Summer 2025 CTNA Newsletter
Download the PDF: Summer-2025_CTNA_Newsletter-1.pdf
Planting What’s Next: Sector Readiness in an Era of Wildfire and Growth
As we reach the midpoint of 2025, it's impossible to ignore the challenges wildfires continue to pose across Canada. Millions of hectares of forest have been lost, and communities are feeling the weight of environmental, economic, and ecological uncertainty. Yet, within this crisis lies a profound responsibility and a unique opportunity for our sector.
CTNA–ACPF members are stepping up as essential partners in forest recovery. With over 5.3 billion seedlings needed to restore just a fraction of what’s been lost from the 2023 and 2024 fires, Canada’s nurseries are no longer operating behind the scenes. We are on the front lines of climate adaptation, biodiversity renewal, and community resilience.
Over the past few months, our sector has gained national attention. Our Economic Analysis Report is shaping conversations in government and the media, while our members continue innovating and expanding production, adopting new technologies, and preparing the next generation of skilled workers through the Forest Nursery Training Program.
We are proud of how far we've come in such a short time. But even more, we’re inspired by the path ahead.
Thank you for your commitment to growing not just seedlings but a climate resilient future for Canada’s forests.
Mike Downing
President, CTNA–ACPF
Wildfire Season Update
As wildfires continue to intensify across Canada, 2025 is already shaping up to be another devastating year for our forests. With over 3.7 million hectares burned as of early June and hundreds of fires still active, the scale of this year’s damage is adding to the already staggering backlog of reforestation needs.
These fires haven’t just affected trees, they’ve displaced communities, impacted wildlife, and sent plumes of smoke across the continent with air quality alerts in nearly every province.
In 2023 and 2024 alone, wildfires scorched over 17 million hectares, making it the most destructive fire period in Canadian history. Restoring just 15 percent of those forests would require an estimated 5.3 billion seedlings, far exceeding current national nursery production.
The cumulative effects of consecutive fire seasons are testing the limits of our restoration infrastructure and demand a coordinated response.
As noted in our recent Ashes to Action op-ed:
“We pour billions into suppression but not nearly enough into regrowth.” Forests take decades to return, and without immediate action, many fire affected landscapes may never fully recover.
This crisis has placed renewed focus on the need to scale up nursery production, cultivate a skilled workforce, and secure long term seed supply.
CTNA–ACPF is calling for a national strategy to restore burned forests, starting with long term commitments from all governments to ensure every component of the restoration supply chain can respond to increased demands.
We are working with members, governments, and partners to elevate the urgency of this issue and ensure nurseries are recognized as essential climate infrastructure.
A link to the Ashes to Action op-ed is included in the original PDF.
Economic Analysis of Canada’s Tree Nurseries
In January, CTNA–ACPF released the first ever national economic analysis of the Canadian tree seedling sector. The findings confirmed the essential role nurseries play in climate goals, rural employment, and forest health.
Key Findings
• Restoring 15 percent of forests burned in 2023–2024 would require 5.3 billion seedlings.
• Producing and planting those seedlings would create an estimated 31,000 full-time jobs.
• The effort would contribute more than 3.9 billion dollars to Canada’s GDP.
National media coverage included:
Business in Vancouver
Victoria Times Colonist
North Shore News
Merritt Herald
Pique Newsmagazine
Tree Frog News
Municipal Information Network
CTNA–ACPF also issued a coordinated mailout to provincial forestry ministers that included:
• A tailored cover letter
• A copy of the Economic Analysis Report
• A call to action for strategic investment in forest restoration infrastructure
The report continues to be a key tool in outreach, advocacy, and partnership development.
Conference Highlights
CTNA–ACPF has actively participated in national and regional conferences, strengthening conversations around seedling production, Indigenous-led restoration, and workforce development.
At the 2025 First Nations Forest Council Conference in Penticton, BC, CTNA–ACPF connected with Indigenous forestry professionals, youth, and sector leaders to discuss stewardship, jobs, and restoration.
CTNA–ACPF also presented at:
• OPPFQ Annual Conference in Quebec City
• Muskoka Community Group event in Bracebridge
These conferences highlighted the alignment between community goals and nursery sector leadership in forest recovery.
Upcoming Conferences
CFGA / FGCA Conference
August 11–15, 2025 – Ottawa, ON
CTNA–ACPF will co-host a full-day pre-conference workshop on seed systems, nursery capacity, and the future of restoration.
The Annual General Meeting will also be held on August 11.
Forest Nursery Association of BC Conference
September 23–25, 2025 – British Columbia
These events will provide continued opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and sector capacity building.
Sponsorship Spotlight
CTNA–ACPF thanks its sponsors for their national leadership and shared commitment to forest restoration.
Harnois Greenhouses
Returning for a second year, Harnois provides greenhouse and protective structure solutions tailored to forest nurseries, supporting scalable and climate resilient seedling production.
Lambert Peat Moss
New in 2025, Lambert brings more than 90 years of growing media expertise. Their peat and coir blends are widely used for their consistency and adaptability, helping nurseries meet rising reforestation demand.
Why Canadian Sponsors Matter
Due to ongoing U.S. tariffs on softwood lumber and forest products, domestic supply chain strength is more important than ever. CTNA–ACPF is committed to working exclusively with Canadian-owned sponsors to support national resilience and reforestation capacity.
Forest Nursery Training Program (FNTP)
With support from the federal 2 Billion Tree Capacity Grant Program, CTNA–ACPF has launched a project to address the growing demand for skilled nursery workers.
Project Goals
• Understand national training needs
• Develop curriculum and training programs
• Support recruitment of new and existing workers
The FNTP will combine online or in-person learning with co-op placements at participating nurseries. Curriculum will cover:
• Seed sowing and transplanting
• Greenhouse and irrigation management
• Pest and disease control
• Substrate handling
• Seedling quality monitoring
• Workplace safety and seasonal planning
Graduates will receive a stamp of alignment with FNTP competencies.
CTNA–ACPF is also developing a national job board and outreach campaigns to raise awareness about career paths in the nursery sector.
FNTP Task Team Members
A detailed list of 15 sector experts representing nurseries, research institutions, forest seed centres and training providers across Canada and the U.S.
(List preserved exactly as in PDF.)
Membership Spotlight
Nurseries across Canada are testing innovations, expanding operations, and training the next generation. Members are invited to submit stories, updates, and successes to be featured in future newsletters at:
kfoley@ctna-acpf.ca
Somerville Seedlings Inc.
Featuring Eden Harbec, a summer student supporting communications and seedling research. Highlights include:
• Kentucky Coffee Tree seed stratification trials
• Hot water scarification experiments
• Monitoring germination outcomes
• Precision planting techniques
Kingsclear Tree Nursery
Located near Fredericton, NB, Kingsclear produces more than 19 million seedlings per year.
2025 achievements include:
• Installation of three Herz Firematic 350 wood pellet boilers
• Stable greenhouse temperatures during February cold spells
• A new 110,000 sq. ft. greenhouse heated entirely by pellet systems
• Reduced carbon footprint and increased operational resilience
Thank You to Our Partners and Sponsors
CTNA–ACPF recognizes the contributions of partners, science collaborators, and sponsors working toward a greener, more sustainable future.
Contact
Canadian Tree Nursery Association
719 Skyhills Rd
Huntsville, ON
P1H 2N5
ctna-acpf.ca