Crews in western Newfoundland’s expansive national park are undertaking a massive tree-planting initiative to aid in the recovery of its forests following a significant decline in its once abundant moose population. Darroch Whitaker, an ecosystems scientist with Parks Canada at Gros Morne National Park, reported that over 730,000 trees have been planted since 2023 in areas that were previously dense forests but were transformed into grasslands due to extensive moose grazing. The plan is to continue planting for another three years, aiming to reach a total of 1.25 million trees covering approximately four square kilometers.
The restoration project not only focuses on replenishing the forests that suffered due to the moose population but also involves strategically selecting tree species that can thrive in warmer climates, preparing the park for the impacts of climate change. Whitaker emphasized the importance of planting trees that can endure changing climate conditions, as these new forests are expected to last for generations to come.
Gros Morne National Park, renowned for its majestic fiords and boreal forests intersected by rivers and waterfalls, spans an area of 1,805 square kilometers and was established in 1973 as the second-largest national park in Atlantic Canada. Moose, while common throughout Newfoundland, were notably abundant in Gros Morne due to historical hunting restrictions that shielded them from human predation, their primary threat on the island.
In the 1990s, the park harbored around 6,500 moose, with certain regions hosting up to six animals per square kilometer. Whitaker recalled record-high moose densities, where the animals roamed freely, unafraid of humans, posing a threat to the park’s biodiversity by consuming young trees and impeding natural forest regeneration processes. The uncontrolled browsing by moose resulted in barren patches within the forest landscape, known as “moose meadows.”
To address this ecological imbalance, the park authorities permitted moose hunting in 2011, leading to a reduction in the population to a more sustainable level of 2,000 animals. In 2023, tree planters began the reforestation efforts by introducing two-year-old saplings into the moose meadows, kickstarting the restoration of the park’s vegetation.
The saplings, primarily black and white spruce and balsam fir, are complemented with diverse tree species such as yellow birch, white pine, and wild cherry, colloquially referred to as “boutique trees,” sourced from the park’s southern regions. By utilizing seeds from the park’s warmer zones, the planting initiative aims to ensure the long-term viability of the forests in the face of anticipated climate changes. Whitaker stressed the importance of assisting tree migration to cope with evolving climate conditions, emphasizing the significance of proactive conservation efforts.
The ongoing reforestation project at Gros Morne National Park signifies a pivotal step towards restoring the ecosystem’s balance and resilience, safeguarding the park’s natural beauty and biodiversity for future generations.