Operational Tree Planting Capacity in Canada

Operational Tree Planting Capacity in Canada
Introduction

The tree planting industry in Canada is vital for meeting post-harvest obligations, mitigating climate change, restoring disturbed or degraded lands, and supporting biodiversity goals. This survey is in support of a study which aims to understand the capacity of tree planting companies to support increases in national tree planting demand, including as a result of the 2 Billion Tree program. It is primarily for tree planting contractors who employ or oversee planting crews. If you contract tree planting services, please complete the survey and share it with your subcontractors. Planters and crew bosses are also welcome to complete the survey.

Upon completion of the survey, your email will be entered into a draw for a $500 MEC gift card (see contest rules). This contest is open to all legal residents of Canada, excluding Quebec. The survey should take 10-15 minutes. Contractors will be asked if they opt in to being listed in the Reforest Canada Collective (RCC) directory (under development). If you don’t opt in, your information will remain private and used only for aggregated trends. For concerns about data use or storage, contact resources@reforestcollective.ca.
Section 1: About You and Your Company

We’d like to learn about your role and company. Please answer all questions in this section.
Name*
Email*
Which of the following best describes your role in the tree planting community?*

Tree planterCrew boss or supervisorI own/run a company that contracts out tree planting, no in-house plantersI own a company that recruits and hires in-house planters for at least part of our operations
How many years have you planted trees in Canada?*
Please list the names of the tree planting companies that you worked for in 2024 and 2025 so far:*
Please rank the level of difficulty in finding work as a tree planter in Canada from your experience:*

1 (Easy: can find a job within 2 weeks of contract starting)2345 (Very difficult: applied for jobs with multiple companies, multiple seasons and was not successful)
Please elaborate on the difficulty ranking you provided for finding work as a tree planter in Canada:
Company Name*
Is your company recognized as an Indigenous-owned business?*

YesNo
Is your company majority-owned by individuals who identify as female or nonbinary?*

YesNo
How many years has your company been actively involved in tree planting?*

Less than 1 year1–3 years4–10 years11–20 years21+ years
Which provinces and territories in Canada did you plant trees in 2024 and so far in 2025? Select all that apply:*

BCABSKMBONQCNBNSNFLD + LabradorPEIYTNWTNunavut
Which province or territory are you a resident of in Canada?*

BCABSKMBONQCNBNSNFLD + LabradorPEIYTNWTNunavut
Section 2: Your Company’s Operations

This section asks about your company’s operational capacity, including regions, logistics, and technology. Please answer all questions that apply to your operations.
In which regions of Canada did your company operate in 2024 and so far in the 2025 season? Select all that apply:*

Please describe the main reasons for the range in difficulty in finding contractors by region:
What % of your trees planted are typically done in-house?*
Who are your subcontractors doing the tree planting? Please provide the names of the companies so we can share the survey with them:
Number of total planters recruited in-house in the 2024 season (use 2025 season so far if you are brand new company):*
Average crew number throughout the 2024 season (use 2025 season so far if you are brand new company):*

1–67–1011–2021–5051+200+
How many total trees did your company plant in-house in 2024?*

Under 10,00010,001–50,00050,001–500,000500,001–1 million1–2 million2 million+New company, no planting operations in 2024
What is the minimum tree number commitment you need from a project developer, client, or funding agency to take on a new contract for one planting site for the regions you currently operate in?*

<5,0005,000–50,00050,000–100,000100,000–500,000500,000+
What estimated percentage of your 2025 planters returned from the 2024 season for their second or subsequent season with your company?*
What types of training or certifications do you and/or your crew bosses/supervisors typically hold? Select all that apply:

Occupational First Aid Level 1Occupational First Aid Level 1 with Transportation Endorsement (OFA 1+TE)Basic Wildfire Suppression and Safety (S100)Danger Tree Assessor (DTA) CertificationATV/UTV Operation TrainingWorkSafeBC-Approved Safety Training (e.g., supervisor safety, hazard awareness)SAFE certification in BCPartnerships in Injury and Reduction (PIR) Certificate of Recognition (COR) in AlbertaNew Brunswick Forest Safety Association’s “SAFE Certification”WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System)Society of Ecological Restoration (SER) certificationForestry or Silviculture Training (e.g., registered professional forester, forest technician)Indigenous Cultural Awareness TrainingLeadership or Supervisory Training (e.g., team management, conflict resolution)Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) CertificationCertificate of Recognition (COR) – Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (applicable in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador)CNESST Prevention Program – Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (Québec)Other
What is the typical lead time your team needs to mobilize for a new tree planting contract?*

Under 2 weeks2–8 weeks2–6 months6–12 months12+ months
How many simultaneous contracts can your organization typically manage at the same time?*

Only 1 at a time23456+
How do you typically manage logistics and transportation for remote or difficult-to-access planting sites? Select all that apply:

BusTrucksATVHelicopterOther (please list)
Are you currently using any of the following technologies? Select all that apply:

Drones (e.g., for seeding or pod planting)Tractors/mechanical planting machinesAutonomous or robotic tree plantersGIS for mapping/surveyingRemote sensing for mapping/surveyingVideo surveillance for monitoringOther (please list)
Would you be interested in pilot projects to test new technologies?*

