The Location

📍 Cariboo, BC, Canada

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Situated in the interior of BC, Cariboo has historically been shaped by industries such as forestry, mining, and ranching. The Cariboo Gold Rush in the 19th century brought many settlers to the area, and today, the region's natural resources and scenic beauty continue to attract both residents and visitors.

The people of the region are deeply connected to the land, with a strong focus on outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, and hiking.

The region is also home to a variety of wildlife, including moose, deer, bears, and numerous bird species.

However, in recent years, Cariboo has been increasingly affected by environmental challenges, particularly wildfires, which have put its forests and ecosystems at risk.

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The Problem

During the summers of 2017, 2018 and 2021, British Columbia was devastated by wildfires.

The series of wildfires blazed through over 1.3 million hectares of land. Fires reached heights and temperatures intense enough to kill the forest, scarring the soil and leaving behind damaged ecosystems that have struggled to recover.

Local wildlife’s habitats were destroyed, and Indigenous communities also lost their traditional hunting range and food sources - their way of life heavily impacted.

For the people of Cariboo, wildfires pose serious economic threats to industries like forestry, tourism, and agriculture. The destruction of natural resources, coupled with the risks to property and livelihoods, makes wildfire-driven deforestation a critical issue that needs to be addressed through sustainable practices and restoration efforts.

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The Solution

Working with our planting partner, Zanzibar, we are restoring affected areas through reforestation.

A variety of species will be planted, including Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, Ponderosa pine, hybrid spruce, and western larch.

With your support, we will help to restore soil damaged from burn scars and erosion. Badly hurt ecosystems will be given a new chance to thrive.

The goal of this project is to establish a healthy forest through assisted natural regeneration.

‍Planting Partner - Zanzibar

Verification Partner - Veritree

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What is Assisted Natural Regeneration?

Assisted natural regeneration (ANR) is a forest restoration technique that involves actively supporting the natural recovery of degraded forests by protecting and nurturing existing vegetation and seedlings, rather than solely relying on planting new trees.

In the Cariboo region, where wildfires have caused significant deforestation, ANR plays a crucial role in helping forests recover. This approach focuses on reducing threats like invasive species, livestock grazing, and human activities that hinder natural regrowth, while also encouraging the growth of native tree species that have survived the fires.

By providing the right conditions for natural regrowth - such as clearing competing vegetation or creating barriers to protect young plants - ANR accelerates the recovery of the ecosystem.

In Cariboo, ANR is particularly valuable because it harnesses the natural resilience of the forest, allowing it to restore itself more effectively while maintaining biodiversity and promoting long-term forest health.

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The Impact

It is estimated that it will take approximately 13 million trees and years of hard work to restore Cariboo to its former glory. Through this hard work, local communities will be able to rebuild their livelihoods and their futures.

Approximately 1.08 tons of C02 will be sequestered over each tree’s lifetime, creating a huge impact for the health of our planet.

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How You Can Help

Ecodrive enables you to seamlessly integrate sustainability into your business processes.

Our technology allows you to tie everyday actions like sales, reviews, emails sent, meetings booked, and much more, to projects like wildfire reforestation projects in Cariboo, Canada.

Meaning you’re doing good for the planet, and your business.

Easily plug-in to your existing Shopify, Amazon, or e-commerce store, and gain access to our marketing toolkits and verification portal to fully communicate your impact to consumers and stakeholders.

Learn more by booking an Ecodrive demo with a member of our team.

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