Roots of an Idea

When the first sapling was tucked into the damp soil in the summer of 2021, the plan was simple but ambitious: plant enough trees to make a real difference. That single act of pressing a young seedling into the ground marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey—one that will eventually see more than 500,000 trees planted in New Brunswick Provincial Parks in just a few short years.

The initiative was led by Josh Tompkins, Parks NB Project Executive of Conservation and Outreach through Replant.ca, a Canadian organization dedicated to reforestation and education. Their vision was straightforward: restore forest cover, enrich biodiversity, and inspire communities. But the scale—half a million trees—was anything but simple.

“Every tree is a story,” explains one of the replant.ca coordinators. “It’s a story about climate resilience, about wildlife returning, and about people rolling up their sleeves to take care of land that will outlive them.”

Why Trees, Why Now

New Brunswick is a province defined by forests. More than 80 percent of its landmass is wooded, a living quilt of spruce, fir, birch, maple, and pine. These trees have been home to generations of people and wildlife, provided timber for homes, and absorbed carbon from the atmosphere. But forests, like any living system, face pressures.

In recent decades, challenges like climate change, insect infestations, and human activity have taken their toll. Reforestation is one of the most direct, tangible responses: it strengthens ecosystems, improves air and water quality, and builds natural resilience against storms and floods.

By 2021, the call to act was loud and urgent. The provincial parks of New Brunswick—treasured landscapes visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year—were chosen as key sites. Here, every visitor could see the new trees growing, witness the transformation, and know that they, too, could play a role.

Planting the First Seeds

The work began at Mactaquac Provincial Park, where open clearings and river valleys provided the first canvas. Teams of planters, many of them students and young adults, carried bags of seedlings on their backs. Kneeling, pressing, moving—thousands of times a day—they set down trees that will one day tower over the same fields.

In 2021 alone, almost 100,000 trees were planted across several parks, including Mactaquac Provincial Park, Murray Beach Provincial Park, The Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park and Parlee Beach Provincial Park.

For many of the planters, the experience wasn’t just about physical work—it was about purpose.

“You don’t plant half a million trees without a vision,” said Mattea, a worker who spent weeks in New Brunswick's Provincial Parks. “At first it feels like you’re just digging and planting and sweating. But then you take a step back and think—this hillside will be a forest again. Birds will nest here. Families will camp in the shade. It’s bigger than you.”

Year Two: Growth and Momentum

By 2022, the project had momentum. The seedlings from the first year had taken root, tiny green flags of progress rising above the soil. Some had already pushed out new shoots.

Encouraged by the early survival rates, replant.ca expanded the program. That year, almost 150,000 trees were planted. The parks chosen reflected the province’s diversity: République Provincial Park, Mactaquac Provincial Park, The Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, New River Beach Provincial Park, Fundy Trail Provincial Park and Murray Beach Provincial Park.

Partnerships grew too. Local schools joined, sending classes of students to help plant and learn about ecology. Community groups volunteered. Local students were invited to “adopt a tree,” placing seedlings with their own hands.

“We wanted to make this project not just about numbers, but about people,” said Kevin McWhirter, Manager of Mactaquac Provincial Park. “When kids plant a tree, they come back years later to see how it’s grown. That connection matters.” Mactaquac Provincial Park recently built a tree planting nursery in support of this initiative. This helps to grow over 25,000 targeted species at a time.

On the way to the Half-Million Mark

By the summer of 2024, the count had passed 350,000 trees, adding Herring Cove Provincial Park to the list of provincial parks involved. Each new seedling added resilience to the parks.

The planting was carefully planned. Species were matched to soil and climate: red spruce in cool uplands, white pine in sandy stretches, sugar maple in fertile valleys. Diversity was the goal—forests rich enough to resist disease and adapt to changing weather.

After planting 90,000 trees at Fundy Trail Provincial Park in September 2025, the total number of trees planted in provincial parks stands at 460,847.

Beyond Numbers: Wildlife Returns

Almost half a million trees is a statistic. But in the parks, it’s also a transformation. Already, changes are visible.

New saplings provide food and shelter. Songbirds perch in young branches. Deer nibble on tender shoots. The soil, held in place by roots, resists erosion. Streams run clearer. Insects buzz between blossoms, pollinating both wildflowers and orchards nearby.

Parks NB staff, monitoring the sites have begun to notice patterns: more bird species in replanted areas, healthier soil composition, and early signs of greater biodiversity. Each seedling is small, but together they weave a vast fabric of life.

The Human Side

The project has also reshaped the people involved. Planting trees is demanding, physical work. Crews often spend long days in mud, heat, or rain. But for many, the effort builds community and pride.

 “You may never see these trees at their full height, but you know you’ve contributed to something enduring” said Jonathan Clark, President, CFO and Director of Canadian Operations at replant.ca.

Challenges Along the Way

The path wasn’t without obstacles. Survival rates vary; not every seedling thrives. Droughts in 2022 and 2025 stressed young trees. Deer browsing required protective measures. Invasive plants sometimes out-competed new saplings.

Yet each challenge was met with learning. Mulching techniques improved water retention. Fencing deterred deer in sensitive areas. Park staff are continuously removing invasive species. Through trial and error, the program became stronger.

Replant.ca’s adaptive approach—listening to ecologists, adjusting species, timing, and placement—proved crucial. “It’s not just about planting trees,” a coordinator noted. “It’s about planting the right trees, in the right places, in the right way.”

Looking Forward

By the close of 2025, with almost half a million trees in the ground, the work is far from over. Trees are long-term investments. They need care, monitoring, and sometimes replacement. Replant.ca has committed to ongoing stewardship, ensuring that the young forests grow into maturity.

There are plans to keep going. The vision is to reach one million trees by 2030 in New Brunswick’s parks, creating a legacy that will last centuries.

Local communities will remain central. More schools will be engaged. More visitors will have the chance to plant, learn, and connect. As climate change accelerates, the message will grow clearer: each small act can shape a greener future.

A Legacy for Generations

When future generations walk the trails of Mount Carleton, picnic in the shade at Parlee Beach, or canoe past spruce groves in Mactaquac, they will do so in forests shaped by today’s work. The trees planted now will stand as living monuments to what people can achieve together.

Forests have always been more than timber. They are memory, habitat, and future all at once. To plant a tree is to believe in tomorrow. To plant half a million is to build that tomorrow with both hands.

For the children of New Brunswick, for the creatures of the forest, for the air we breathe and the water we drink—may these trees grow tall and strong. This forest belongs to all of us.

And so, in the parks of New Brunswick, a new forest rises—rooted in the soil, sustained by rain and sun, and nurtured by the hands of thousands. Four hundred thousand trees and growing.

All photos provided by Replant.ca Environmental