United States

Fallen trees, tangled debris, moss-covered logs — forest restoration crews deal with a lot more than just planting

Clearing downed timber opens up the forest floor, improves access for planting crews, and reduces fuel load that could feed future wildfires. It's unglamorous work, but it's a…

Clearing downed timber opens up the forest floor, improves access for planting crews, and reduces fuel load that could feed future wildfires. It's unglamorous work, but it's a core part of keeping these forests functional.

Planting is only part of what keeps a national forest healthy

Vegetation management — clearing invasive understory, cutting back overgrowth along trails and planting sites — is ongoing work that happens season after season. Left unchecked, dense shrub cover…

Vegetation management — clearing invasive understory, cutting back overgrowth along trails and planting sites — is ongoing work that happens season after season. Left unchecked, dense shrub cover can outcompete young tree seedlings before they ever get established.

Planting in post-fire terrain is hard, physical work

The ground is compacted, the landscape is stripped bare, and the sun sets before the day ever feels finished. Each hole dug by hand is a small act…

The ground is compacted, the landscape is stripped bare, and the sun sets before the day ever feels finished.Each hole dug by hand is a small act of restoration in areas where wildfires have left little behind. California's forests have taken some of the hardest hits in recent years — this is part of how they come back.

Among the charred logs and ash left behind by wildfire, something is pushing through

This young conifer has taken hold in ground that, not long ago, was burning. Post-fire landscapes can look barren for years, but underneath the surface the soil still…

This young conifer has taken hold in ground that, not long ago, was burning. Post-fire landscapes can look barren for years, but underneath the surface the soil still holds life — and with the right conditions, trees find their way back.

The next generation of conservationists isn't waiting around

They're already out here — learning the land, building skills, and understanding that protecting forests is as much about relationships and responsibility as it is about planting trees.

This seedling will outlive everyone involved in planting it

That's not a small thing. Reforesting national lands means thinking in decades, not quarters — and trusting that the work done today will matter long after it's forgotten.

The best thing you can do in a forest is slow down

Responsible ecotourism isn't about ticking off trails — it's about being present in a place, understanding what it took to grow, and leaving it exactly as you found…

Responsible ecotourism isn't about ticking off trails — it's about being present in a place, understanding what it took to grow, and leaving it exactly as you found it.Forests thrive when the people who visit them care enough to protect them.

Forests don't just store carbon

They store life. Every tree planted in California's Sierra Nevada is a piece of habitat rebuilt — for bears, birds, pollinators, and thousands of species we rarely see…

They store life. Every tree planted in California's Sierra Nevada is a piece of habitat rebuilt — for bears, birds, pollinators, and thousands of species we rarely see but can't afford to lose. When the forest comes back, so does everything that depends on it.

Reforestation isn't just planting trees

On Oregon's National Forest, it means collecting cones, growing seedlings, planting on steep burned slopes, and coming back to monitor every step. It's a full cycle of work…

On Oregon's National Forest, it means collecting cones, growing seedlings, planting on steep burned slopes, and coming back to monitor every step. It's a full cycle of work — and the forests that depend on it can't wait.

Restoration work doesn't make headlines, but it happens every day — boots on the ground, shovel in hand, as the sun goes down

Across California's forests, the U.S. Forest Service works to put back what was lost, guided by science to ensure every tree planted has the best chance to take root and thrive. 🌲

Restoration doesn't always start at ground level

In California's redwood forests, scientists are climbing into the canopy to replant fern mats — miniature ecosystems that store water, shelter wildlife, and keep these ancient forests alive….

In California's redwood forests, scientists are climbing into the canopy to replant fern mats — miniature ecosystems that store water, shelter wildlife, and keep these ancient forests alive.A single mat can hold thousands of gallons, released slowly through the driest months.

Seed collection is a narrow but critical window in forest restoration

Most conifers drop their cones in late summer, leaving only weeks to gather viable seeds. After 12–18 months in nurseries, they’re ready to plant.

Forests that are visited become noticed

Familiarity often leads to care, and care helps preserve what keeps these places healthy over time.

Trees don’t escape winter — they adapt to it

Bark insulates living tissue, needles reduce water loss, and deciduous trees drop their leaves to conserve energy. As temperatures fall, trees also change at a cellular level, slowly…

Bark insulates living tissue, needles reduce water loss, and deciduous trees drop their leaves to conserve energy. As temperatures fall, trees also change at a cellular level, slowly increasing their cold tolerance to survive freezing conditions.In extreme cold, these systems can be pushed to their limits. When sap freezes too quickly, the pressure can crack — or even split — a tree.Winter forests may look still, but they’re shaped by constant, quiet survival.

In the United States, the Forest Service helps reduce wildfire risk through land restoration

By thinning overgrown areas, restoring native vegetation, and maintaining forest structure, these efforts aim to lower fire intensity rather than eliminate fire altogether.

After a fire, regeneration in California’s forests can begin almost immediately

Low-intensity, natural fires can open cones, clear competition, and return nutrients to the soil, creating conditions where new growth can take hold. This is different from large, destructive…

Low-intensity, natural fires can open cones, clear competition, and return nutrients to the soil, creating conditions where new growth can take hold. This is different from large, destructive wildfires, which can overwhelm these natural recovery processes.

Forest management starts long before trees reach the ground

Our nurseries are spaces where people can learn how species selection, growing conditions, and timing all shape healthier forests in the long term.

Forests quietly manage water every day

By slowing runoff, holding soil in place, and allowing water to filter naturally, healthy forests help keep water systems stable — even when conditions change.

Keeping California’s National Forests safe from wildfires isn’t only the job of forest crews

Visitors help protect these landscapes every time they respect closures, manage campfires properly, and leave no trace behind.

In California, the objective for the year ahead is prevention

Reducing wildfire risk means active forest management, fuel reduction, and continuous monitoring — work our local teams carry out year-round to keep forests healthier and more resilient.

Forests in winter may seem silent, but this season is part of their natural cycle

The cold slows growth, protects tree roots, and gives the landscape time to reset before warmer weather returns.

Our national forests invite everyone in, pets included

While we encourage people to experience these beautiful places, we also emphasize the need to tread lightly. Protecting the land today ensures that the forest and its wildlife…

While we encourage people to experience these beautiful places, we also emphasize the need to tread lightly. Protecting the land today ensures that the forest and its wildlife can thrive long into the future.

In California’s forests, rivers do more than run through the trees—they help define the ecosystem

They keep redwood groves cool, support wildlife from salmon to elk, and provide the moisture that makes these forests so unique.

After wildfires, California’s forests begin a slow but powerful recovery

Some trees sprout again from their roots, while others rely on new seedlings to take their place. Planting supports that natural regeneration.