Following a record-breaking 2023 fire season that burned over 3.5 million hectares in central and northern Canada, the province of Ontario has launched a large-scale forest restoration program. In January 2025, it announced $180 million in funding to plant 200 million trees over five years.
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The project, called “Greening Ontario’s Future,” is being implemented with support from the federal Ministry of Natural Resources, Indigenous communities, and environmental NGOs. Particular attention is being paid to restoring boreal forests—the continent’s key “lung” that absorbs millions of tonnes of CO₂ annually.
The planting is not random, but rather follows scientifically sound plans. Native species such as spruce, pine, and larch, which are resilient to the region’s climate, are used. In areas where fires have destroyed seed stock, aerial surveys and drones are being used to select optimal planting sites.
Indigenous peoples, such as the Cree and Ottawa, are included as partners in the process. Their traditional knowledge of forest ecosystems helps determine which species thrive best where. Furthermore, the project creates jobs in remote communities.