Last year in B.C. over 240 million trees were planted in B.C. as part of the reforestation efforts that is required of companies that log the forests in B.C.
Since Oct. 1, 1987, when a law was enacted that required these companies to plant trees in forests that they had harvested, nearly 98 per cent of the harvested forests have had trees planted as part of the effort.
To reforest the areas that they harvest timber from companies hire contractors that send crews of tree planters out into the bush to plant trees.
Tree planters are paid per tree they plant, anywhere between 8 to 25 cents per tree, and they must uphold the strict quality and density standards.
Each tree is planted in a microsite, which is a piece of land identified by the planter as being well suited for growth.
After the planter has identified a suitable microsite, they must then prepare the site by either removing, or more rarely, adding debris.
After preparing the site, the planter uses their shovel to open a slit in the ground where the tree is inserted so that the roots will stay straight.
The hole is then covered.
On a given day, tree planters can plant from anywhere to 1500-4000 trees depending on their skill level, efficiency, technique and motivation.
Tree planters, if they are properly motivated can make substantial money, university and college students have been known to plant trees all summer and make enough money to support them through the next school year.
Rookie tree planters can on average make between $5000-7000, veterans can make upwards of $10,000 and high ballers, tree planters who have the most experience can make upwards of $18,000 in a season.
Tree planting sounds like an easier job with the benefit of earning a good chunk of change in a short period of time, but it鈥檚 far from easy.
For starters, most tree planters live in bush camps.
They spent their entire time living in a tent in the bush, sometimes far away from the nearest town.
They are strapped with all of their gear including, planting bags, shovels and plot cords, that they carry with them all day, everyday.
They must navigate difficult terrain and deal with wildlife, such as bears.
And finally, there are the bugs, from horseflies, black flies and dear flies to mosquitos there is a constant buzz in the air.
Recent studies have shown that tree planters have the highest exertion level and work efficiency rate in human occupation.
For a tree planter they must systematically layout and plant the piece of land they鈥檙e working on, and there are nearly 30 different ways to incorrectly plant a tree, and only one correct way to plant it.
They say that mailmen work rain or shine, well tree planters work rain or shine, snow or hail, basically in any conditions.
Now, tree planters do tree planters deserve our complete sympathy, of course not, they chose to sign up and do the job, they weren鈥檛 forced, but they do spend their hard earned money in our town on their days off.
So take moment to respect the work of the people that help to maintain our forests.
