Khowutzun Freegro Tree Shelters Play Key Role in Mosaic’s Reforestation Program

Every year, Mosaic Forest Management plants more than 10 million trees on BC’s Coast. There are many threats to the survival of seedlings in their first years of life – from competition for other vegetation to sub-optimal weather conditions – but in many areas, the number one threat to seedlings is deer browsing. This is particularly true for cedar, which our healthy deer population finds particularly delicious!

Khowutzun Freegro Tree Shelters are handmade by Cowichan Tribes family members and play an important role in re-establishing healthy forests on our managed lands. Freegro’s fine-mesh cylindrical fabric shelters help protect susceptible and succulent seedlings from animal browse. Workers are learning to install these shelters in the Cowichan Valley and find the removal particularly fast in comparison to other tree protectors on the market. The shelters have the added benefit of creating optimal micro-climate conditions, providing a greenhouse effect that accelerates early growth.

Handmade Khowutzun Freegro Tree Shelters

Khowutzun Development Corp., partnered with John Kendall, Founder, and Director of Freegro Enterprises, to manufacture Freegro Tree Shelters in their Khowutzun Development Corporation building in Duncan. Khowutzun Forestry Service (KFS) employees will be installing the shelters during planting season this year in priority stands as part of our reforestation program.

Staff outside the Khowutzun Development Corporation building

Khowutzen’s Freegro shelters are a sustainability innovation that creates real on-the-ground stewardship benefits to Mosaic – we are proud to partner with Cowichan Tribes and KFS in our reforestation program and other business projects.