1.5M Trees to Be Planted on Tłı̨chǫ Land This Summer

A massive reforestation effort in Canada's Northwest Territories is growing even bigger than planned, bringing new life to land affected by climate change.

The Tłı̨chǫ Government will plant 1.5 million trees this summer across their traditional lands near Behchokǫ̀, Wekweètì, and along Highway 3. This marks the second year of what officials call the largest reforestation project ever undertaken in the Northwest Territories.

The project launched in 2025 with a goal of planting 12 million trees over seven years. Just one year in, organizers are so encouraged by progress that they've increased their target to 13 million trees and shortened the timeline to six years.

A ceremony on Friday at the Behchokǫ̀ Culture Centre will kick off this summer's planting season. Last year, crews successfully planted about 1.7 million trees in their inaugural effort.

The initiative goes beyond simply adding trees to the landscape. The Tłı̨chǫ Government designed the program specifically to regenerate land and restore caribou habitat while pushing back against climate change effects in the region.

Tree Canada, the Tłı̨chǫ Government, and the federal Two Billion Trees program partnered to fund the ambitious effort. While the federal program was recently cancelled, organizers continue moving forward with this year's plans.

The Ripple Effect

This project represents more than environmental restoration. It's creating meaningful work in Indigenous communities while addressing climate change at a local level.

The scale of the effort shows what's possible when communities take the lead on environmental solutions. Thirteen million trees will transform the landscape for generations, providing habitat for wildlife and helping stabilize the ecosystem.

Other communities across Canada are watching this project as a model for Indigenous-led conservation efforts. The success in the first year has already inspired conversations about similar initiatives in other northern regions.

One and a half million new trees will take root in Tłı̨chǫ territory this summer, growing toward a greener future.