Canada’s Boreal Forest: A Climate Change Battleground and Carbon Capture Opportunity
Canada’s vast boreal forest, stretching across the northern landscape, is undergoing significant changes due to a warming climate. New research suggests that strategic reforestation efforts could unlock the forest’s potential to remove substantial amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – potentially five times Canada’s annual emissions by the end of the century. However, differing opinions exist on the most effective long-term strategies for maximizing the forest’s carbon storage capabilities.
The Northward Shift and Reforestation Potential
Over recent decades, the boreal forest has been slowly migrating northward, particularly in the taiga zone where it transitions to Arctic tundra. This natural shift presents an opportunity to boost carbon sequestration. A recent study, led by Kevin Dsouza of the University of Waterloo, utilized satellite data and forestry industry models to identify approximately 6.4 million hectares (15.8 million acres) of land suitable for reforestation. This area, roughly twice the size of Vancouver Island, could sequester almost 4 gigatons of carbon by 2100.
Researchers believe that scaling up reforestation efforts to 32 million hectares (79 million acres) could potentially sequester nearly 20 gigatons of carbon. The study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, highlights the significant carbon removal capacity of reforestation at the boreal forest’s edge.
Past Initiatives and Current Challenges
Canada previously had an ambitious plan to plant 2 billion trees by 2031, but it was canceled last year. As of June 2025, 228 million trees had been planted, with agreements in place for an additional 988 million trees. Dsouza noted that the previous plan faced logistical challenges and funding issues, rather than scientific limitations. He emphasized the demand for a strategic approach, focusing on planting in the right locations with economic and community benefits to ensure sustainability.
Alternative Approaches: Long-Term Carbon Storage
While reforestation is seen as a positive step, some experts advocate for alternative strategies to maximize long-term carbon storage. Ulf Büntgen, a professor at the University of Cambridge, suggests that simply planting trees is a temporary solution, as trees eventually die and release the stored carbon. He proposes harvesting mature trees in specific areas of the boreal forest and sinking them in the Arctic Ocean, where the cold, oxygen-poor environment would preserve the carbon for thousands of years. This approach, targeting 1% of the boreal forest, could remove 1 gigaton of carbon dioxide annually.
The Boreal Forest and Permafrost Stability
Focusing reforestation efforts in northern areas could also contribute to stabilizing permafrost. Thawing permafrost releases methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide, potentially exacerbating climate change. Protecting and expanding the boreal forest in these regions could help mitigate this risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the boreal forest?
- It’s the world’s largest terrestrial biome, covering about 50% of Canada’s landmass and is characterized by coniferous forests.
- How much carbon does the boreal forest store?
- It stores more carbon than all tropical rainforests combined, capturing roughly 12% of the world’s land-based carbon storage.
- What is the biggest challenge to reforestation efforts?
- Logistical issues, funding, and the need for a strategic approach that considers economic and community benefits are key challenges.
Source: Dsouza, K. B., Ofosu, E., Boudreault, R., Moreno-Cruz, J., & Leonenko, Y. (2025). Substantial carbon removal capacity of Taiga reforestation and afforestation at Canada’s boreal edge. Communications Earth & Environment, 6(1), 893. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02822-z
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