Latest news with #2BillionTrees
Global News
21-07-2025
- Business
- Global News
Unproductive Alberta farmland to be converted back to forest
The federal government is providing over $100 million to help return unproductive Alberta farmland to its original forested state. Corey Hogan, parliamentary secretary to Canada's natural resources minister, says the cash is part of the $3.2 billion 2 Billion Trees program and the reforestation will help capture carbon and reduce greenhouse gases. The goal is to support provinces, territories and third-party organizations in planting two billion trees across Canada by 2031. Hogan says cleared farmland will be turned back into thriving forests, providing employment to Indigenous women and youth, and providing economic benefits. 1:49 Canada falling short of pledge to plant 2 billion trees by 2030: audit Mike Toffan from Project Forest says through four different projects, 12 million trees will be planted in Alberta, including on the Siksika Nation and in the Peace Country. Story continues below advertisement He says some of the land goes back well over a century, when a quarter section was offered to settlers to encourage settlement in the Prairies. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'In some of those cases, the original farmers were farming the land, weren't able to make an economic go and the next generation didn't take that on,' Toffan said Monday. 'So going back to 1912 and in some cases prior to that, land was cleared in areas, not able to produce economic crops and those are perfect cases to bring forests back.'
Cision Canada
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Regrowing Alberta's Forests
CALGARY, AB, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada, together with Indigenous communities, private and non-profit sector leaders, and provincial partners, is taking action to regenerate Alberta's forests — protecting clean air and preserving the province's vast natural landscapes for generations to come. Today, Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced, in collaboration with Project Forest, The Carbon Farmer and FIND Biomass Inc, a joint investment of over $125 million for four projects that will plant 12 million trees and restore critical habitat for species at risk throughout Alberta, such as caribou. Investments will help to create and restore biodiverse forests and wildlife habitat and sequester carbon while creating seasonal and full-time jobs for surrounding communities in Alberta. We are not just planting trees — we are building a stronger, healthier and more-resilient Canada. Quotes "Forests are more than ecosystems — they are economic drivers, climate solutions and cultural touchstones. That's why the Government of Canada is taking action in partnership with the Government of Alberta, Indigenous communities, the private sector and non-profit organizations to restore forest landscapes and grow a greener economy. Building a resilient Albertan economy means working across sectors and jurisdictions to turn shared goals into lasting impacts." MP Corey Hogan Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources "Our government is committed to supporting biodiversity by investing in the protection of wildlife habitats and species at risk, like the caribou. The survival of this iconic Canadian species depends on healthy forests, which is why we are working with partners across Alberta to protect and restore its habitat. This initiative will help preserve nature while strengthening local economies." The Honourable Julie Dabrusin Minister of Environment and Climate Change "The 2 Billion Trees program is a transformative initiative that will shape Canada's future forever — ushering in a greener, healthier world where more Canadians can connect with nature. The generous funding Project Forest has received is not just support; it is a catalyst that will supercharge our mission to rewild Canada, one forest at a time. This is a game-changing moment for our organization, and words alone cannot fully capture the depth of our gratitude. This funding empowers us to make an even greater impact, faster, and we are profoundly thankful for this incredible opportunity." Mike Toffan Founder and Executive Director, Project Forest "The food that farmers produce on their land is critical for us all. However, some fields or portions thereof that have been cleared of trees historically are actually better suited for forest ecosystems, due to factors like soil quality, parcel size, the need for erosion prevention, the value of water retention and the benefits of habitat connectivity. The 2BT program will allow us to proudly plant trees with farmers who want to manage their land with a mosaic of best ecological practices." Brad Rabiey President, The Carbon Farmer "As an Indigenous business, we are committed to creating Indigenous employment and training opportunities while contributing to environmental sustainability. This project allows FIND Biomass to collaborate with a landowner who shares our dedication to social and environmental values. By planting hybrid poplar, a fast-growing species, we will sequester ten times more carbon than a natural forest." Melissa Minks FIND Biomass Inc Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn.
Winnipeg Free Press
21-07-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Federal money provided to return unproductive farmland back to forest in Alberta
PRIDDIS – The federal government is providing over $100 million to help return unproductive Alberta farmland to its original forested state. Corey Hogan, parliamentary secretary to Canada's natural resources minister, says the cash is part of the $3.2 billion '2 Billion Trees program' and the reforestation will help capture carbon and reduce greenhouse gases. The goal is to support provinces, territories and third-party organizations in planting two billion trees across Canada by 2031. Hogan says cleared farmland will be turned back into thriving forests, providing employment to Indigenous women and youth, and providing economic benefits. Mike Toffan from Project Forest says through four different projects, 12 million trees will be planted in Alberta, including on the Siksika Nation and in the Peace Country. He says some of the land goes back well over a century, when a quarter section was offered to settlers to encourage settlement in the Prairies. 'In some of those cases, the original farmers were farming the land, weren't able to make an economic go and the next generation didn't take that on,' Toffan said Monday. 'So going back to 1912 and in some cases prior to that, land was cleared in areas, not able to produce economic crops and those are perfect cases to bring forests back.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2025.
