Afforestation research, development and demonstration sites established under the federal government’s Forest 2020 Program delivered by the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) and its many partners—as well as sites established by programs spawned from the initial research launched under Forest 2020—are more notable examples of past afforestation management research programs that began with a short term and specific initial focus that are now delivering secondary values.

This includes quantified above and below ground carbon sequestration, high production growth validation and site disturbance restoration, and related climate change mitigation.

The bulk of the Forest 2020 development sites were established in 2004/2005. The reason for that name was to primarily evaluate outcomes and implications of afforestation plantations comprised of fast-growing tree species over a 16/17 year time horizon ending in 2020. It was one of the Government of Canada’s first programs to address issues related to a changing climate. Trees are natural carbon sinks and high yield fibre/carbon dioxide equivalent production systems. Expanding the forest cover in Canada while capturing carbon was the objective.

The prerequisite for any site to be included in the Forest 2020 Program was that the plantation would have to qualify as afforestation under the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 to reduce GHG emissions, with Canada’s objective of production yields being at least eight times that of the average native forest in Canada’s commercial zone, which is 1.7 cubic metres per hectare per year—meaning that the Forest 2020 site would have to achieve a minimum average growth of 13.6 cubic metres per hectare per year to maturity.

“The legacy value of these sites is that we can still capture information from them as they continue to grow and contribute to the ecosystem after maturity and can leverage their adoption elsewhere—such as for potential reclamation of mine sites, expansion of forested areas, establishing fire risk reduction areas around communities, biodiversity and providing new sources of raw material for bioenergy—while also cleansing the air, water and land,” says Derek Sidders, Legacy Program Coordinator and Technology Advisor, Science Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization Division, Canadian Forest Service.

The Forest 2020 sites profiled in this article evolved through partnerships with agriculture landowners, forest industry, First Nations, provincial governments and municipalities to establish, on their private non-forested land, afforestation plantations of high yield poplar, aspen and poplar/tolerant spruce and pine species mixes for primarily carbon sequestration to create alternative sources of potentially commercial fibre, diversity and mitigate climate change with long-term cover, as well as soil, water and air quality benefits. The plantations featured proven hybrid poplar clones for each bio geoclimatic zone paired with suitable intensive management practices, which were developed and adopted as part of the program. Sites were also placed in strategic locations to maximize exposure, range, and scale of the program’s impact.

A total of 1,737 hectares of high yield afforestation plantations were established in the Prairie Provinces during the initial Forest 2020 Program, with additional sites established in eastern and southern Ontario following Forest 2020 as developmental full-lifespan demonstrations in partnership with with universities, tree nursery and afforestation service suppliers.

The Program succeeded mainly due to the dedication demonstrated by all parties, and lead to other successful fast growing afforestation programs such as the Canadian Biomass Innovation Network and others that investigated green energy alternatives and site remediation.

Several of these development sites are described and illustrated here.

Kemptville, Ontario – Located in downtown Kemptville, this site demonstrates several hybrid poplar clones suitable for Eastern Ontario and promotes access to local resources as the clones were supplied by a local nursery. Another associated site is one near Claremont, Ontario owned by Transport Canada, demonstrating both concentrated and high yield afforestation of large stem and small stem fast-growing species.

MacGregor, Manitoba – This project, completed in partnership between the Town of MacGregor and CFS, is located adjacent to the TransCanada Highway. It is a 35 hectare demonstration site that surrounds a landfill. After 20 years, a highly successful plantation has been established, featuring multiple clones.

Duck Lake and Mistawasis, Saskatchewan – These sites demonstrate local First Nations’ interest in land management, diversification, and community stability by introducing a new land use. As a good example of afforestation, agricultural land was transformed into forested land. In some cases, softwood species were included to create a mixed forest. Today, the sites consist of 250 to 280 cubic metres per hectare with a white spruce mix in the understorey.

Peace River, Alberta – This site features the establishment of a mixedwood plantation with hybrid poplar and white spruce.

For more information, contact Derek Sidders, Legacy Program Coordinator and Technology Advisor, Science Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization Division, Canadian Forest Service, at derek.sidders@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.