Our action: How we will get there together

On the path to two billion trees

Our path to two billion trees can only be achieved by building positive and collaborative relationships with all types of organizations and governments across the country. With engagement at the core, the program was developed using expert knowledge from western science and Indigenous sources, as well as stakeholder feedback.

Learn about our progress to 2 billion trees through our Summer Update. More details on the program’s development can be found in the timeline below.

To receive news about the program and hear about the latest events, sign up for the 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program distribution list.

The 2BT program provides funding through 5 streams to support the different types of applicant organizations in planting trees:

• Provinces/Territories stream: for tree planting on public lands and for habitat restoration and conservation of species at risk and species of interest
• Private Lands stream: for third-party organizations to work with private landowners
• Urban Lands stream: for municipalities, school boards, Indigenous communities, and others to expand urban forests and urban green spaces
• Indigenous stream: for activities involving Indigenous government-, organization-, and community-led initiatives
• Federal Lands stream: for working with other federal government departments on federal lands

Indigenous funding stream

Through the co-development process, Indigenous governments and organizations unanimously shared their vision for a distinctions-based approach. A distinctions-based model recognizes the diversity of Indigenous cultures and priorities. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to Indigenous leadership on climate change for First Nations Peoples, Métis Peoples, Inuit, and Intersectional Peoples.

The 2BT program has notionally allocated funding for the following, regardless of affiliation:

• First Nations: Projects (occurring on-or off-reserve) led by First Nations governments, organizations, and/or enterprises
• Métis: Projects led by Métis governments, organizations, and/or enterprises
• Inuit: Projects led by Inuit governments, organizations, and/or enterprises
• Unaffiliated or cross-distinction groups: Projects led by groups who are unaffiliated, or cross-distinction

Please contact us for more information on the Indigenous funding stream.

Tree planting successes with organizations across Canada

In the two years since the 2BT program was launched, over 110 million trees have been planted, including trees planted through the Low Carbon Economy Fund (LCEF).

This means that the Government is exceeding its cumulative planting goal to date and is well on track to deliver on its commitment to plant 2 billion trees over ten years.

In total, 2BT-funded projects planted over 220 species at more than 2,900 sites. In addition, 76 communities have been directly supported and 1 in 5 projects funded by 2BT were Indigenous led.

Since 2021, the 2BT program has funded 179 projects representing:

• 32% non-profit
• 16% for-profit
• 20% Indigenous-led
• 17% municipal or local government
• 8% provincial or territorial government
• 4% conservation authority
• 3% federal government

Trees do not appear overnight. The 2BT program is establishing long-term commitments that will ensure that the right tree is planted in the right place at the right time for the right reasons, while generating lasting climate change mitigation and biodiversity benefits.

Response to the 2BT program has been promising. Two years into the program, both the Federal Lands and Urban Lands streams are already expected to exceed their planting targets. The Private Lands stream is well underway, and with the ongoing Call for Proposals launched in December 2022, it is projected that it will reach its target.  

Agreements in Principle between the federal government and the provincial/territorial governments demonstrate a shared commitment to plant trees on provincial and territorial Crown lands to support the program reaching its target. This collaboration will enable the provinces and territories to support the planting of approximately one billion trees, out of the two billion trees goal.

• As of June 2023, this stream had secured 7 Agreements in Principle. As the remaining provinces and territories sign Agreements in Principle, accelerated progress will continue to be realized

Seedlings take years to grow and as they do, so do the diverse collaborations that are vital for progress. Explore tree planting projects and success stories from across the country and learn more about 2BT recipients that received grants and contributions funding.

Not a sprint but a marathon

The process to get from seeds to trees is complex and takes several years to ramp up, which is why extensive and continuous engagement is necessary.

Tree planting requires careful planning to ensure the right tree is planted in the right place at the right time and for the right reasons. So, different species and sizes of trees are required in different planting projects. Seed collection, nursery operations, site preparation, and tree planting are seasonal activities, some of which can occur only 4 to 5 months per year.

That is why the 2BT program is designed to not be a sprint, but a marathon – building up capacity over time to ensure that planting is done under the right conditions and with the ultimate goals of the program in mind. These include the enhancement of biodiversity and habitat restoration, increased carbon sequestration, permanency of forest cover, and effective monitoring.

Starting small and growing fast

To deliver on our goal and build positive relationships with organizations across Canada, the program began hosting a series of webinars with provincial and territorial governments, non-governmental organizations, municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, for-profit companies, industry members, and more, to set up guidelines for a national tree-planting program in the fall of 2019 through 2020.

To continue gathering input, the program:

• Launched a Request for Information for interested parties to submit ideas for future projects and participation in the program
• Hosted a series of regional focus groups with nurseries across the country to identify ways the program could support the ramp up of the seedling supply chain

The National Tree Seed Centre also conducted a cross-country tour to support Indigenous communities in learning skills for seed collection and provide information on the program.

Since launching in February 2021, the program has had 3 different calls for proposals to support our participants and stakeholders and is continuing engagement to further refine the program.

Program timeline

Text version

The image shows the timeline of the 2BT program from 2019 to 2023.

• October 2019: Announced program and goals
• Spring to winter 2020: Designed program and established 5 funding streams
• Spring to summer 2021: Completed first planting season and engaged the Nature-Based Climate Solutions (NBCS) Advisory Committee
• February 2021: Launched the program, the first call for proposals (CFP), and a request for information (RFI)
• December 2021: Launched the second CFP
• December 2022: Launched ongoing CFP using the 2BT portal
• 2023+: Now - Ongoing CFP

The program has continuously engaged with stakeholders since its announcement.

• November 2019: Outlined program details and started stakeholder engagement
• Spring to summer 2020: Refined program design and continued stakeholder engagement
• March 2020: Presented findings to stakeholders
• Fall 2020: Continued stakeholder engagement to finalize program design and discuss reporting requirements
• Since 2021, there has been ongoing collaboration with the provinces and territories
• There has also been ongoing public outreach and program adjustments since 2021
• Spring 2022: Engaged with nurseries

Since early 2020, there has been a continuous Indigenous engagement and co-development process.

• Spring 2020: Engaged through bilateral discussions, in-person events, and virtual sessions
• October 2021: Announced commitment to co-develop an inclusive governance framework
• Spring 2022: Phase 1 – Socialization and engagement
• Fall 2022: Phase 2 – Co-development and collaboration

Long term monitoring and management after planting

Organizations that receive 2BT funding demonstrate in their application how they will ensure monitoring and long-term maintenance of planted trees, and how they will manage activities post-planting. Concurrently, the program is developing a long-term monitoring plan that leverages the site information collected from recipients as well as science that supports 2 Billion Trees, to ensure that long-term outcomes can be monitored beyond the lifetime of the program.