PRT Armstrong’s Crop. photo credit: facebook
VICTORIA – PRT Growing Services Ltd. has formed a partnership with the Tłı̨chǫ Government, dedicated to supporting and scaling reforestation efforts in the Northwest Territories.
“PRT is humbled by the Tłı̨chǫ Government’s trust and confidence in our partnership capability,” said Randy Fournier, Chief Executive Officer, PRT. “The Tłı̨chǫ Government has mounted an unprecedented response to the devastating wildfires in 2023, demonstrating leadership that is critical to the future health of damaged forests. This marks the beginning of our collaboration, as we explore opportunities to provide forest seedling expertise and future capacity-building to the Tłı̨chǫ Government and communities in the North.”
PRT Growing Services Ltd. is the largest producer of critical forest seedlings in North America, currently growing more than 600 million seedlings annually and operating a network of 28 forest seedling nurseries and 14 orchards in Canada and the U.S.
In 2023, Tłı̨chǫ land, which covers 39,000 square kilometers Northwest of Yellowknife, experienced unprecedented forest fire activity, resulting in significant destruction across the region’s forests. As responsible stewards of their land, the Tłı̨chǫ Government has initiated a series of reforestation projects to restore critical Caribou habitat and culturally significant sites. In alignment with the Government’s vision for restoring their ecosystems and habitats over the coming years, PRT will provide expertise in nursery operations, seed collection and processing and seedling production to grow millions of trees using native seed collected from Tłı̨chǫ land.
Beyond planting trees, this collaborative initiative, through its various partnerships, will help overcome reforestation challenges faced by remote Northern communities, including limited road access, nursery infrastructure and seedling storage facilities. The partnership is rooted in a shared goal of not only restoring Tłı̨chǫ land but also building long-term capacity and establishing a sustainable and scalable native seedling supply within remote Northern Communities.
Business Examiner Staff
