In a major step to combat climate change, the Government of Canada has announced an expanded commitment to its 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program. With the addition of 160 million trees slated for planting, the program is quickly approaching its goal of two billion trees, a target set to bolster Canada’s climate resilience and ecosystem health. According to Natural Resources Canada, this expansion brings the program’s total to 716 million trees, nearly tripling last year’s pledged figures and representing a significant collaborative effort with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners, and municipalities.
In alignment with this increased ambition, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, has unveiled over $200 million in funding for more than 30 new projects. These initiatives will span urban areas, federal lands, and private and Indigenous territories, reinforcing the nation’s capacity to address climate risks. The 2BT program’s reach has been amplified by partnerships that prioritize biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and the restoration of habitats affected by natural disturbances like wildfires and deforestation.
Among the new projects are the planting of over 1 million trees in Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula to restore watershed woodlots and enhance climate resilience, as well as reforestation initiatives in wildfire-impacted regions of British Columbia, where millions of new trees will help rebuild devastated landscapes. The program also supports Indigenous-led reforestation, including the “Healing the Land” project by the Wet’suwet’en First Nation in British Columbia, which plans to plant 12 million trees, integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge with reforestation practices.
Minister Wilkinson noted the program’s year-over-year momentum and the benefits trees provide, from air purification and erosion control to job creation and wildlife habitat. “The 2 Billion Trees program is accelerating its work to benefit more Canadians and foster a greener future,” Wilkinson stated, underscoring the program’s role in tackling climate change while enhancing Canada’s urban and rural environments.
Since its launch in 2021, the 2BT program has built a strong foundation with long-term partnerships that ensure trees are planted sustainably. Efforts are backed by annual partner reporting and site monitoring through remote sensing, ensuring the long-term success of reforested sites. With seeds already growing into saplings for future planting, the program is on track to meet its target while delivering environmental, social, and economic benefits across Canada.
