The Arbor Day Foundation Partners with Clayton® to Plant Over 2 Million Trees in 2022

LINCOLN, Nebraska (April 5, 2022) – The Arbor Day Foundation is partnering with  Clayton to plant 2.33 million native trees in forests around the US in 2022. The partnership will focus on addressing large-scale environmental issues like ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, improving water and air quality, and helping to combat the climate crisis.

“This partnership with Clayton gives us an opportunity to make huge strides in some of our forests that are in critical need of trees.” says Dan Lambe, Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “These ecosystems and the biodiversity they support are at risk, and Clayton has stepped up to provide meaningful impact through action. Their dedicated support for these projects is inspiring.”

Trees are a vital component of the planet’s wellbeing, helping ecosystems flourish and strengthening a region’s overall health. For every tree that Clayton used to build a home in 2021, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant two native trees in four regions of need, most of which are located on public lands.* Planting projects will take place to help restore and revitalize critical ecosystems and habitats in Georgia, Pacific Northwest Watersheds, Michigan State lands, and at Tyndall Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle.

“This initiative is part of Clayton’s core values to ‘do good’ in our communities and ‘drive change’ within the housing industry,” said Kevin Clayton, Clayton CEO. “Trees play a vital role in our ecosystem. Planting these native trees with the Arbor Day Foundation will help rejuvenate forest ecosystems to support the communities we serve.”

For the past 50 years, the Arbor Day Foundation has worked to plant nearly 500 million trees around the world. Through a vast network of partnerships, the Foundation facilitates projects that empower organizations of all sizes to reach their environmental and sustainability goals via measurable, impactful work.

“Clayton and the Arbor Day Foundation are aligned in our commitment to improve lives and build a better tomorrow, and we are excited about the long-term impact of planting more than 2 million native trees in forests around the country,” said William Jenkins, Clayton Home Building Group® Director of Environment and Sustainability. “It is our responsibility as a builder to expand the impact of our sustainability efforts beyond our construction practices and the homes we build.”

Planting projects include:

- Georgia: Longleaf pine, once the dominant tree species in the South, has now dwindled to cover only small patches of land. That loss of ecosystem has devastated the nearly 600 animal and plant species that depend on it. These trees will be planted in that region, reducing forest fragmentation and protecting endangered wildlife.

- Pacific Northwest: The watersheds of the Pacific Northwest are a potent source of life. Over time, deforestation, flood control measures and irrigation have degraded these important rivers – and record-level heat waves and wildfires have worsened the crisis significantly. Planting trees along the Lower Columbia, Willamette, Upper Willamette, Upper Willamette, North Santiam, South Santiam, McKenzie, and Spokane rivers helps restore these vital watersheds.

- Michigan State Lands: This project will replant native Jack pines and red pines to return the area to its natural state. And as the forests mature, they will provide a wide variety of ecosystem services. But most importantly, these trees mean forests across Michigan will see improved habitat for a wide variety of wildlife.

- Tyndall Air Force Base: In 2018, Category 5 hurricane Michael caused major wind and surge damage – including 12,000 acres of mature trees that were snapped in half. A healthy longleaf pine ecosystem will improve habitat for two federally listed plant species as well as wildlife species.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters and valued partners. Over the past 50 years, almost 500 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.  

As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners, and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

About Clayton

Founded in 1956, Clayton is committed to opening doors to a better life and building happyness® through homeownership. As a diverse builder committed to quality and durability, Clayton offers traditional site-built homes and off-site built housing – including modular homes, manufactured homes, CrossMod™ homes, tiny homes, college dormitories, military barracks and apartments. All Clayton Built® homes are proudly designed, engineered and assembled in America. In 2021, Clayton built 60,701 homes across the country. Clayton is a Berkshire Hathaway company. For more information, visit claytonhomes.com.

*CrossMod is a trademark of the Manufactured Housing Institute

*Based on two trees planted by the Arbor Day Foundation for every estimated tree used in Clayton’s home building process in the previous year, assuming estimated board feet used at 754 board feet per tree and average footage of Clayton’s homes built by type. Arbor Day Foundation is a registered service mark of Arbor Day Foundation Corporation.

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