Forest Enhancement Program

The Forest Enhancement Program improves and sustains Manitoba’s forest environment by funding tree planting projects.

Help us make Manitoba’s forests more attractive, diverse, widespread and productive. We encourage Manitobans to submit project proposals that will benefit their community, their region, or the province as a whole.

Guides to get you started

• Making the right start (PDF, 615 KB)
• Tree care – planting and maintaining your trees (PDF, 1.4 MB)
• Right tree – right place (PDF, 2.8 MB)

Eligibility

Non-profit, non-government organizations are eligible. These include citizen, school, youth, conservation, cultural, heritage, environmental, community and service club groups.

Individuals, landowners, for-profit organizations, commercial forestry operations, federal, provincial and local government agencies, golf courses and cemeteries are not eligible for funding.

Ideal candidates for this program are non-profit organizations that have:

• a volunteer component
• a proper planting plan
• an educational component

Eligible school tree planting projects promote appreciation and understanding of the role and importance of trees and sustainable forest management in communities, agricultural areas and forested areas of Manitoba.

Projects that include volunteer or in-kind contributions and that have multiple sources of funding or other tangible support are preferred.

The potential for successful implementation of the project and the applicant’s commitment to making the project sustainable will be considered and:

• are scored and ranked according to program criteria
• will be funded according to the relative merits of each proposal
• are evaluated by an independent Forest Enhancement Program committee that recommends appropriate funding support

How to apply

Applications for tree planting can be requested for a one-year period and up to a $10,000 maximum. Applications may be submitted from July 1 to November 1 for the next year.

Forest Enhancement Program application (PDF, 344 KB)

You must submit full budget information, site photos and a site plan with your application. Failure to provide this information may disqualify applications from consideration.

Include:

• site planting plan
• size and species of trees
• tree protection being used
• solid maintenance plan
• education projects must have an education component
• quotes from 3 different nurseries
• communication strategy
• ensure that there are no tree conflicts with overhead and/or underground infrastructure. Call or click before you dig

Send the completed form and all supporting information:

Email

ForestEnhancementProgram@hydro.mb.ca.

Mail

Costs eligible for funding

Eligible costs

You may request support for:

• tree stock (seedlings to larger nursery stock) that must be of high quality and hardy to the area where it is planted
• site preparation
• planting of trees and up to two years of maintenance
• trees and any large tree-form shrubs (mature height 3 m)

Ineligible costs

• costs not related to tree planting and tree maintenance, such as sod or grass seed, soil for landscaping and fill, levelling, berm and path construction, rocks, flowers, site furniture and site facilities
• transplanting cultivated or wild trees from private land, roadsides, and Crown land
• projects that primarily benefit private organizations or individual landowners
• costs of developing project plans or proposals and retroactive costs previously incurred by proponents
• core funding for an applicant’s organization, wages and general administrative costs
• website costs or capital equipment expenses
• cost of educational material

Responsibilities

The Manitoba Hydro fiscal year runs from April 1 until March 31. Project funding must be spent within the fiscal year. All invoices related to the Forest Enhancement Program must be submitted by February 1 of the fiscal year. We will not accept invoices from those who carry-over unspent funds into subsequent years.

You are expected to:

• enter into an agreement with Manitoba Hydro that sets out the scope of the work, the schedule of activities, amount of funding, and the manner in which funds will be released
• ensure that project implementation meets with the funding agreement
• obtain any required approvals from governments and landowners prior to implementing the project
• obtain competitive bids on supplies, materials, equipment and contracted services to ensure cost effectiveness
• recognize Manitoba Hydro on any permanent signage* about the project, and allow Manitoba Hydro to participate in any public announcement of the project
• allow our personnel access to the project area to observe or inspect the project
• maintain records on costs, expenditures and accomplishments, and allow us access to the records for inspection and audit, where required
• submit a report describing project status and provide a detailed accounting of expenditures upon project completion. Funding will only be provided after the project is complete and the final report has been satisfactorily completed

* We provide an all-weathered standard project sign 76 x 101 cm, to all tree and education planting project proponents for installation. We will not pay for additional permanent signage that proponents purchase and install separately.

Contact us

For more information on the Forest Enhancement Program or application completion, email us or call 204‑360‑3365 (voicemail only).

Related articles

• Our community
• August 7, 2026

A “treemendous planting day” at Mulvey School