Calgary Herald
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Group pushes for faster action on growing city's tree canopy
More urgency is needed in expanding Calgary's tree canopy, a green cover that lags behind other Canadian cities, says an environmental group. Article content Article content While members of the Calgary Climate Hub say they're supportive of the city's efforts in adding trees to its leafy inventory, it should be moving faster and in a more even-handed way. Article content The city's northeast and downtown need to catch up to the rest of Calgary in its green numbers, said Heather Addy, a volunteer with the group, who notes the city has set a goal of doubling its canopy from the current 8 per cent coverage of city land by 2060. Article content Article content 'The northeast has a much lower tree canopy, it's below 8 per cent — some of those are new communities but some are not,' said Addy, a University of Calgary professor emeritus in bioscience. Article content Article content 'And the downtown needs more trees — there's not much for people who work there but also for those who live there and it's hot during the summer.' Article content Last November, the city announced it will receive nearly $61 million from the federal government's 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program — a 2019 election promise from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to plant an additional two billion trees across Canada within a decade. Article content Article content Article content The funding will allow for 930,000 new trees to be planted across Calgary over the next five years, which the city said will help expand its overall urban forest canopy and provide equitable access for all residents. Article content Article content Addy said the city's goal of 16 per cent trees coverage over land it owns should be nearly double that, a standard that's been met or sought by other Canadian centres and even more trees will be needed to replace those that die from drought or disease. Article content 'It's really something for Calgarians to come together on,' said Addy.
CBC
04-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Calgary continues efforts to plant nearly a million trees, and better balance local canopy
The city intends to plant 930,000 new trees by 2029 After a major influx of federal dollars last fall, Calgary's efforts to plant more trees continues this spring. Since 2023, Calgary has planted 200,000 trees as part of an effort to introduce 930,000 in total by 2029. Looking further ahead, Calgary, a city of roughly seven million trees, aims to nearly double its urban canopy coverage from 8.25 per cent, as measured in 2022, to 16 per cent by 2060. The local effort was bolstered by nearly $61 million from the federal government last fall. The funding is part of Canada's 2 Billion Trees program, a national effort to improve urban spaces, provide cleaner air and help the country adapt to climate change. But where Calgary's new trees will go is a pressing question surrounding this project. Many of the more well-established and central Calgary neighbourhoods have more trees. But Calgary's canopy often grows more sparse in neighbourhoods further from the city's core, in areas that weren't developed with trees in mind or have poorer soil quality. The disparity creates a problem for residents who miss out on benefits like trees that offer shade to mitigate heat in the summer and disrupt winds to protect from the cold in the winter, while also more effectively managing storm water, improving biodiversity, and enhancing social and mental wellbeing. Paul Atkinson, the city's acting urban forestry lead, said Calgary tries to tackle this disparity by targeting areas with less trees per hectare of public land, but it's not always a simple fix. Some areas need soil rehabilitation, which can be expensive, while other neighbourhoods weren't developed with enough space for trees, based on street design and where utilities were installed. "If you take that bird's eye view and look at some of these sites, they might look like ideal spots to plant a tree, but they might actually have high-pressure gas lines or utilities or street light cables or all these things underground," Atkinson said in an interview with This Is Calgary. LISTEN | Where will Calgary plant nearly a million trees? Media Audio | This is Calgary : You get a tree! And you get a tree! Caption: Where will Calgary plant nearly a million trees? We put that question to the city's top tree guy, and also ask if communities with historically fewer trees will get finally get spruced up. Open Full Embed in New Tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. A map of the city's urban canopy shows neighbourhoods like Eau Claire, Erlton and Garrison Green have more than 25 city-maintained trees per hectare. But other neighbourhoods like Franklin, Sunridge and Mayland have less than five. The city's efforts don't just end on public land though, as its Branching Out program offers roughly 5,000 trees per year for residents to grow on their land, with quadrants covered by less canopy given priority. Frustrations over a more sparse canopy But some parts of the city want a stronger effort to balance the scales between trees in each neighbourhood. Much of Ward 5, which is represented by Coun. Raj Dhaliwal, has an urban canopy far below the city's average. In November, Dhaliwal said he planned to call for a sizeable amount of the federal funding toward new trees to be used in his ward. What's the value of a tree? The city will tell you Saddle Ridge is one neighbourhood with less coverage, boasting just eight city-maintained trees per hectare. Asim Baig, president of the Saddle Ridge Community Association, points out parts of his neighbourhood feel barren, with no trees at all or older plants damaged by hailstorms. He said he often hears frustration from other residents, because it seems as though trees damaged by hail aren't replaced at a rate matching the damage. "Every time we push for having more trees around our boulevards and parks, the reason that we hear is that soil is not as good as the other communities. And our frustration is that there has to be some sort of remedy to mitigate this problem," Baig said. Baig added that caring for trees has also had an effect to unite residents who share a passion for it, and that the neighbourhood on the whole wants to see more trees. "[Trees] add a sense of belonging," Baig said. "It's not even [just] better for environment, but people come together." Planning planting ahead Atkinson said soil quality, depth and availability can all be improved, and the benefits of better soil health, carbon sequestration below ground and tree longevity outweigh the associated cost. But it's still an expensive process, and can lead to some resistance. "When you're dealing with trees and convincing people if we enhance the soil it'll save us money over 200 years and it will produce a canopy over 200 years, it's a pretty tough sell because I won't be here in 200 years to find out if we're all correct," Atkinson said. The city plans its canopy development roughly a year out, and it's using other methods to put more trees in the ground like new micro-forest areas. It's planting potted trees that, because they need to be carefully dug into the ground by hand, can be installed closer to some underground utilities. In some neighbourhoods, Atkinson says they've already put in the work in all of the available plantable area, the canopy just needs time to grow. In other cases, there's more work to be done. "We want people to have access to trees. We want every citizen to have these cost-effective solutions to mitigate heat and all these things around residences," Atkinson said.
