Nicole Hurtubise
Chief Executive Officer,
Tree Canada
In 2023, wildfires devastated vital boreal caribou habitat in the Northwest Territories, prompting a unique partnership to plant one million native trees.
Wildfires tore through vast sections of Tłı̨chǫ Lands in the Northwest Territories (NWT) in 2023, destroying critical boreal caribou habitat between Great Slave Lake and Great Bear Lake. The boreal caribou, already a threatened species, rely on the forest’s lichen for food, but the fires decimated much of this essential resource. Without intervention, natural regeneration would take decades, further endangering the ecosystem and the people and wildlife that depend on it.
A strong partnership for a challenging project
Something special is in the works to combat this threat — the largest tree planting initiative ever undertaken in the NWT, with plans to plant one million native trees. The goal is to accelerate the recovery process by restoring food sources, providing shelter, and rebuilding crucial migration corridors.
Unlike many large-scale tree planting initiatives in Canada, which are typically led by the forest industry as part of their obligation to replant after logging, this effort is driven entirely by local community needs and biodiversity goals. It’s the combined effort of three partners, each with their unique strengths: Tree Canada’s national reach and fundraising capacity, the Tłı̨chǫ Government’s deep knowledge of the land, and Let’s Plant Trees’ expertise in large-scale reforestation.
Pooling resources and expertise is especially important given that this ambitious project is not without its challenges. Since the NWT has no commercial logging industry, there were no existing nurseries or seed banks. Millions of seeds had to be collected locally and transported to southern provinces for processing and growth before being returned for planting.
Timing is crucial — seedlings grown in Alberta must be transported and planted within a narrow window to ensure survival. Some reforestation sites are only accessible by helicopter, requiring careful coordination to prevent the young trees from excessive wind and heat exposure. And since the growing season is short, lasting from June to August, early establishment is critical.
Credit: Artless Collective
Weaving Traditional Knowledge into reforestation
“This project incorporates the Tłı̨chǫ philosophy of ‘Strong Like Two People,’ as it is guided to a large extent by Tłı̨chǫ Traditional Knowledge and is supported by modern science,” says Nicole Hurtubise, CEO of Tree Canada. Tłı̨chǫ Elders have played a key role in selecting tree species, identifying priority replanting areas, and guiding seed collection. They’ll also mentor local youth in the planting process and offer blessings to the land and crews working on the project.
With climate change pushing species northward, understanding how forests regenerate in extreme latitudes is vital to long-term conservation efforts. But it’s also the structure of the project that Hurtubise hopes will offer a valuable example to other regions. “The scale of impact that can be achieved through collaboration is immense,” she says. “Restoring habitat and mitigating the effects of wildfire require a holistic approach with expertise and knowledge from local communities and support from other experts.”
More than a one-off tree planting effort, this is a long-term investment in environmental restoration, community empowerment, and preserving biodiversity.
To help reforest this and other areas in need, visit treecanada.ca.
