Leveraging Greenhouses To Restore Forests

The forest is burning - reforestation tree seedling operations must modernize

As wildfires wreak havoc in Canada, revamping reforestation efforts becomes crucial. Alberta and Saskatchewan wildfires are surpassing 10-year levels, resulting in widespread destruction. The challenge is unprecedented with 19 million hectares burned in 2023, six times more than the historical average.

The tree seedling nurseries, essential in the fight against forest fires, are now strained by increased demand, labor shortages, and rising costs. Canada's 2 Billion Trees program highlights the vital role of these nurseries.

In this newsletter, we'll explore how cutting-edge propagation systems and higher-tech greenhouses with semi-automation could revolutionize tree seedling production, ensuring our forests can regenerate faster and more efficiently in the face of this growing threat. Join us as we delve into the future of controlled environment agriculture and its crucial role in preserving our natural heritage.

A special thanks to Michael Taylor, Senior Nursery Specialist, for his valuable input talking about Air Trays as a system approach for tree seedling operations.

A Growing Threat To Our Forests: A Case In Canada

As wildfires rage across Canada, devastating communities and ecosystems, a critical challenge emerges: the urgent need to modernize reforestation efforts. The latest data shows Alberta and Saskatchewan wildfires trending above 10-year levels, leaving a trail of displaced lives, imperiled businesses, and irreplaceable natural assets. With a staggering 19 million hectares burned in 2023 alone - more than six times the historical average - the scale of the challenge is unprecedented (Canada Climate Institute, 2024).

The impact of these wildfires extends beyond the immediate destruction of flora and fauna; it also threatens the affected regions' broader environmental balance and economic stability. Communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan, already grappling with the economic fallout of these disasters, face a daunting recovery process that includes restoring both the natural landscape and local economies reliant on these ecosystems.

The 19 million hectares burned in 2023 represent a loss of biodiversity and a significant carbon sink, exacerbating global climate change. As Canada confronts these environmental catastrophes, innovative approaches to reforestation are crucial. This includes leveraging advanced technologies such as drones for seed planting, utilizing climate-resilient tree species, and implementing comprehensive land management policies that address both immediate recovery needs and long-term sustainability.

How Can We Restore Our Forest?

Behind the stark numbers covered in the previous section lies an often-overlooked hero in the fight against forest fires - the tree seedling nursery. These vital operations are now at a crossroads, facing increasing demand for reforestation while grappling with labor shortages and rising costs. The Government of Canada's 2 Billion Trees program, launched in 2023, aims to plant two billion trees over 10 years, further underscoring the critical role of these nurseries.

World Wildlife Fund Canada’s Secwepemcúl’ecw Restoration and Stewardship Society project in British Columbia will plant 900,000 seedlings over three years to restore three wildfire-impacted forests in the traditional territories of the Secwepemc people, supported by over $1 million in federal funding. Skeetchestn Natural Resources’ project in British Columbia will plant 10.5 million trees over nine years to repair damage from the 2021 wildfires, with over $18.7 million in federal funding. This project also includes building a small-scale nursery that will offer employment and training opportunities for the community.

The Nekoté Limited Partnership’s Kistike’win Wildfire Restoration project in Manitoba will plant 20.8 million trees with $27.4 million in federal funding. In Alberta, the Agroforestry and Woodlot Extension Society’s 2 Billion Trees Western Coalition project will plant more than 3.4 million trees with $16.7 million in federal funding and $2.2 million from Alberta.

Leveraging High-Tech Greenhouse Systems

A state-of-the-art greenhouse should be designed with ample width and height to ensure optimal conditions. This spaciousness serves multiple purposes: it provides a sufficient air mass volume for a buffer effect (Horti-Generation, 2024), maximizes natural light penetration, facilitates effective passive ventilation, and accommodates growing systems and equipment, allowing them to operate at peak efficiency.

By integrating advanced technologies and sustainable practices, a high-tech greenhouse system can significantly enhance a nursery's efficiency and productivity while also reducing the costs and time needed to produce high-quality tree seedlings for reforestation.

