BRINGING SONGBIRDS BACK TO HAWAII, ONE FOREST AT A TIME
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W I N T E R /S P R I N G 2 0 2 1 BRINGING SONGBIRDS BACK TO HAWAII, ONE FOREST AT A TIME HOW RESTORING THE FORESTS OF MAUNA KEA IS ESSENTIAL TO THE CONTINUED SURVIVAL OF HAWAIIAN SONGBIRDS
BE A GIANT JOIN THE SEQUOIA CIRCLE Your annual leadership gift of $1,000 or more makes you a giant for American Forests. Forests rely on keystone tree species — such as the giant sequoia — to stay healthy and resilient. In the same way, American Forests relies on our keystone supporters — Sequoia Circle members — to advance our mission with leadership-level gifts. Become a Sequoia Circle member today at americanforests.org/sequoiacircle Questions? Contact Emily Russell, director of major gifts, at erussell@americanforests.org or 202-370-4522.
VO L. 1 27, N O. 1
CONTENTS WIN T ER/SP RIN G 2 02 1
Departments
2 Offshoots
A word from our President & CEO
4 Treelines
INNOVATION: How City Forest Credits
offers an innovative way to bring carbon
markets to cities.
PLACE-BASED PARTNERSHIPS: American
Forests partners with Microsoft and Phoenix to
plant and help trees thrive in a desert climate. 24
MOVEMENT BUILDING: Boise, Idaho is making
an outsized commitment to reforestation.
PROFILES: Learn about Tribute Store’s long-
lasting, environmentally friendly way to honor
loved ones and how one high school sophomore
became an environmental ambassador.
COVER PHOTO: LEAH MESSER/USFWS
ACTION CENTER: Tips for taking beautiful
photos in forests.
WASHINGTON OUTLOOK: Learn about
American Forests’ new recommendations for
how the federal government can help create
Tree Equity. 36
HISTORY: A look at the history of the
Features
American ReLeaf program, in celebration of
its 30th anniversary.
THE UNDERSTORY: What are urban 18
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE; AMANDA RICH; VAGABOND54/SHUTTERSTOCK
heat islands?
MOTIVATIONAL MUSINGS: Inspiring words
from those fighting for our forests.
18
FOREST FOOTNOTES: Exciting
Seeing the city for the trees
developments, outside of American Forests,
By Morgan Heim
in the field of forestry. The importance of engaging youth in urban forestry.
22 Earthkeepers
A BOND FORGED IN FIRE: BRITTANY
24
AND GILBERT DYER The United States of fire
How one couple’s passion for protecting and By Allison Guy
restoring forests from wildfire initially ignited How “good” fire may be able to help save forests across America from being
— and continues to fuel — their life together.
devastated by “bad” fires.
48 Last Look
A peak into the work of photographer and
poet Michelle Collison Meyer.
36
Bringing songbirds back to Hawaii,
BACK COVER FOLD-OUT
one forest at a time
Champion Tree Showcase By Katherine Gustafson
Monterey cypress Discover how restoring the forests of Mauna Kea is essential to the continued
survival of Hawaiian songbirds.
AMERICAN FORESTS WINTER/SPRING 2021 | 1
offshoots
Many of American Forests’ volunteer events
encourage youth to get involved, as shown
here at our annual Rio Reforestation event in
the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
dream of, and they are showing social
skills and an inclusive spirit that puts to
shame the coarse public discourse that
has too often overtaken our politics.
I am sharing this because American
Forests is putting youth right up front in
our work. In our earlier years, we were
focused on educating and activating
youth. But that had slipped away entirely
by the time I joined the organization
three years ago. While it has forced us to
restore some lost skills and relationships,
we have committed to creating a strong
place for youth partners in our programs.
One embodiment of this commitment
can be seen in the U.S. Chapter of 1t.org,
which we lead with the World Economic
Forum. We secured the Girl Scouts of the
Young leaders stand tall USA and Jane Goodall Institute’s youth
organization, Roots and Shoots, to serve
for forests and climate as inaugural members of the chapter’s
stakeholder council. They are helping
us marry the interest of young people
BY JAD DALEY
in trees and forests with their concerns
about slowing climate change and
protecting biodiversity.
