ACPF. "Our recent analysis indicates that to restore just 15% of Canada’s 2023 and 2024 burned forests will require over 5.3 billion seedlings, which could generate an additional $1.87 billion in revenue, contribute $3.91 billion to GDP, and create nearly 30,986 full-time equivalent jobs. This is not just an environmental endeavor; it is an economic opportunity to embrace and will ensure healthy forests for our future.”
The report is released as harvest levels in Canada’s forest levels are declining and reducing the demand for overall tree planting activity and seedlings produced by CTNA-ACPF members. This pattern is most obvious in British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario.
However, the significant demand for post-disaster forest restoration and replanting, driven by the recent devastating Canada-wide wildfires and windstorms in the East, presents an opportunity to enhance both the economy and Canada's ecological well-being.
As the importance of this sector is set to grow in the coming decade, driven by factors such as climate change, wildfire risks, and government commitment to reforest their lands, tree seedling industry represented by the CTNA-ACPF is capable and prepared to independently invest into their production infrastructure to ensure long-term supply.
With this report in hand, the CTNA-ACPF calls upon both Provincial and Federal governments to increase their commitment to forest restoration. “Tree seedlings take time to grow, our industry is ready, able and willing to invest in the production of seedlings for post-disaster forest restoration, but we need long-term commitments for specific levels of planting from government to enable effective planning and resource allocation,” Keen concluded.
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For further information go to https://ctna-acpf.ca to schedule interviews with Rob Keen, Contact: Don Huff at huffd@ecostrategy.ca or 416-805-7720
About Canadian Tree Nursery Association-Association Canadienne des Pépinières Forestières: The CTNA-ACPF advocates on behalf of 60 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.
Founding 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.
Randy Fournier, PRT Growing Services Ltd.
Founding Sponsors:
Maple Leaves Forever - a charitable foundation that advocates for and supports the planting of Canadian native maple trees.
Harnois Greenhouses - Lumineux de nature | Brighter by design
Blackmore Industries – solutions designed for the advancement of agribusinesses.
Seedlings required to restore just 15% of Canada’s forests destroyed in 2023 & 2024 wildfires
(Note: These numbers are conservative and assume 15% of burned areas will be replanted at a density of 1500 -1800 seedlings per ha as per standards in each jurisdiction. This planting is separate and distinct from the forest industries legal responsibility to replant post-harvest.)
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