Irving Woodlands Plants 34 Million Trees Across 3 States

A crew of 150 tree planters is fanning out across northeastern forests this spring with an ambitious goal: plant 34 million seedlings in a single season.

Irving Woodlands kicked off its 2026 planting season with 120 tree planters and 30 support staff working across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Maine. The effort represents a major expansion, with five million more trees going into the ground compared to last year.

Each planter can tuck about 2,000 seedlings into the earth every day. That means bending, digging, and carefully placing saplings across rugged terrain in whatever weather nature delivers.

"You overcome a lot tree planting," said Casey Sappier, Project Manager for the Northern New Brunswick team. "You're in the thick of it, day in, day out and you're doing manual labour."

The work builds more than forests. Planters develop teamwork and leadership skills while learning how sustainable forestry supports both economic growth and healthy ecosystems.

The seedlings include carefully selected species that restore the forest's natural variety and help ecosystems bounce back stronger. As they grow, these trees will improve soil quality, create wildlife habitat, and pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The Ripple Effect

This single season is part of something much bigger. Since 1957, Irving Woodlands has planted more than 1.1 billion trees, ensuring that 100 percent of harvested areas get successfully reforested.

The company's approach focuses on growing more trees than it harvests, a commitment that spans generations. The saplings planted this spring will mature over decades, creating forests that support both wildlife and future communities.

The physical and mental demands of tree planting forge resilient workers who understand their direct impact on the landscape. Each seedling represents a small act of environmental stewardship that compounds into massive ecological benefits over time.

Irving Woodlands continues recruiting for its Tree Growing team through its careers website, offering newcomers a chance to join one of North America's longest-running reforestation efforts.