Step By Step, A Tree Planter's Handbook (2026 Edition)
A Comprehensive Training Guide and Reference Manual for Canadian Reforestation Workers
Replant.ca

Overview Chapters:

These first eleven chapters are the most useful for someone who has not gone tree planting before, who would like a "big picture" overview of what you'd be getting yourself into if you start working as a tree planter. The eleven links below open individual chapter PDF's (or you can download the PDF of the entire book from the links just below the cover photo near the bottom of this page).

01 - Introduction
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02 - Why Plant Trees?
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03 - Life in a Planting Camp
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04 - Camping Gear
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05 - Planting Equipment
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06 - Regulations
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07 - Staying Healthy
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08 - Safety
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09 - Behaviour & Etiquette
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10 - Finding a Job (and a list of companies in BC)
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11 - Tree Planting Companies in Other Provinces
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Learning to Plant:

These next twelve chapters don't need to be studied before you start planting. They'll make the most sense if you wait until your first few weeks on the job to read them, as you're learning to plant (or read them a few days immediately prior to starting your new job).

12 - Planting a Seedling
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13 - Basic Silviculture
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14 - Quality Expectations
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15 - Density and Spacing
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16 - Stockhandling
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17 - Common Conifer Species
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18 - Planting Prescriptions
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19 - Types of Site Preparation
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20 - Maps
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21 - Additional Techniques
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22 - Productivity
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23 - Nature & the Work Environment
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Additional Knowledge:

These final seven chapters won't help you learn to plant, but they offer additional knowledge about important aspects of our industry.

24 - Additional Non-Planting Roles
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25 - Vehicles
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26 - Working with Helicopters
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27 - Logging & Harvesting
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28 - Coastal Planting
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29 - Other Silvicultural Work
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30 - Wrap Up, Next Steps
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Appendices:

These seven appendices contain the planting dictionary, a list of acronyms, and additional information about nature & trees.

Appendix 1 - Planting Dictionary
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Appendix 2 - Acronyms & Abbreviations
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Appendix 3 - Plants
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Appendix 4 - Animals
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Appendix 5 - Birds
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Appendix 6 - Insects
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Appendix 7 - Tree Diseases
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Cover Photo

Step By Step: A Tree Planter's Handbook - full cover

Download the PDF of the full book (free to share):

Compressed Size (20 MB): www.replant.ca/books/Step_By_Step_Tree_Planter's_Handbook_2026_compressed.pdf

Higher Resolution (152 MB): www.replant.ca/books/Step_By_Step_Tree_Planter's_Handbook_2026.pdf

The compressed PDF link above should be small enough to share as an email attachment. For additional formats, or if you have problems with the links above, visit www.replant.ca/dropbox then go into the "Canadian Reforestation" sub-folder, then into the "Step By Step" sub-folder. This folder on Dropbox includes MOBI and EPUB versions, etc.

Also, here's a link to the book (free) on Google Books: play.google.com/store/books/details?id=msO9EQAAQBAJ

Links to purchase Print copies on Amazon:

Greyscale Interior: www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GLGLXRFV

Full Colour Interior: www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GLGZNWVB