American Forests Unveils 50 New U.S. and Global Environmental Projects

American Forests
Wednesday, 14 February 2001

Historic nonprofit seeks public support to reach millennium goal

The planting of tens of thousands of trees in Louisiana's Natchitoches Parrish kicks-off American Forests' (americanforests.org) tree-planting projects for the year 2001. In the coming weeks, some 200,000 black oak, nutall oak, and green ash will help reforest an abandoned plantation, owned by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, that has become overgrown with undesirable species. The planting will enhance wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and slow soil erosion for years to come. Turkey, songbirds, fox squirrel, coyote, and swamp rabbit are among the species that will benefit. Once the initial components of the conservation plan are complete, the site will be used on a limited basis for outdoor classroom activities and for outdoor recreation for handicapped citizens.

This Louisiana project is one of 50 domestic and international environmental restoration projects in 26 states and 4 countries to be planted this year through the Global ReLeaf program of the 125 year-old conservation organization, American Forests, as it reaches the final stages of its campaign to plant 20 million trees for the new millennium.

"Four million locally grown, native trees will be planted in projects designed to help endangered species, prevent polluted runoff into rivers and streams, and restore sites severely damaged by wildfire," said Deborah Gangloff, executive director of American Forests. "Although we have committed to these projects, we have not yet completed our fundraising for them. We are counting on strong support this spring from individuals and corporations to sponsor the trees we plant in these worthy projects," continued Gangloff. Descriptions of all 50 projects, and how to plant trees online, is found on the organization's web site at www.americanforests.org.

Other Global ReLeaf projects this year will improve forest habitat for native plants and animals including black bears in Virginia, bald eagles in Arkansas, salmon in Washington State, and Siberian tigers in the Russian Far East.

In Florida, where the spring wildfire season threatens to be the worst in 20 years due in part to the significant decline of fire-adapted forest species such as longleaf pine, some 300,000 longleaf pine will be planted at Tiger Bay and Lake George state forests. Ironically, the massive wildfires in 1998 burned out more than half of the slash pine forests in these areas. Since then, American Forests and its partners, including the Florida Department of Forestry and the St. Johns River Water Management District have planted nearly 4,000 acres with longleaf pine and wiregrass, but at least two more years of planting are needed before most of the burned uplands are reforested. These two projects are part of a larger effort by American Forests to help restore longleaf pine forests to areas in the Southeast where they were once abundant. American Forests will announce additional wildfire projects in March.

International Global ReLeaf projects this year include the planting of 200,000 native Korean pines in the Russian Far East to increase forest habitat and prey for the endangered Siberian tiger in cooperation with Russian scientists and local communities. To help Americans understand the critical importance of trees for the survival of one of the world's most majestic and noble species, and to make it easy for people to plant trees online for Siberian tigers, American Forests launches the Trees For Tigers online campaign and the treesfortigers.org web site later this month. As with all of the Global ReLeaf campaign projects, every dollar plants a tree.

In the Balkans, tens of thousands of trees will be planted in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, to restore the severely damaged urban environment of the host-city for the 1984 Winter Olympic Games. Sarajevo experienced significant tree loss during the siege of the early 1990s when residents were forced to use the city's trees for cooking and heating. In cooperation with the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for the 2002 Winter Games, American Forests is campaigning for support from individuals and corporate sponsors to replant 300,000 trees to prevent the collapse of hillsides that threaten to inflict $100 million in damage to city infrastructure. Debbie Armstrong, 1984 Olympic Gold Medal winner, is spokesperson for the Sarajevo campaign.

Through partnerships with organizations and agencies, Global ReLeaf forest projects plant native tree species on public and private lands that have been damaged by natural forces or human activities. The Global ReLeaf network extends through every state in America, as well as 21 countries worldwide. Global ReLeaf 2000 was launched in 1996 to plant 20 million trees for the new millennium. To date, more than 16 million trees have been planted in more than 500 projects. Officials at American Forests expect to plant the 20 millionth tree by the end of 2001.

Individuals are encouraged to plant trees around their homes and businesses; join community groups to shade, cool, and beautify their neighborhoods; and plant trees online at www.americanforests.org or through the Global ReLeaf Tree-Planting Hotline (800/545-TREE). A contribution of $25 plants 25 trees, includes membership in the organization and a subscription to the quarterly magazine American Forests.

Businesses and foundations are also important supporters of Global ReLeaf tree-planting projects in the United States and abroad. One example is the Add-a-dollar, Plant-a-tree program of specialty retailer Eddie Bauer, which has grown into the largest retail-based environmental promotion in North America. Eddie Bauer customers are invited to add a dollar to their retail, catalogue, and online purchases to plant a tree. The company adds additional funds to the program that, to date, has planted more than 4 million trees in 92 American Forests' Global ReLeaf projects in 25 states and 4 Canadian Provinces.

For more information, or to contact American Forests, see their website at: www.americanforests.org