"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
5 Aug 2023
Leslie Dart, a young woman from Canada's Saskatchewan Province, has planted an astounding 372,290 trees over the past three summers, inspiring many others to follow in her footsteps. Despite not having a career in forestry, Leslie took on tree-planting as a summer job for university students. This kind of tree-planting is mandated by certain provincial laws to be done in conjunction with logging. Paid volunteers like Leslie are responsible for replanting every tree that's logged for Canada's timber industry.
Leslie's work involves using a spade to dig into the ground, levering out the dirt, dropping in a seedling, tamping it down with her boot, and moving on to the next one. She sometimes works for up to 15 hours a day, in diverse locations like desolate areas scarred by wildfires, humid logged forests filled with overgrowth, and swarming with mosquitoes. Despite the challenging conditions, Leslie finds the work deeply rewarding and has come back year after year to volunteer.
Leslie's dedication to reforestation has garnered her well-deserved attention on social media, where she has posted videos of herself planting trees. One such video on TikTok went viral, garnering over 8.7 million views. Leslie's inspiring work has also been praised by veteran planters like Kenny Chaplin, who believes that every Canadian parent should send their child out tree-planting to learn responsibility, work ethic, and earn some money.
Leslie's amazing contribution to reforestation in Canada is a testament to the power of individual action in addressing environmental challenges. It's a reminder that each one of us can make a positive impact on the environment, no matter how small.