The extreme, specialized labor behind Canada's massive reforestation efforts

Nature · Published 24 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Every spring, thousands of Canadians trade domestic comfort for remote bush camps to plant hundreds of millions of trees by hand. This grueling seasonal work has forged a unique subculture defined by intense discipline and a vagabond lifestyle that exists on the fringes of mainstream society.

Canada holds a global distinction in silviculture, having operated as a primary tree-planting nation for over 60 years. This long history has created an entire subculture of workers who live unconventionally and work seasonally. A spike in market requirements is occurring; although Canadian timber operations aim to put into the ground upwards of 300 million trees during this year, a pledge by Justin Trudeau to oversee more than 2 billion tree plantings has heightened the requirement for workers.

The work itself is described as extreme and specialized. Planters travel through remote regions of British Columbia to plant coniferous trees, often living in bush camps during the process. The economic reality of this labor is stark: workers earn wages that average around 15 cents per tree. Despite these demanding conditions and modest pay, the documentary highlights a sense of 'vigour and joie de vivre' among those who choose this path. The necessity of this work is rooted in both immediate environmental crises, such as recent forest fires, and the long-term consequences of 200 years of industrialization. The unique nature of the Canadian silviculture industry relies on a specific combination of employment freedom and rigorous physical discipline, creating a distinct social identity for those who sustain the nation's forests.

The project 'One Million Trees' serves as a documentation of this 12-month journey through the wilderness. It captures the transition from the thought process of the creators—who spent years brainstorming the concept while physically planting half a million trees themselves—to the lived reality of the thousands who make up this essential, often overlooked, workforce.

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