Key Technologies Employed

Unlike traditional open-field or lower-tech nurseries subject to unpredictable weather, high-tech greenhouses allow optimal temperature, humidity, light, irrigation, and nutrient delivery management. The following list outlines the key technologies employed in state-of-the-art greenhouses for the cultivation of tree seedlings:

🖥️ Climate control systems enable automated temperature and humidity regulation through natural ventilation, horizontal air flow (HAF), and exhaust fans.

♻️ Sophisticated irrigation and fertigation systems deliver precise amounts of water and nutrients based on light and climate conditions. Irrigation booms allow for programming multiple zones within a greenhouse, adapting to different species' requirements and growth stages.

💧 Fogging systems can maintain air humidity, preventing water stress in young tree seedlings. High-pressure fogging is even more efficient in cooling the growing area during the summer (Horti-Generation, 2019).

⛅ Automated shading screens help regulate light exposure, maintain consistent temperatures, and reduce energy costs. Blackout systems control tree height, diameter, and growth stage timing. They allow nurseries to induce dormancy when required, ensuring seedlings progress through development stages optimally. This control helps nursery professionals plan production schedules more effectively.

💡 Artificial lighting systems complement blackout systems by extending day length to delay dormancy induction. Higher-intensity lighting can increase growth rates and improve seedling quality, enabling year-round production and multiple crop cycles. Moreover, LEDs with specific light spectra can positively impact the root development of Pinus sylvestris L., leading to increased dry weight and a more compact build of the plants. (Valoya, 2016).

These technologies result in faster growth rates, higher survival rates, and more consistent growth patterns, leading to uniform, high-quality tree seedlings. They also reduce labor costs, minimize resource waste, and allow for better planning and control of production schedules.

Air Tray Technologies: Revolutionizing Reforestation Efforts

Michael Taylor of Blackmore Company introduces Air Tray Technologies, a groundbreaking system designed to optimize tree seedling production for reforestation. This innovative approach combines Air Trays, automation, and specialized racks to enhance seedling quality while reducing labor and resource inputs.

The system's core philosophy, "one seed = one tree," aims to eliminate the need for thinning extra germinates. This conserves valuable seeds and significantly reduces labor requirements, allowing nurseries to allocate resources more efficiently.

A key feature of Air Trays is the intentional gap between the Ellepot (paper-wrapped growing medium) and the tray. This design promotes air circulation, leading to faster drying and frequent wet/dry cycles. The improved aeration results in increased stem caliper and enhanced feeder root development, ultimately improving water and nutrient uptake in seedlings.

Moreover, Air Tray racks facilitate automated movement of plants throughout the nursery, from transplanting to grading areas. This automation, coupled with the elevated design of the racks, further enhances air movement around the plants, reducing pathogen transfer risk and promoting overall plant health. Taylor emphasizes that seeds are a finite and irreplaceable resource in reforestation. The Air Tray system minimizes seed wastage through precise placement and optimal growing conditions. This approach not only conserves seeds but also reduces labor typically required for thinning and transplanting.

By creating optimal growing conditions from the outset, the system produces stronger, healthier seedlings better equipped to survive when transplanted in reforestation sites. As demand for large-scale tree planting grows, Air Tray Technologies offers a comprehensive solution for nurseries to meet reforestation goals efficiently and sustainably.

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Complementary Sources

🌲 Tree seedlings cultivation in a greenhouse (Horti-Generation, 2021)

🌳 Digital White-Paper: High technology greenhouses: Improving tree nurseries efficiency (Harnois Industries & Produce Grower, 2023)

Optimizing seed usage and reducing labor with AirTray Technologies (Michael Taylor, 2022)

🛠️ State of the Art greenhouse structure for tree seedlings (Harnois Industries, 2022) with the Canada Tree Nursery Association 🌲

🇨🇦 2BT Tree planting applicant guide (Government of Canada)