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.