In the wake of wildfires, bringing affected areas back into production poses a major challenge, particularly in remote or hard-to-reach areas. In Canada, wildfires affect an average of 2.8 million hectares of forest each year, underscoring the importance of exploring innovative solutions to support restoration efforts.
With financial support from the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF), FPInnovations is evaluating the potential of aerial seeding using drones as a complement to traditional reforestation methods.
In the spring of 2026, field trials were conducted to test various drone systems and validate several aspects of this approach: their operational capability, the accuracy of remote sensing technologies in targeting the most suitable sites, and the germination performance of different seed capsules and seeds.
The goal is to assess not only the technical feasibility of this technology but also its economic viability and the contexts in which it could offer the greatest benefits. The results of this study will help determine the role that drone seeding could play in future reforestation strategies.
Conducted in collaboration with government, academic, and industry partners, this project could expand the toolkit available to forest managers and offer new options for accelerating the regeneration of fire-affected areas.
The preliminary results of the study will be released in the fall of 2026.
For more information contact:
Anne LeBrun Ruff , Senior Researcher
Anne.LebrunRuff@fpinnovations.ca
