About Us

Zanzibar is an industry leader in British Columbia silviculture

Who We Are

Zanzibar is a company of 250 people who plant trees and tend forests in British Columbia. We are industry leaders in tree planting and have been involved in most aspects of silviculture since our inception.

Our company philosophy has always been one of fairness and honesty. We have directed these principles toward the clients we work for and the employees we work with. Our company has never taken on more work than we are certain we can manage, which has allowed us to stay small enough to offer personal service, yet large enough to maintain flexibility.

Zanzibar was founded on planting trees but has since diversified into many aspects of silviculture. By broadening our skill base we have been able to offer more value to our clients through the efficiencies of integrating related activities. We specialize in creative, cost-effective solutions that are practical for the field.

We take great pride in the results of its work. Our goal is to develop long-term relationships with our clients and our employees. Quality is achieved by building a rapport with our clients to achieve their desired results. We are committed to excellence. Our clients recognize this and we have been able to build many stable relationships with major companies.

Our Approach

Zanzibar annually employs hundreds of tree planters for spring, summer, and fall contracts spanning from the Coast, Interior, to Northern BC.

The people we work with is a testament to our success. Our team is made up of dedicated staff that prioritize a positive and collaborative work environment.

We pride ourselves on our high seasonal worker return rate. This loyalty reflects the satisfaction our crews experience working with us.

Zanzibar is committed to finding a balance between safety, quality, fair wages, all while maintaining a professional work environment. Safety is at the forefront of all our operations.

When you choose Zanzibar, you're not just joining a team; you're becoming a part of an environment that values your contributions, prioritizes your well-being, and offers opportunities for personal and professional growth.

We believe in recognizing the direct impact of your efforts, and that's why our professional tree planters are compensated on a per-tree basis. This payment structure ensures that you are fairly rewarded for your hard work.

Our management takes pride in maximizing your daily potential through efficient logistical and operational planning to make every workday a success. The management team operates on a day rate system, promoting a fair and effective working environment for all planters.

We use a pricing matrix when bidding on contracts, considering factors such as access, soil quality, terrain, planter mobility, elevation, BEC zone, harvesting system, species mix, and plug size. This comprehensive approach allows us to adjust prices fairly, taking into account the intricacies of each project.

Tree prices vary based on contract and operating area, ranging from a minimum of $0.19 to $0.32 per tree, determined by the difficulty rating of planting.

Our payroll is processed bi-weekly, providing a detailed pay stub that includes information on planted trees, vacation and holiday pay, rates, and taxes. Payments are facilitated through direct deposit, and our project's Operation Manager is readily available to address any questions or concerns.

The Zanzibar planting season starts in early March with coastal contracts on Vancouver Island.

By the third week of March mainland coastal type planting starts in Boston Bar, Pemberton, Squamish.

The interior season typically begins by mid-April and the season ends in late June or early July.

Weather is the determining factor on when contracts are able to begin. Be in contact with your regional Operations Manager for more details.

As a planter you are assigned to a contract that has one Project Lead and multiple supervisors and forepersons. Zanzibar does not restrict workers to specific crews on a contract, which gives planters the flexibility to work with different forepersons on a day to day basis.

We run a 3 days on and 1 day off shift schedule for 4 shifts in a row, on the 4th shift the crew will take 2 days off to rest and recharge. This will initiate the start of another 4 shifts, followed by 2 days off. Crews roll out to the block at 7:00am and trucks leave the block at 5:00pm. Average driving times will differ depending on the contract but will range from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. A typical day portal to portal is 11 hours.

Success Garanteed

At the root of Zanzibar is a slogan that has been used since 1981 “ our business is about trees, but our success is about people”. While Zanzibar has grown over the past 5 years to keep up with industry growth, are committed to the collective success of the people we work with.