Edmonton International Airport supports land restoration in Alberta 

March 21, 2024 (Edmonton, AB) – On United Nations International Day of Forests, Edmonton International Airport (YEG) celebrates its leadership in eco-responsibility, committed to protecting lands and biodiversity in the region. With environmental stewardship at the forefront of airport operations, YEG partnered with Edmonton-based Wild + Pine in 2021 as part of its Airport City Sustainability Campus. In 2023, the airport invested in the StoneWoods Forest Carbon Project to plant 50,000 tree seedlings, restoring 61 acres of land, about the size of one of YEG’s runways and the terminal building.

Wild + Pine planted the seedlings as part of this pioneering afforestation carbon removal project in Central Alberta. The seedlings used in the project contained a mix of tree and shrub species grown in Wild + Pine’s Bioprism Advanced Vertical Greenhouse located at the airport.

“It’s extremely important to our airport that we protect our environment and foster social well-being in the communities we operate in. Natural landscape restoration is crucial to securing a livable future. We know that removing carbon from the atmosphere takes many years, and we are dedicated to taking critical steps now using nature-based climate solutions with organizations like Wild + Pine. We are devoted to doing our part to improve natural landscapes for all generations to enjoy.”  

• Myron Keehn, President & CEO, Edmonton International Airport (YEG)

Wild + Pine is a Certified B Corporation and an architect of multi-generational Canadian forest projects. By utilizing advanced technologies, rigorous scientific methodology and forestry expertise, Wild + Pine creates carbon removal assets through afforestation. They help sustainability leaders like YEG achieve their corporate climate goals by restoring landscapes and improving regional biodiversity.

As part of its innovative approach, Wild + Pine grows a wide variety of seedlings inside its high-tech vertical greenhouse, an artificial growing environment to produce local trees and shrubs. The greenhouse reduces water usage and increases the efficiency of crop iterations, scaling the company’s impact by planting a community of native species representative of the natural ecosite.  

“At Wild + Pine, we are harnessing the power of nature to create transparent and truly additional afforestation carbon assets. We don’t simply plant trees – we work with our partners to restore land and create thriving ecosystems from the ground up for the benefit of biodiversity and carbon removal. Together, with the support of forward-looking partners like YEG, we are shaping a more sustainable future.”

• Chris Kallal, CEO and Founder, Wild + Pine

Once Wild + Pine completes restoration activities in the StoneWoods Forest Carbon Project, the forest will be moved into conservation and stewarded for generations by one of their partners, the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The habitat will be a safeguard for local species and remain a protected wildlife corridor between the boreal forest and the prairies.  

Currently, the public can join YEG’s journey to net-zero by participating in the Park a Car, Plant a Tree™ program, by choosing to purchase a tree during the parking booking process. YEG looks forward to continuing the path to net-zero with valuable partners like Wild + Pine. To learn more about this project, please watch the video here.

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About Edmonton International Airport  

Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is a self-funded, not-for-profit corporation driving economic prosperity for the Edmonton Metropolitan Region and beyond. YEG is Canada’s fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic and the largest major Canadian airport by land area, generating an economic output of over $4.9 billion and supporting over 21,000 jobs. A prominent advocate for innovation in the global aviation sector, YEG’s Airport City Sustainability Campus works with partners to drive progress in nature-based solutions, hydrogen technology, drone delivery and social impact initiatives. YEG approaches diversity, equity and inclusion by creating an Airport for Everyone. Learn more at: flyeia.com, or follow @flyyeg on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook.

About Wild + Pine 

Wild + Pine is an architect of multigenerational Canadian forest projects, and the innovator behind establishing large-scale afforestation carbon removals in Western Canada. By harnessing advanced technologies, rigorous scientific methodology and forestry expertise, Wild + Pine is building truly additional carbon removal assets, providing an opportunity for sustainability leaders to invest in forest restoration projects that leave a long-lasting legacy. Founded in 2011 by a Professional Forester and now led by a group of environmental professionals, Wild + Pine has helped restore, manage, and maintain thousands of acres of land for some of Canada’s largest organizations. As a Certified B Corp, Wild + Pine is committed to seeding restoration projects that are always in service to our climate, biodiversity, and the environment. Learn more at: wildandpine.ca, or connect with us on Instagram (@Wildandpineab), X (@Wild + Pine) or on LinkedIn (Wild + Pine).

Media contacts: 

Edmonton International Airport (YEG) 

Jody Hrabiwchuk 

Senior Communications Campaign Advisor 

Phone: 825-975-7336 

Email: news@flyeia.com 

A YEG spokesperson will be available on March 21 from 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Please text or call the above number, or email news@flyeia.com to confirm a time slot.