The Wabanaki Forest is one of the most ecologically diverse forest regions in North America. It is a transitional forest, where northern boreal species meet southern hardwoods—a blending that creates complex and resilient ecosystems. It is home to more than 30 native tree species and a rich understory of wildflowers, mosses, shrubs, fungi, and wildlife.

Centuries of colonial land-use practices—clearcutting, monoculture forestry, industrial agriculture, and infrastructure development—have drastically altered the landscape.

• Old-growth forests were cut down for shipbuilding, agriculture, and export.

• Natural regeneration was interrupted, replaced by plantations of single-age, single-species trees (like white spruce on abandoned farmland).

• Soils were degraded, and key species extirpated.

• Cultural relationships were broken, and Indigenous land management systems displaced.

In places like Prince Edward Island, less than 5% of the late-successional forest remains. The forests that are left are younger, more fragile, and less diverse—vulnerable to climate change, pests, and disease.

The Wabanaki Forest is not just an ecological relic of the past—it is a blueprint for the future. As we face accelerating climate change and biodiversity collapse, this forest holds the key to a resilient, regenerative, and just environmental future.

The Wabanaki Forest:

• Stores vast amounts of carbon in trees, soil, and roots

• Provides clean water and filters pollutants

• Supports rare and endangered species

• Resists fire, disease, and drought when intact

• Represents a cultural living archive of Indigenous ecological knowledge

• Can be restored—if we act with urgency and care