Unceded Algonquin Territory – Ottawa, ON – June 21, 2023

Nature, climate, faith, and Indigenous groups from across Canada are urging Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson to adopt measures in the 2 Billion Trees Program that would increase accessibility and support for biodiversity.

Since it began in 2021, the 2 Billion Trees program’s high minimum tree-planting requirements have prevented the participation of smaller local organizations who have “shovel-ready” and “shovel-worthy” projects. Consequently, uptake of the program is currently being dominated by larger organizations and plantations, many of which have been impermanent monocultures, which will be harvested again in the future.

An open letter released today, signed by over 100 nature and community groups, stresses the importance of making the program more accessible to grassroots organizations and more supportive of biodiversity measures in order to progress faster towards meeting the tree-planting targets in a sustainable and ecologically effective manner.

“The Liberals’ 2 Billion Tree promise could be the most impactful nature restoration effort in history,” says David Wallis, the Reforestation Policy and Campaign Manager at Nature Canada. “However, without listening to the over 100 nature groups who say the program needs serious changes, it could turn into one of their greatest failures.”

The letter outlines a number of recommendations to increase the program’s accessibility to prospective applicants, which include implementing multi-year planting agreements, allocating more funding towards capacity-building streams and establishing regional aggregators. The letter also suggests adopting measures that support biodiversity such as allowing a greater percentage of funds to be used to plant shrubs, allowing for greater flexibility between the urban and rural planting streams, and implementing more specific and transparent measures to ensure that trees are permanently protected.

With a goal of reaching its planting targets by 2031, the 2 Billion Trees Program has the potential to effectively advance our country’s climate change adaptation and biodiversity objectives. The program has recently been criticized by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development in a report citing the program’s lack of progress in meeting its tree-planting targets and lack of biodiversity in some of the approved projects.

As our letter points out, there needs to be improved accessibility for prospective applicants to the program and greater support for biodiversity measures in order for the 2 Billion Trees Program to be a success for nature.

Read the letter

The letter was signed by 100 nature, climate, faith, and Indigenous groups from across the country including:

Nature Nova Scotia

Bruce Trail Conservancy

Nature Saskatchewan

Greater Victoria Greenbelt Society

New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance

Ontario Headwaters Institute

Climate Action for Life long Learners

HealthyYEG

GentleWays for OurPlanet

Bee City Canada

Garden City Conservation Society

York Simcoe Nature Club

London Environmental Network

Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

Green Communities Canada

Saugeen Nature

Sustainable Orillia

One School One Farm Shelterbelt Project

Green Ummah

Hamilton-Wentworth Green Venture

Nature NB

Lions Bay Bird Friendly City

Ecology Ottawa

ClimateFast

McKellar Island Bird Observatory

For Our Kids Toronto

Blomidon Naturalists Society

Toronto Field Naturalists

Association forestière des deux rives

Biodiversity and Climate Action Niagara

Kamloops Naturalist Club

Staniforth and Associates

Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour

BC Conservation Foundation

Elk River Alliance

ReForest London

The Nashwaak Watershed Association

Island Nature Trust

Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society

Nature Regina

ecoCaledon

Nanaimo Science and Sustainability Society

Community Forests International

Tree Trust Stratford Perth

Nature London

Wildcoast Ecological Society

Nature Vancouver

Nature Alberta

Water & Environmental Protection for Albert County

Sudbury Naturalists

Mind Your Plastic

Seedlings Forest Education

Trout Unlimited Canada

Wilder Climate Solutions

rare Charitable Research Reserve

Shrubscriber

Sustainable Milton

Clean Air Partnership

South Simcoe Streams Network, Nottawasaga Futures

Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve Association

SOS Trees Coalition

Sydenham Field Naturalists

Manitoba Eco-Network

Friends of the Helen Schuler Nature Centre Society

Alberta Ecotrust Foundation

BC Nature – Federation of BC Naturalists

Guelph Urban Forest Friends

Reep Green Solutions

Prince Albert Model Forest Association Inc.

Souris and Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation

Yukon Conservation Society

Prince Edward County Field Naturalists

Fredericton Nature Club

False Creek Watershed Society

WWF-Canada

Friends of Semiahmoo bay Society

Friends of Clayoquot Sound

Nature Québec

Camp Kitigay

Grassroutes Ethnoecological Association

Bird Friendly Calgary

LEAF

Nanaimo & Area Land Trust

K&C Silviculture Ltd.

Southern Alberta Group for Environment (SAGE)

Dougan and Associates Ecological Consulting and Design

Calgary Urban Species Response Team

Calgary Climate Hub

Eco-Elders For Climate Action

Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

West Kootenay Climate Hub

CAFES

Muskeg Lake Cree Nation

Salal + Cedar

Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition

Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance

Nova Scotia Salmon Association

West Lake Community Association (WLCA)

BurlingtonGreen

Nature Canada is Canada’s voice for nature. For 80 years, Nature Canada has helped protect over 110 million acres of parks and wildlife areas in Canada and countless species. Today, Nature Canada represents a network of over 130,000 members and supporters and more than 1,300 nature organizations.

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For more information contact:
Scott Mullenix
media@naturecanada.ca