Our green bikepacking project
To Cross Canada by bike from West to East to raise funds for reforestation and conservation of the Canadian forests, and promote green tourism
Origins
One year ago we moved to Canada to travel closer to nature, to rediscover a taste for our projects and meaning in our actions. A strong need to reconnect with the environment that surrounds us.
In British Colombia and Alberta we rediscovered the use of the word “immensity” in the face of breathtaking landscapes, the joy of chance encounters with wildlife, and gratitude for an environment where nature has still more room than Men.
The next stage of our trip had been planned from the start: driving across the country to discover Eastern Canada.
As every year these Canadian forests have been sadly devastated by wildfires. Wildfires that are from now on too numerous, too strong, and don’t wait for the summer to reduce larger and larger sufaces to ashes. Because of their violence, they don’t play their regenerator part for the soils anymore.
By living less than 70 km away from these giant fires we have been directly impacted and most of all deeply moved by the subject.
With the desire to travel differently and be more conscious of our carbon footprint, there was no question of adding 5000km to our car’s odometer to satisfy our selfish wanderlust. We could not stand idly by in the face of this sad spectacle and the urge to play even a small part in it took hold of us. As sporting adventures lovers, we were dreaming of our next challenge using sport for a positive cause.
That is all it took for us to come up with a project with a dual ecological commitment!
Objectives
To cycle across Canada from West to East
To finance a reforestation project to help fight climate change and protect biodiversity
To raise awareness on the importance of forests in climate issues
To promote cycling as a mean of green tourism
The association
100% of the fundraising will go to ONE TREE PLANTED
One Tree planted is a non-profit organization focused on global reforestation.
Their goal?
To make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees. They operate to restore forests, create habitat for biodiversity, and make a positive social impact.
Over the past 10 years they have more than doubled the number of trees planted each year for a total of over 135,5 million trees planted. They are working with partners across 82 countries in North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Pacific.
What do they do in Canada?
One Tree Planted works on 3 different pilars:
- Protect wildlife habitat and increase biodiversity
- Recover areas affected by large-scale wildfires
- Improve forest coverage to build and promote healthy forests.
Ecosystem services that benefit from reforestation include flood and erosion control, improved air quality, and carbon sequestration, all of which are critical to mitigate the effects of climate change.
What tree species do they plant?
Canada is home to nearly 200 tree species and is divided into 8 forest regions: Acadian, Boreal, Carolinian (Deciduous), Coast, Columbia, Great Lakes – St. Lawrence, Montane and Subalpine.
The forests in these regions are dominated by specific tree species, such as red spruce, balsam fir, and yellow birch in Acadian forests and red cedar, hemlock, sitka spruce, and Douglas-fir in Coast forests.
A significant number of less common tree species are also found in each of these regions.
Their partners ensure the species they select will provide the intended benefits for wildlife and communities.
Did you know?
