Thanks to our many tree-planting supporters, we planted an incredible 5 million trees across 18,000 acres of National Forests in 2019. That is nearly double the 2.6 million trees we planted in 2018!
The trees we plant will help ensure that National Forests continue to offer a home to wildlife, help combat climate change, and provide clean water to millions across the country. The trees we planted will also ensure that future generations have the same opportunity to connect with forests as we do today.
See where we planted and learn more about our projects in our 2019 impact report, now available.
What do 5 million trees mean for National Forests?
18,000 Acres Reforested
We reforested approximately 13,600-football fields worth of National Forest land. We think that is as good as winning at least five super bowls!
44 Species Planted
From American Chestnut to western larch and various kinds of pines, we planted the right species in the right locations. Not only will these trees offer rich wildlife habitat, they will also provide a seed source to help make our forests more resilient to future disturbances.
Scott Swanson
35 Projects on 33 National Forests in 18 States
Each of our projects is carefully planned and executed by the U.S. Forest Service. We only plant where there is an established need; and since we plant across our National Forests, our projects vary from region to region.
2.6 Million Tons of CO2 Absorbed Over 100 Years
Reforestation is an important tool to mitigate the effects of climate change. As our trees grow, they can sequester the CO2 equivalent to the emissions released from approximately 500,000 cars in one year.
Dawn Anderson
7.1 Billion Gallons of Rainwater Caught
Trees restore and replenish watersheds across the country. Once mature, our trees can catch enough water to fill approximately 470,000 swimming pools each year.
Behind these numbers are the reforestation stories that are harder to quantify: enhancing habitat for threatened species like grizzly bears in the Northern Rockies, supporting biodiversity in the Southeast through longleaf pine expansion, restoring wildfire affected forests in California, and improving wind and disease-damaged forests in the Great Lakes region. Our projects are making a real difference for forests, as well as the people and wildlife that depend on them for clean water, fresh air, and so much more.
