Beginning this spring the federal government will kick off its initiative to plant two billion trees across the country within 10 years.

Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan made the announcement today. He says the project will cost $3.16 billion and 4,300 jobs will be created in the process.

A National advisory board that includes environmental experts and Indigenous groups will be formed early next year and will lead them in the decision making.

Minister O’Regan says although the planting comes with a 10-year time frame, it will be permanent and the planting won’t stop after this decade.

He says the trees being planted would be enough to cover the province of PEI twice over.