Whitehorse – The governments of Canada and Yukon are working together to enhance tree cover and forest resilience. Diverse forests have many benefits: they capture the carbon in growing trees to reduce emissions and help in the fight against climate change; they enhance climate resilience to impacts like wildfires by planting the right tree species in the right places and restoring wildlife habitat; and they support human well-being by creating more green spaces for recreational activities and spaces for connecting with nature, better regulation of temperature in cities and reduced risk of wildland fire and floods.
Today, Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Honourable Richard Mostyn, Yukon’s Minister of Community Services, announced a joint investment of more than $1.1 million under the 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program to plant 400,000 trees on public lands to support community resilience to climate impacts and natural disturbances.
Under this agreement, Yukon will reforest public lands that will expand existing forested areas, and Yukon will also plant fire-resilient species to increase Yukon communities’ ability to withstand natural disasters, such as wildfires. This summer, the Government of Yukon’s Wildland Fire Management branch planted 90,000 aspen seedlings in areas of Whitehorse and Haines Junction with support from the 2 Billion Trees program. By replacing flammable conifers with fire-resistant deciduous trees in key locations, the Yukon is reducing wildfire risk for communities.
The Government of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees program is helping to clean the air, keep neighbourhoods cool in the summer, create jobs and fight climate change while protecting nature. By working together with provinces, territories, local communities and Indigenous Peoples, Canada continues to build a strong, healthy future for generations to come.
“Trees are essential to our lives — they capture carbon, improve air quality and support wildlife — and they are important allies in our fight against climate change. That’s why Canada has committed to planting two billion trees. We are pleased to be working with the Government of Yukon to collaborate by planting around 400,000 trees on public lands. This investment will expand forest cover, enhance resilience to wildfires and advance biodiversity restoration.” – Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources