If I understood correctly, at this point you are only at the consultation stage.
Before I conclude, I would like to say that there is a research chair at a university in my riding, and I put them in touch with the department over two years ago, but they never heard back from your department. I'm referring to the Carbone boréal chair. It is comprised of experts in the use of trees to reduce our carbon footprint.
As I see it, it's not normal that your department has never spoken with people who have the relevant expertise.