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Arbor Day Foundation to Help Reforest Plumas National Forest

date 01/15/09

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Nebraska City, Neb. (Jan. 15, 2009) – Starting this month, trees given through the Arbor Day Foundation's Trees in Celebration and Trees in Memory program will be planted in the Plumas National Forest in California.

The Foundation plans to help the U.S. Forest Service plant trees on 5,500 acres in Plumas National Forest. Areas within the Plumas are in need of nearly 800,000 trees as a result of devastating wild fires in 2007 and 2008.

Several thousand acres burned with such severity in the Plumas that those areas are now considered to be in a deforested condition. In order to prevent vast tracks of land from turning into scrub fields, several areas need to be planted immediately since few live trees survived to provide a natural seed source.

The Arbor Day Foundation will help reintroduce native species of trees to the Antelope Complex in Plumas, including Ponderosa pines, sugar pines, Douglasfir and white fir.

"This is a unique opportunity where people from all walks of life can come together and restore vital areas within one of our national treasures," said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "The need is great, and the Arbor Day Foundation is pleased to work with the U.S. Forest Service to help bring life back to a large area of the Plumas that was destroyed by recent wildfires."

Trees planted in the Plumas will help prevent soot and soil runoff into the forest's water supply. They will also provide habitat for countless species of wildlife.

Plumas was first designated a forest reserve by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905.

Individuals, groups and organizations can help plant much needed trees in Plumas with the help of the Arbor Day Foundation. Through the Foundation's Trees in Celebration program, trees can be planted in honor of milestones and special occasions. People can also honor loved ones through the Trees in Memory program. Information is available at arborday.org.

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About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org.