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Arbor Day Foundation Plants 60 Millionth Forest Tree06-28-16 | Association News

Arbor Day Foundation Plants 60 Millionth Forest Tree
Replanting Our Forests Program Started in 1990

Pictured left to right, Acting Associate Chief of U.S. Forest Service Dan Jiron, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and Arbor Day Foundation Chief Executive Matt Harris sign a memorandum of commitment to plant at least another 60 million trees as part of the Arbor Day Foundation's Replanting Our Forests program.
*Photo Courtesy of Arbor Day Foundation*

The Arbor Day Foundation started the Replanting our Forests program in 1990 to revitalize forests impacted by natural causes, including fires, insects, disease and weather.

On June 21, a ceremony was held commemorating the 60 millionth tree planted through this initiative. A representative of the U.S. Forest Service, the chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, and the U.S. Agriculture Secretary signed a memorandum committing to the planting of the next 60 million trees.

"Achieving this landmark wouldn't be possible without the ongoing support of numerous public and private partnerships," said Dan Lambe of the Arbor Day Foundation. "We are revitalizing forests across the country devastated by wildfires, infestation and disease. We look forward to planting another 60 million trees in the years to come."

"The 60 million tree milestone celebrated today demonstrates how public-private partnerships can achieve meaningful results that leave our lands and communities healthier and more resilient to climate change," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "We will keep working with the Arbor Day Foundation and other partners to restore our National Forests and to support planting trees in rural and urban communities around the country."

The U.S. Forest Service estimates that there are one million acres of forestland that need replanting. Since 2010, in California alone, an estimated 66 million trees have died due to drought and insects. Twenty-six million of these, across an estimated 760,000 acres, have died since October 2015.

More than 83 national forests across the United States and in Puerto Rico have benefitted from the replanting efforts that started in 1990.

It is worth noting that while the Replanting our Forests program has just passed the 60 million tree milestone, the Foundation as a whole has facilitated the planting of more than 250 million trees. To learn more about the Arbor Day Foundation, the Replanting our Forests program and their many other initiatives, visit arborday.org.

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