Quantity isn’t the only consideration in replanting. A tree plantation, with rows and rows of the same kind of tree, is very different from what companies in Alberta plant.

When it comes to replanting, nature is our best teacher. In Alberta, forest companies look to what was there before when we work to regenerate a forest – in replanting, we restore the same types and mix of trees that are native to a particular site. The purpose of regeneration isn’t to plant what grows most quickly or would be most profitable if the area was harvested again. The purpose is to make sure we always have healthy, thriving, diverse forests across the province.

A great deal of work happens at the planning stage, before a single tree is cut. Companies determine in advance what needs to be left behind, leaving stands of mature trees and buffers around important features of the forest.