Loveland nursery launches 1 million-tree initiative to restore Rocky Mountain forests in Colorado

OneCanopy, a Loveland-based nursery is scaling up its operations to produce 1 million native seedlings annually, an ambitious effort aimed at healing wildfire-scarred landscapes and restoring biodiversity throughout the Rocky Mountains.

The initiative comes at a critical time for us in the region. In recent years, intense wildfires, drought and insect infestations have thinned forest cover at an unprecedented rate, often leaving ecosystems unable to regenerate naturally.

“Our goal is to act as stewards of this land,” a nursery representative said. “By nurturing these seedlings from seed to sapling, we are investing in the long-term health of our watersheds, wildlife habitats and the future of our wild spaces.”

The nursery is focusing on a diverse range of native conifers and shrubs specifically selected for their resilience to changing climate conditions. By propagating plants that are adapted to the unique elevation and soil profiles of the Rockies, the project aims to ensure a higher survival rate once the trees are planted in the field.

The seedlings will be distributed to a mix of public land agencies, conservation groups and private landowners dedicated to reforestation. With the expanded capacity, organizers hope to accelerate the pace of restoration, providing a vital lifeline to forests struggling to recover.

The facility expects to reach its full 1-million-plant capacity by the next planting season.