PROJECT REPORT
BRITISH COLUMBIA 2023 NAZKO WILDFIRE RESTORATION
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Dear friend, Thanks to your support, a total of 1,160,000 trees were planted to restore 862.3 hectares of land in British Columbia. Planting trees in areas that have been degraded or deforested helps the environment by accelerating and assuring the re-establishment of healthy forests. Through reforestation, the canopy is restored, ecosystems are made whole, and biodiversity can thrive. None of this would be possible without you. On behalf of everyone at One Tree Planted, thank you! What follows is a report outlining the project you supported in British Columbia. I hope you enjoy reading it and truly feel the impact you have made.
OVERVIEW
The objective of the British Columbia 2023 - Nazko Wildfire Restoration project was to reforest areas that were impacted by a large, severe wildfire that occurred in 2017. A variety of conifer species, as well as one deciduous species, were planted on areas that were not found to be regenerating naturally. Reforesting these areas will allow the trees to sequester atmospheric carbon as they grow, eliminating the need to wait several decades for natural regeneration, and ensuring the trees vital role in working toward climate stability.
TREES PLANTED 1,160,000
TREE SPECIES PLANTED 6
WOMEN INVOLVED 60
HECTARES REFORESTED 862.3
JOBS SUPPORTED 130 WILDLIFE SPECIES BENEFITED 40
ACRES REFORESTED 2131 PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM TRAINING 150
TREE SPECIES PLANTED Six native tree species were planted for this project: interior Douglas-fir, western larch, lodgepole pine, black cottonwood, hybrid spruce and yellow pine. When there is natural regeneration in the Nazko region of British Columbia, it is mostly lodgepole pine and trembling aspen, due to their respective adaptations for regenerating after a wildfire. By replanting in this area, we are able to increase the species diversity by including native species that are not as well adapted to coming back after a wildfire, such as hybrid spruce and Douglas-fir. Replanting also ensures that all the benefits forests provide will return to the landscape much faster than if left to natural processes. These benefits include the provision of food sources, fuel, and medicinal plants; atmospheric carbon sequestration; regulation of the hydrological cycle; and wildlife habitat. At least 40 other species associated with coniferous forests will benefit benefit from this project, including black and grizzly bears, moose, mule deer, cougars, grey wolves, snowshoe hares, sandhill cranes, and bald eagles.
SPECIES PLANTED THROUGH THIS PROJECT Interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii, var. glauca) Western larch (Larix occidentalis) Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta, var. latifolia) Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) Spruce hybrid (Picea glauca x engelmannii) Yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa)
TREE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION & USE
Since spruce do not regenrate naturally following wildfires, they were used to plant 69% of this project. There are over 40 different species of spruce, with 4 of them being native to British Columbia. Also known as “white spruce,” the hybrid spruce is a medium sized evergreen conifer with dark gray, scaly bark. Hybrid spruce wood is primarily used for lumber and pulp, employed for the construction of structural framing, and for musical instruments. Lodgepole pine is a tall-slender straight tree that can grow up to 150ft. Growing throughout most of the Interior, lodgepole pine have needles which occur in bunches of two and are often twisted in a spiral with sharp points, and bark that is thin and finely scaled. This species is unique in that it can grow just about anywhere - from the mild-rainy coast to the hot, dry Interior. Lodgepole pine is one of the first trees to colonize an area after a wildfire. Its cones are protected by a seal of pitch that requires fIre or heat to release the seeds, allowing the seeds to stay on the tree or on the ground for many years until disturbance provides suitable growing conditions. Lodgepole pine is excellent for lumber, plywood, and paneling. It is used to make doors, windows and furniture, as well as railway ties, mine props and fence posts. Douglas fir are evergreen coniferous trees native to coastal areas in western North America and British Columbia. This species has two varieties; Coastal Douglas fir and Rocky Mountain Douglas fir. Unlike Coastal fir, Rocky Mountain fir are smaller, and tolerate drier sites throughout the Rocky Mountains. Douglas fir can grow up to 150ft and can be identified by their blue-green needles. They produce cones, which are light brown and have unique forked bracts between the scales. Douglas firs are the most common and widely distributed species in the Pacific Northwest. Because of their value, Douglas firs are typically harvested within a century, but have been known to grow for centuries onward. Part of their demand comes from their versatility in purpose. Douglas fir timber can be used to make furniture, flooring and lumber for home construction. On top of this, and because of their festive appearance, they are highly sought out as Christmas trees.
