Innovative aerial reforestation of Eeyou Istchee territory in Northern Quebec
MONTREAL, June 18, 2024 /CNW/ - Transat is pleased to announce its support to Flash Forest, a Canadian aerial reforestation company whose mission is to rebuild healthy resilient forests at scale through a data-driven, biodiversity-centric, and community-led approach.
Canada's once-forested areas are now in great need of replanting, in the interests of the local communities, the boreal forest ecosystem, and the fight against climate change at large. Through this partnership with Transat, Flash Forest will plant an additional 29 hectares of forest over the next days in Assinica National Park, renowned for its verdant boreal forest. By 2025, Transat will have helped finance the replanting of a forest devastated by wildfires, with over 70,000 trees or 48 hectares. This will allow for the sequestration of nearly 29,411 tonnes of CO2 over the course of the trees' lifetime.
"We started discussing with Flash Forest last summer during the wildfire season. We were looking for a way to have a tangible long-lasting impact in our homeland through community investment, in line with our values and our approach to corporate responsibility. Flash Forest became an obvious choice for its unique and community-led approach. Almost a year later, it remains just as relevant and critical to restore the vital ecosystems that have been destroyed, further validating the need for organizations like Flash Forest. This initiative is only a small step in our journey toward a more environmentally responsible and sustainable future, and we hope to shed light on the important work Flash Forest is doing through this initiative," said Julie Lamontagne, Chief People, Corporate Responsibility and Communications at Transat.
Flash Forest's innovative approach to reforestation leverages drone technology, enabling greater precision and access to post-wildfire areas deemed unsafe or inaccessible for humans, combined with proprietary seedpods designed to maximize the success rate of plantation. Planting more than 10 times faster than humans, Flash Forest's seedpod technology is also more sustainable than traditional tree planting methods, omitting the energy-intensive nursery phase. They are on a journey to plant one billion trees, and not stop there.
"As we embark on this exciting new partnership between Flash Forest and Transat, we are taking on the skies. By combining the latest aerial reforestation tech at Flash Forest with the global reach of Transat, we are restoring post-wildfire ecosystems at scale while bringing awareness to the localized effects that wildfires can have on small communities in our own backyard. Transat's tree planting partnership with Flash Forest demonstrates their commitment to sustainability and community involvement, while bolstering the Canadian clean tech space. We are proud to be working with such a passionate team," said Bryce Jones, CEO of Flash Forest.
Collaborating with Indigenous communities to drive greater impact
Communities like the Cree Nation of Oujé-Bougoumou in Eeyou Istchee, located about 20 kilometres north of Assinica National Park, are affected firsthand by wildfires. The Cree community of Oujé-Bougoumou was actively involved in the creation of the park in 2011, and practises traditional activities within its boundaries. The park is managed by the Cree Nation of Oujé-Bougoumou. To further drive sustainable impact, Flash Forest offers employment opportunities to the Indigenous communities they partner with, recognizing their expertise and contributions in environmental conservation and management.
By involving them in seed collection and reforestation plan development, Flash Forest can ensure that the right species are planted in the right places, leading to healthier and more resilient ecosystems. Hyperlocal seed collection is crucial for environmental restoration projects. First and foremost, it promotes ecological diversity by ensuring that native plant species are used in reforestation efforts. Indigenous communities have intimate knowledge of the local flora, including which species are best suited for particular environments.
About Transat
Founded in Montreal 36 years ago, Transat has achieved worldwide recognition as a provider of leisure travel, particularly as an airline under the Air Transat brand. Voted World's Best Leisure Airline by passengers at the 2023 Skytrax World Airline Awards, it flies to international destinations. By renewing its fleet with the most energy-efficient aircraft in their category, it is committed to a healthier environment, knowing that this is essential to its operations and the destinations it serves. Transat has been Travelife-certified since 2018. (TSX: TRZ) www.transat.com
About Flash Forest
Founded in 2019, Flash Forest is Canada's first and largest aerial reforestation company. They combine drones, AI, GIS, and plant science technology to bring new levels of accuracy, precision and speed to the reforestation industry. Winner of the GovTech Award for Climate Change at the 2022 World Government Summit, the company is committed to restoring the planet's lungs through automating reforestation at scale. www.flashforest.ca
Media
Andréan Gagné
Senior Director, Public Affairs and Communications
Transat
andrean.gagne@transat.com
514 987-1616 ext. 104071
Media site and image bank: www.transat.com/fr-CA/corporatif/medias
Joëlle Lerner
Director of Sales
Flash Forest
joelle@flashforest.ca
SOURCE Transat A.T. Inc.