YesNoMaybe – need more information
Section 3: Funding and Industry Trends

This section explores how your company is funded.
Please break down your funding sources from the 2024 season and 2025 season so far. Please enter each on a % basis adding up to 100%:*
How has the launch of the 2 Billion Tree program changed your operations, if at all? Please elaborate on any changes noticed since the launch:
Section 4: Services and Sectors

This section asks about the types of land, services, and sectors your company works in, and your interest in new sectors.
On what types of land did you plant trees in 2024 and so far in 2025? Select all that apply:*

Public/Crown landConservation areas, easements, authority landsPrivate land (residential, acreages, farmlands, etc., excluding municipal)Municipal landUrban properties, parks, boulevardsIndigenous land (IRs/federal reserves)Other (please specify)

What other silvicultural services, besides tree planting, do you provide that we haven’t covered in the previous question?
What sector(s) do you operate in for your tree planting operations? Select all that apply:*

Reforestation after harvest / renewals (e.g., on licensed lands, lands with silvicultural obligations)Restoration of lands, non-obligation/voluntary projects (e.g., for wildfire recovery, wildlife habitat enhancement, Indigenous/IR lands, cultural values, windstorm damage reforestation, beetle-kill reforestation, private land afforestation, etc.)Reclamation for the oil and gas, energy, mining sector

Which additional sector(s) would you be willing to expand into, given the right conditions?

Reforestation after harvest / renewals (e.g. on licensed lands, lands with silvicultural obligations)Restoration of lands, non-obligation/voluntary projects (e.g., for wildfire recovery, wildlife habitat enhancement, Indigenous/IR lands, cultural values, windstorm damage reforestation, beetle kill reforestation, private land afforestation, etc.)Reclamation for the oil and gas, energy, mining sector
Would you be interested in working collaboratively with Indigenous communities on Indigenous-led restoration efforts?*

YesNoI already do this type of workMaybe, need more information
Section 5: Capacity and Challenges

This section explores your company’s potential to expand and the challenges you face.
On a scale of 1–5, how interested are you in expanding operations in future years? *

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not interested, 5 is Very interested
On a scale of 1–5, how confident are you in your organization’s ability to expand operations in future years? *

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not confident, 5 is Very confident
What are the primary obstacles limiting your organization’s ability to increase tree planting activities? Rank from highest obstacle to lowest:*
What other obstacles do you face that we missed in the previous question?
What resources or supports would your organization need to significantly scale up tree planting capacity in the sector(s) you’re in? Select all that apply:

Additional/larger funding contractsLonger-term/multi-year funding agreementsAccess to “shovel-ready” land ready for plantingMore staff/plantersBetter access to equipmentPartnerships (e.g., with Indigenous communities or government)Other (please specify):
What are the biggest challenges you face in competing for tree planting contracts? Rank by highest to lowest: *
What are some other challenges not mentioned above?
What specific resources or conditions would enable your organization to expand into new sectors (e.g. reclamation into restoration, reforestation into reclamation, etc.)? Select all that apply:

Adequate financial resourcesSpecialized workforce/trainingStrategic partnershipsSupportive regulatory environmentStrong market potential (demand for tree planting)Advanced technology and infrastructureOrganizational readiness (strategy, permanent staff, leadership alignment)Other (please specify):
Where did you source seedlings in 2024 and so far in 2025? Please list nursery names or suppliers:*

Please explain the difficulty in accessing seedlings and include the species names:
Section 6: Reforest Canada Collective (RCC) Directory and Support

This section asks about your interest in joining the RCC directory and which services, supports or resources you find most valuable from a tree planting network.
Do you opt-in to being listed in the Reforest Canada Collective (RCC) directory (under development)? This directory will be used by 2 Billion Tree recipients and other organizations to find tree planting contractors.*

YesNoUnsure, need more information
Which of the following information can we publicly display in the Reforest Canada Collective (RCC) directory? Select all that apply:*

Your first nameYour last nameYour websiteYour emailYour phone numberThe sectors that you currently plant inThe sectors you are looking to move intoThe services you provideSafety certifications your crew bosses hold
Which services, supports or resources would you find most value from a tree planting network such as the Reforest Canada Collective (RCC)? Select all that apply:

Referrals to potential clients and funding sourcesTraining and certification programsPartnerships and peer learning with other tree planting organizationsPlatform to share our success stories Other (please list):
Should be Empty:

	Site plans, prescriptions for tree planting	Site preparation (mowing, herbicide application, invasive species removal, etc.)	Seed collection	Seed processing	Nursery/growing operations	Private landowner administration and customer service	Monitoring and survival assessments	Thinning operations (PCT or CT)	Wildfire risk mitigation
Coastal BC
BC Interior
Northern BC
AB
SK
MB
Northern ON
Southern ON
QC
NB
NS
NFLD and Labrador
PEI
YT
NWT
Nunavut

	Afforestation of open fields	Shelterbelt/ windbreak planting	Riparian/aquatic restoration	Food forests	Community tree planting projects/events
Coastal BC
BC Interior
Northern BC
AB
SK
MB
Northern ON
Southern ON
QC
NB
NS
NFLD and Labrador
PEI
YT
NWT
Nunavut

Operational Tree Planting Capacity in Canada

Introduction

Section 1: About You and Your Company

Section 2: Your Company’s Operations

Section 3: Funding and Industry Trends

Section 4: Services and Sectors

Section 5: Capacity and Challenges

Section 6: Reforest Canada Collective (RCC) Directory and Support