Governments to spend $355 million on B.C. reforestation, including 125 million new trees
With the support of the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia is launching a major new reforestation push that will see more than 125 million trees planted across the province.
This is aimed at restoring forests damaged by wildfires while also improving wildlife habitat and strengthening biodiversity.
The provincial government is contributing approximately $155 million to the effort, while the federal government is providing more than $200 million through several restoration and tree-planting programs. This combined investment exceeds over $355 million.
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Part of the funding comes from the federal government’s 10-year “2 Billion Trees” program, which was first announced in 2023 and supports projects designed to restore critical wildlife habitat.
“We’re showing how B.C. continues to lead not only in forestry, but in reforestation and restoration. We’re securing the future of our forests and forestry jobs for generations to come,” said Ravi Parmar, the B.C. minister of forests, in a statement today.
Randene Neill, the B.C. minister of water, land, and resource stewardship, said the program will have benefits beyond typical tree planting.
“Funding for tree planting work under the 2 Billion Tree agreement supports our efforts to restore habitat for wildlife and safeguard B.C.’s iconic ecosystems for future generations. This funding, which will plant up to 20 million trees in B.C., highlights what we can do when we work across governments to support our province’s biodiversity,” she said.
A large portion of the funding will support reforestation in areas affected by recent wildfires. This program is expected to plant nearly 54 million trees on public lands by 2027, helping damaged forests recover and supporting long-term forest health.
The investment package includes more than $99 million for the B.C. Forest Investment Program, which already receives annual provincial funding to support forest renewal and sustainability projects. Additional funding will be directed toward habitat restoration projects and riparian recovery work.
Restoration work may include environmental assessments, planting vegetation that reflects natural ecosystems, and removing human-made structures that interfere with habitat recovery.
First Nations will also have access to dedicated funding for habitat restoration. Up to $13.3 million has been earmarked for Indigenous-led projects.
According to the provincial government, this builds on the 400 million trees that have been planted in B.C. since 2017.
In 2026 alone, it is expected that over 233 million trees will be planted on public lands, including over 48 million seedlings.
“From restoring wildlife habitat to supporting recovery after wildfires, these projects will help rebuild healthier forests throughout British Columbia and strengthen the resilience of our natural landscapes for years to come,” said Nathalie Provost, the federal secretary of state for nature.