YOUR IMPACT ON THE MAP The British Columbia 2023 Nazko Wildfire Restoration project comprised of planting 1,160,000 trees within a high severity burn area that destroyed more than 500,000 hectares across central British Columbia. By planting a range of conifer species, this project serves as a catalyst for carbon sequestration and the promotion of a healthy, species-diverse conifer forest across the region, bringing in added diversity through flora and fauna, as well as vital habitat for plant, animal and insect species.
LANDSCAPE IMPACT ON THE MAP The British Columbia 2023 - Nazko Wildfire Restoration project consisted of plantings throughout the Nazko region of central B.C. Following the record making wildfires, which destroyed a significant portion of the landscape in 2017 and 2018, British Columbia’s landscape will be transformed through increased tree diversity, revitalization of biodiversity and wildlife and increased carbon sequestration. Not only are these plantings critical to strengthening the resilience of British Columbia’s ecosystems for years to come, but they will restore the land decades ahead of its estimated natural regeneration.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT Wildfire Restoration and Regrowth in British Columbia
DOCUMENTING YOUR IMPACT Through authentic and informative storytelling, we help donors relate to the people who plant their trees and to the impact they're making for the planet. We share photos, videos, and updates from our global projects across our social media, website, and other media to create a personal connection to the incredible work happening on the ground.
PHOTOS FROM YOUR PROJECT
BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on earth at all levels, from genes to ecosystems, and all the processes that sustain life. Forests cover roughly two-thirds of British Columbia, or approximately 60 million hectares of land, making it Canada’s most ecologically diverse province. Mostly made up of old-growth forests, B.C.’s long-standing trees have left the province largely undeveloped. The coniferous forests that cover both central and southern B.C. brim with pristine wilderness and abundant biodiversity, with noteworthy animal species including the pacific tree frog, cougar, black bear and lynx. These temperate forests are largely dominated by lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine and douglas fir. British Columbia’s Forests Facts & Stats: British Columbia is Canada’s most protected province Rare Plants: Lyall’s mariposa lily (Calochortus lyallii) Tall bugbane (Actaea elata) Scouler’s corydalis (Corydalis scouleri) Phantom orchid (Cephalanthera austiniae) Pink sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata) Poor pocket moss (Fissidens pauperculus) Rare Animals: Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) Mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa) Western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis) Spotted owls (Strix occidentalis) Boreal owls (Aegolius funereus) Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Moose (Alces alces) Little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) Red-legged frog (Rana draytonii)
COMMUNITY
BENEFITS
The local community will benefit from the restored forest through replenishment of food and fuel sources, recreational opportunities and the long-term ecosystem benefits coniferous forests provide. These benefits include carbon sequestration, regulation of the hydrological cycle, and improved water and air quality. Hunting and trapping are important sources of food and income for local communities. With the aforementioned wildfires having removed thousands of hectares of forest cover around local communities, wildlife populations and habitats were displaced — or worse, eradicated. By replanting these areas, local communities benefit from the return of larger wildlife populations supported by these restored forest habitats. Furthermore, this project involved collaboration with members of the local Nazko First Nation on trail building and danger tree assessments necessary to carry out planting operations. Likewise, the influx of planting and survey crew members that came together to collaborate on this project encouraged a substantial increase in revenue to the local First Nation-owned campground, and will continue to do so as monitoring efforts progress.
U.N. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THIS PROJECT CONTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:
WHAT ARE SDGS? Sustainable development entails seeking out solutions that not only boost the economic outcomes of developing and poorer nations, but also work to limit (or eliminate) our impact on the planet. Trees are one such solution. From creating jobs and reducing hunger to improving gender equality, cleaning air and water, absorbing carbon, protecting life on land and water, and more, planting trees can address all 17 sustainable development goals.
Meghan Danny
Global Projects Support Specialist
Angela Peterson
Project Manager, Indigenous Communities