Yellowknife — July 21, 2026
The 2025 Northwest Territories Forest Health Report is now available. It highlights continued pressure on forests from prolonged drought, insect activity, and changing environmental conditions.
The report summarizes findings from aerial and ground surveys conducted across 6.2 million hectares between June and August 2025. Results show that drought conditions, persisting since 2022, continue to influence forest health across much of the territory, particularly in the Dehcho, South Slave, and North Slave regions.
In total, 811,000 hectares of forest health issues were mapped in 2025, an increase from 2024. The most significant impacts were related to defoliation, forest stress, and tree mortality.
The report also notes that while many insects and diseases are naturally occurring and play an important role in forest ecosystems, their impacts can be amplified when forests are stressed by drought or flooding.
Encouragingly, some areas showed signs of recovery in 2025, with strong tree and shrub growth observed where precipitation levels were closer to normal.
The GNWT will continue to monitor forest conditions through annual surveys, targeted ground assessments, and the use of satellite imagery to improve data accuracy and track long-term trends.
Quick facts/Key Findings
- Defoliation remains the most widespread issue, affecting approximately 585,000 hectares, driven largely by eastern spruce budworm and aspen serpentine leaf miner.
- Drought-related stress and mortality were observed on over 123,000 hectares, with visible impacts including crown dieback, discoloured foliage, and tree death.
- Flooding and high-water tables contributed to over 60,000 hectares of forest mortality, particularly along the Slave River and in the Mackenzie Delta.
Related links
For media requests, please contact:
ECC Communications
Environment and Climate Change
Government of the Northwest Territories