This week marks National Forest Week in Canada, a celebration where Canadians are invited to learn more about Canada’s forest heritage and to raise awareness about this valuable and renewable resource. This year’s theme is “Forest Pathways: Innovation and Sustainability”.  Join us for a series of articles highlighting the contributions of Canada’s Model Forests to our economy, culture, traditions and history – and to our future. Communities, families and individuals depend on forests for their livelihood and way of life.

The Prince Albert Model Forest (PAMF) in Saskatchewan, Canada is engaged with a program titled ‘Guardians of the Boreal Forest‘, where field technicians have been locating high-quality seeds for future use.

Unlike some seed programs that focus primarily on tree species, this initiative takes a more holistic approach collecting from treetop to forest floor expanding beyond trees into shrubs, grasses, and forbs. Native tree species have largely been identified and collected, with ongoing efforts to complete the remaining conifer species.  

Much of the work so far has taken place in and around the Waskesiu area of the Prince Albert National Park. Guidance from local communities and in-field practitioners has remained central for conducting seed collection in an ethical way so that the longevity of the Boreal Forest can be protected for generations to come.