Generations of Reforestation in the Nimpkish Valley
For more than four decades, Brinkman has led reforestation efforts in the Nimpkish Valley, the traditional territory of the ʼNa̱mǥis people, making it one of our longest-running projects. Generations of planters have worked here, and today we are replanting forests where Brinkman’s earliest trees have already been harvested.
Project Details
Location: Nimpkish Valley, Northern Vancouver Island, BC
Client / Partners: Western Forest Products, Brinkman Group
Project Type: Long-term reforestation, sustainable forestry, legacy ecosystem restoration
Scale: Continuous work since the late 1970s; estimated 35 million trees planted over 45 years
Project Overview
The Woss Project represents one of Brinkman’s most enduring commitments to sustainable forestry. Active since the late 1970s, this work spans 45 years of planting in the Nimpkish Valley on Northern Vancouver Island. To date, it is the only location where Brinkman has seen its reforestation efforts come full cycle: trees planted by our crews decades ago have been harvested, and we now return to replant those same lands for future generations.
This long-term collaboration with Western Forest Products has anchored Brinkman’s legacy in the region while advancing the principles of sustainable forest management.
Impact at a Glance
- 45 years of continuous reforestation activity
- 35 million trees planted since project start, including western redcedar, Nootka cypress, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, amabilis (balsam) fir, and red alder
- Multi-generational workforce: families and crews returning across decades
- Full harvest cycle achieved: replanting lands where Brinkman’s earliest trees were harvested
Collaborative Forest Management in Practice
This initiative focuses on planting and maintaining millions of trees across seasons, while supporting sustainable harvest cycles through ongoing reforestation commitments. Restoration efforts address both human and natural disturbances, from reseeding temporary roads to rehabilitating landslides and areas affected by forest fires. The work is carried out in collaboration with Western Forest Products, the current licensee in the valley, and has fostered a deep-rooted workforce culture, with generations of planters contributing to the same land.
Crews have operated out of dedicated tree planting camps in the Nimpkish Valley, often running late into the fall season. The valley’s highly productive growing conditions have made it a prime location for forestry and reforestation, with consistent work requiring skilled crews and logistical coordination across decades.
Outcomes
The Woss Project stands as a living example of Brinkman’s long-term commitment to forestry in Canada. The project has produced thriving, productive forests that have already completed a full harvest cycle, reinforcing the principle of sustainable forestry. It also embodies the human legacy of Brinkman’s work: multi-generational planters returning to the same valley, ensuring continuity of skills, knowledge, and connection to the land.
