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For thousands of years, the Dane-zaa have called the area now known as northeastern British Columbia, Canada, home. Today, their descendants, Doig River First Nation, continue to live on and care for this land.

Like their ancestors, Doig River First Nation people believe in living in harmony with each other, with animals and with the natural world. To this community, forests are important – vital spaces for practising traditional hunting and harvesting medicinal plants.

"The forest holds the knowledge of our ancestors, the medicine of our healers and the spirit of Kema -- our way of living in balance and respect with all life. When we walk with Kema, we honour the land, the water and the animals,” says Doig River First Nation Councillor Justin Davis. “Safeguarding the forest is our responsibility and our promise to future generations. The health of the land is the health of the people.”

Seeking to avoid deforestation

Shell wants to make a positive contribution to biodiversity and has worked with Doig River First Nation and non-profit organisation Project Forest to rewild 54 hectares of forest around 100 kilometres north of Shell’s Groundbirch natural gas operations. At Groundbirch, Shell cleared land to install equipment, such as well pads and pipelines, that it needed for gas production. This gas will supply LNG Canada, a joint venture in which Shell has a 40% interest, and which started production in the middle of 2025.

Shell’s reforestation project with Doig River First Nation is part of its commitment to compensate for clearing land for its operations. Shell seeks to avoid deforestation but when this cannot be achieved, it works to reforest other areas as soon as possible. “We work to minimise our footprint as much as possible, while still providing the energy that people need,” says Julia Fletcher, Environmental Planner for Shell Canada Ltd.

Much of Doig River First Nation’s lands are thickly forested – rich with pine, spruce and birch. But there are swathes of disused, unwooded land that was cleared in the 1950s for farming, which no longer takes place.

Replanting these barren areas will enable future Doig River First Nation generations to preserve traditional land use practises. It will continue the deep cultural connection their people have always shared with the land.

Shell tasked Julia with finding ways for it to offset deforestation from the Groundbirch operations. Julia approached Project Forest who connected her with Doig River First Nation’s community leaders. “The First Nation wanted to plant an enduring forest for traditional use; Shell wanted to plant trees. It was a win-win,” she said.

Shell provided around 110,000 conifer seedlings to the community and helped fund the land preparation and labour, while the planting work was led by Project Forest. Project Forest will monitor the area for five years to ensure the successful growth of the trees and help safeguard the area so it can become a forest.

Making a difference

“At Project Forest, we thrive because companies like Shell choose to make a meaningful difference -- supporting projects that restore nature and uplift people,” says Project Forest Executive Director Mike Toffan.

“Guided by the Nation’s knowledge of plants that have cultural, medicinal and nutritional significance, this project is more than environmental -- it’s a powerful step toward cultural revitalisation and community well-being,” says Mike.