THUNDER BAY — The federal government is investing almost a million dollars in a reforestation project in the Ogoki Forest, 400 km northeast of Thunder Bay.
It says the $900,000 investment will support the planting of 800,000 trees over 450 hectares, rehabilitate ecosystems destroyed by wildfires, and restore the habitat of woodland caribou, moose and black bears.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced the funding Wednesday, saying it will help achieve the federal government's goal of planting two billion trees over the next decade.
The project will be led by Integrity Reforestation, a company based near Mattawa, Ont., and will create about 40 tree-planting jobs.
According to the company, it's collaborating with First Nations-led Agoke Development Corporation and non-profits.
In 2018, Agoke signed a ground-breaking forestry agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources to take on the management of the Ogoki Forest
Matt McKernan, CEO of Integrity, said the reforestation project underscores the critical role of large-scale reforestation in restoring an area devastated by wildfire in 2023.
He said "Through this collaboration...we are not only supporting nature's ability to regenerate. We are also reinforcing the incredible dedication and hard work of our tree planters, who are on the frontlines of bringing this landscape back to life."
Richard Shwedack, general manager of the Agoke Development Corporation, told Newswatch the corporation has been working hand-in-hand with Integrity to get the project going.
"We're quite happy and relieved about the success we've had getting funding to pay for the regeneration of these burnt areas," he said.
Shwedack added that Integrity is working with the corporation's member communities to ensure there are job opportunities for people interested in planting trees.
He said a total of three million trees will be planted in the Ogoki Forest over the next year or two.
