We are a Canadian drone reforestation company that modifies drones to fire rapidly germinating tree seeds into the soil. We merge technology, software and ecological science to surpass traditional tree-planting efforts and rapidly accelerate global reforestation efforts. Help us with our ambitious goal of planting 1 billion trees by 2028.
We’ve now got a proof of concept and we’re aiming big! For every dollar you pledge, we pledge a tree.
By supporting our project, you’re providing the crucial funds needed to take this to a truly global scale and reach our goal of 1 billion trees planted by 2028! From Canada’s boreal forests to the tropics of Sumatra, we want to make an impact and rebuild degraded ecosystems on every corner of the earth. Forests don’t just pull CO2 from the atmosphere. They provide homes and food for millions of species, from insects to elephants, they bring more rainfall and capture the rain, cooling the air and stabilizing the climate. They are the livelihoods and source of income for all the communities living off the forests.
For every dollar that you pledge, we pledge a tree!
Interested in offsetting your carbon emissions? The average North American person has an annual carbon footprint of 20 metric tons. Offset this by planting 275 trees!
Or calculate your carbon footprint on our calculator
The average North American household emits 61 tons per year. Offset your family’s emissions by planting 650 trees!
Or calculate your family’s footprint
Impact: We started flash forest with the goal of offsetting carbon emissions enough to have a significant and measurable impact on climate change within the next decade.
Inclusivity: We want everyone to have a way of personally contributing to a large-scale environmental solution through an organization they can trust.
Quality: We work closely with botanists and forestry experts, and use multispectral mapping UAV technology to select ideal planting sites and provide valuable follow up data on ecosystem health.
Cooperation: We are committed to partnering with local groups, agencies, scientists, and individuals of all types to share knowledge and resources for best reforestation solutions.
FAQ:
How do guarantee your trees will grow?
Before we plant our pods, we pre-germinate the seeds inside using our own “secret sauce”. This ensures that the seeds have already sprouted before they’re even in the ground and that they have a strong rooting system when they grow. Not only that, but after we plant them we follow up with our spraying drone to remove competition and provide nitrogen and other nutrients for the best chance of success. We continuously monitor our seedlings with the mapping drone to make sure they’re healthy.
How do you plant the trees?
We plant our seed pods, using a heavy-lift drone that’s been customized with a pneumatic firing device to insert the pods into the soil at the appropriate depth.
Tree planting companies use seedlings. Why would they use seed pods instead of seedlings if it takes longer to grow?
Planting pods has several advantages over seedlings.
1) Drones allow us to plant pods 10X faster per drone than seedlings can be planted.
2) Our seed pods contain 3 pre-germinated tree seeds, mycorrhiza, nutrients and other supportive species for the area.
3) Pods are much less energy/ water intensive to produce and have a lower environmental impact.
4) Pods can be created in mass within a month, whereas seedlings take 1 to 2 years of intensive care in a nursery before they can be planted. This allows us to plant rapidly and at 20% the cost of a seedling.
Are you qualified?
Yes. Three of our core members have backgrounds in science and engineering. Additionally, we’re working closely with scientists with PhD’s in botany, seed genetics, and forestry specialists on every job. We are fully certified and licensed for UAV operation in Canada.
What tree species do you plant?
This year we planted eight deciduous and coniferous species local to Southern Ontario. We can easily fill our pods with seeds of virtually any tree species (except for acorns and a few of the larger exceptions). If interested, we can also plant any flora that’s appropriate for an ecosystem in it’s successional period.
In your video you talk about planting for full eco-system recovery, how are you doing this?
We know that planting a single tree species will not restore an ecosystem to its natural state nor will it guarantee a healthy forest. That’s why we develop pods that capture the relevant tree seeds, mycorrhiza, nutrients, and soil properties for the target area. Seeds from local sources are usually the best adapted to the target ecosystem but even that isn’t always the case. Climate change has rapidly changed ecosystems and sometimes seeds from lower latitudes are actually more likely to survive in warming climates. We are building a team of experts in restoration ecology to ensure that science underpins all of our efforts and captures nature’s nuances.
Do you work with companies that are interested in planting only one or two types of trees?
While our focus is on full-eco system recovery, we can work with others, including oil and timber companies, who prioritize a select few tree species. However, we will always push to ensure our seedlings have the best chance of success and will disclose what the ecosystem’s needs are to ensure this.
Where do you operate?
So far we’ve planted in southern Ontario. However, we are in talks for potential work in Alberta and Brazil (Atlantic Forest). Our sights are set internationally and we are actively working to scale this globally.
Reforestation is an extremely nuanced field and in order for us to bring this technology across international borders we need funding..and we need it quick. We have an immediate need to purchase equipment that will allow us to produce millions of seed pods. Additionally, we require access to the best experts available in botany, ecology, seed genetics, engineering and automation. We have overcome every challenge we have faced up until this stage and we know what is needed next. By sponsoring our company, you help us take our technology to the Pacific Forests of Canada, the Amazon Rainforests of Brazil and, ultimately, the globe.