April 22, 2022 New Westminster, British Columbia Natural Resources Canada
Planting two billion trees across the country will help Canada's efforts to tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. Trees capture and store carbon from the atmosphere, improve air and water quality, support biodiversity and create and support thousands of good jobs.
Today, as part of Earth Day celebrations, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, ceremonially launched Canada's 2022 tree-planting season in Queen's Park in New Westminster, B.C., by planting a tree as part of the 2 Billion Trees program (2BT).
Launched in 2021, 2BT is part of the Government of Canada's broader approach to nature-based climate solutions. It contributes to Canada's efforts to mitigate climate change while achieving key biodiversity and conservation goals, as well as supporting human well-being.
The program is on track to reach the two billion trees target over the next decade and is designed to plant incrementally more trees in every planting year than the year before. In its first year, the program signed agreements to support planting 30 million trees as projected, representing more than 50 species, at more than 500 sites across all provinces. Going forward, the Government of Canada is entering into longer-term agreements to secure planting over 10 years. By 2026, the program aims to plant 250-350 million trees annually.
Minister Wilkinson will be providing a program update in the coming weeks to ensure that Canadians are kept apprised of this important initiative.
