Backgrounder: Regrowing Alberta’s Forests

On July 21 2025, Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a joint investment of over $125 million for four projects that will plant 12 million trees and restore critical habitats for species at risk throughout Alberta.

Under Canada’s 2 Billion Trees (2BT) Program, the following projects are receiving funding:

Project name: Alberta Afforestation
Recipient: The Carbon Farmer
Location: Peace Country, Alberta
Funding amount: $13,797,079
Description: The Carbon Farmer is spearheading a new initiative — Alberta Afforestation — to plant trees across Alberta’s Peace Country, transforming previously cleared agricultural lands into thriving forests on private properties. Working with local farmers and surrounding forest communities, this project will plant over six million trees, create numerous seasonal and full-time jobs for farmers and local professionals, increase wildlife habitat and sequester carbon.

Project name: Rewilding Canada: Planting Diverse Forests in Partnership with First Nations, Conservation Groups and Research Institutions
Recipient: Project Forest
Location: various sites, Alberta
Funding amount: $2,933,621
Description: This project aims to transform former agricultural lands into biodiverse forests. By restoring these landscapes, the initiative will deliver a wide range of benefits to Indigenous communities, including:

• one million new trees planted on various sites across Alberta, including the Siksika Nation reserve;
• improved soil health, increased biodiversity and restoration of wildlife habitats, including Elk habitats; 
• support for Indigenous land stewardship, reclamation of cultural heritage and preservation of Indigenous Knowledge; 
• 10–15 jobs annually in remote communities; and 
• training opportunities for youth through a partnership with the University of Alberta.

Project name: High Yield Afforestation
Recipient: First Indigenous Biomass Future Inc.
Location: Cardiff, Alberta
Funding amount: $558,968
Description:  First Indigenous Biomass Inc., an Indigenous-owned company, is driving forward its project, which is set to plant over 100,000 trees across 65 hectares near Cardiff, revitalizing the land and contributing to long-term environmental and community resilience. The project will:

• establish a new forest;
• create jobs for Indigenous women and youth; and
•  sequester carbon.

Project name: Caribou Habitat Recovery Program
Recipient: Government of Alberta
Location: various sites, Alberta
Funding amount: $83,718,501
Description: Through a new agreement between Canada and Alberta, the province is expanding its Caribou Habitat Recovery Program — taking action to reduce habitat fragmentation and support the long-term recovery of caribou populations across Alberta. This expansion will: 

• plant nearly five million new trees by 2030; 
• restore vegetation within the 15 caribou ranges in the province; 
• increase forest resiliency and wildlife diversity and protect species at risk; 
• create jobs and training opportunities for rural and Indigenous communities; and 
• support local cultural and spiritual activities, including food collection.