Moose ate parts of Gros Morne’s forests — can 1.25 million trees save them?

Crews in Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland are planting thousands of trees in Gros Morne National Park to aid forest recovery damaged by an abundant moose population. Park researcher Darroch Whitaker stated that they have planted around 730,000 trees since 2023, aiming to plant 1.25 million trees, covering approximately four square kilometres, over the next three years.

The trees will be a mix that can endure warmer temperatures, helping create resilient forests to withstand climate change. The park, established in 1973, is the second-largest national park in Atlantic Canada, known for its towering fiords and boreal forests. Moose once thrived in the park, with numbers reaching up to six per square kilometre in some areas, but hunting regulations have reduced their population to around 2,000.

The excessive moose browsing led to barren patches of land, termed "moose meadows," which hindered forest regeneration. Officials opened hunting in 2011, and in 2023, tree planters began restoring the forests, with saplings planted when they are around two years old. Whitaker and his team are incorporating hardy tree species, such as yellow birch and white pine, which are more adapted to future warmer climates.