B.C. unveils major reforestation plan as wildfire recovery continues

British Columbia is launching a major reforestation push to plant more than 125 million trees as it works to restore wildfire-damaged forests and prepare for increasingly severe climate impacts.

The initiative is backed by more than $155 million in provincial funding, along with an additional $200 million from the federal government, bringing total public investment to over $355 million.

The province says the work will go beyond replanting burned areas, focusing on rebuilding ecosystems, improving habitat and strengthening long-term forest resilience.

Planting will target wildfire-affected landscapes, riparian zones along waterways and degraded areas requiring ecological restoration, using native species matched to local conditions.

Nearly 54 million trees are expected to be planted on public lands in wildfire-affected regions by 2027 as part of long-term recovery work.

Up to 20 million trees will come from habitat-focused and Indigenous-led projects, including areas supporting species at risk and sensitive ecosystems requiring targeted restoration.

Vancouver Island and coastal B.C. are expected to be key areas for the work, with local nurseries and silviculture contractors playing a central role in supplying seedlings and carrying out planting operations.

Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says the investment is about long-term stability for both forests and the forestry sector.

“Since 2017, we’ve invested in planting 400 million trees in B.C.,” Parmar said. “This is about securing the future of our forests and forestry jobs for generations to come.”

He said forestry remains a cornerstone of the provincial economy and must be supported through planning and reforestation.

“For British Columbia, forestry is our auto sector, forestry is our steel sector,” Parmar said. “In order for us to make the necessary investments to restore confidence in this sector, we have to get the basics right… when we talk about forestry we also talk about reforestation as well as long-term sustainability.”

The funding package includes $99 million for the B.C. Forest Investment Program, $56 million tied to the federal-provincial 2 billion Trees initiative, and $1 million for riparian restoration projects focused on streamside habitats.

“These projects will help rebuild healthier forests throughout British Columbia and strengthen the resilience of our natural landscapes for years to come,” said federal Secretary of State for Nature Nathalie Provost.

In total, more than 233 million trees are expected to be planted on public land in 2026 through combined provincial and federal programs.

The announcement comes just ahead of the Council of Canadian Forest Ministers Conference, which begins Wednesday in Langford, where leaders will meet to discuss wildfire recovery, forest health and the future of the forestry sector.