WHEN I GRADUATED from college, that has mobilized millions of youth Our commitment is also present
I faced a choice. Go to law school and and their supporters in the streets. in our development of a Tree Equity
pursue environmental law or go into While I am impressed by their pas- movement in cities. Part of creating Tree
environmental education. I chose sion, I am even more impressed by the Equity is encouraging young people,
education because I believed skills and maturity of these particularly those in socioeconomically
then, as I do now, that the young leaders. Frequently, disadvantaged communities, to embrace
passion of young people can when I attend high-powered the power of trees as part of the larger
be the engine to overcome our meetings of climate leaders, movements they are building to advance
ABOVE LEFT: RUTH HOYT / AMERICAN FORESTS
biggest challenges, such as the most confident and environmental and social equity, includ-
climate change. eloquent voices in the room ing climate justice.
Little did I know just are young people. They have We are also helping youth explore and
how much young people worked hard to advance enter careers in urban forestry. We have
would lead! And not just the their ideals, and you can a digital Career Pathways Action Guide,
famous climate activist Greta Thun- see that they understand the craft of as well as a new initiative to increase par-
berg. Youth are leading everywhere and communication. ticipation from youth of color in urban
on all aspects of climate action, from The same is true with organizing. forestry education programs, which you
indigenous youth leading forest conser- Youth activists are leveraging social can read more about in “Seeing the city
vation to the school strike movement media in ways we older folks can only for the trees” on page 18. Likewise, in
2 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 AMERICAN FORESTS
EDITORIAL STAFF
Publisher
Jad Daley
Editorial Director
Michele Kurtz
Managing Editor
Ashlan Bonnell
Contributing Editors
rural areas, we partner with the Sierra in the federal Climate Stewardship Act. Allison Guy and Jill Schwartz
Contributing Writers
Nevada Conservancy to help early career We also played an important advisory Allison Guy, Michele Kurtz,
young people get a start in the vital workrole in California’s new establishment Shanita Rasheed and Jill Schwartz
of restoring climate-resilient forest of a Climate Corps. Art Direction and Design
Brad Latham
landscapes in California. The bottom line is this: Youth are
American Forests’ mission is to restore
All of these activities connect not waiting for their turn in line to threatened forest ecosystems and
to American Forests’ proud history lead. They are stepping up right now inspire people to value and protect
urban and wildland forests.
in helping to establish the Civilian to move our country forward. We (202) 737-1944
Conservation Corps (CCC), which have the opportunity and obligation www.americanforests.org
primarily engaged younger people. to empower this youth leadership AMERICAN FORESTS
through trees and forests, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
and to help channel this Richard Kabat, Chair
Kabat Company, Washington, DC
Youth are not waiting for their turn in line toward climate change and Jeff Elliott, Vice Chair and Treasurer
other challenges. I hope Iridian Asset Management, Westport, CT
to lead. They are stepping up right now that you share my excite- Bruce Lisman, Immediate Past Chair
to move our country forward. ment at the new power we
Private investor, Shelburne, VT
Jad Daley, President & CEO (ex officio)
can create for change by American Forests, Washington, DC
drinking from this fountain William H. Bohnett
President, Whitecap Investments LLC,
With emphasis on generating new of youth leadership. Jupiter Island, FL
economic activities that can help You will hear much more about this E. Zimmermann Boulos
Office Environments & Services
jump start our economy, and parallel from American Forests in the years Jacksonville, FL
RENA SCHILD / SHUTTERSTOCK
interest in stepping up investment in to come. Thanks for making stretch Jacques Cook
JCook & Associates, LLC
trees and forests, there is huge poten- moves like this possible! North Bethesda, MD
tial for federal and state government Ara Erickson
Weyerhaeuser, Seattle, WA
to re-establish CCC-like programs.
Tom Evslin
American Forests’ policy team has been Vermont PBS, Stowe, VT
helping to incubate proposals, such as a For more news and updates from Jad, William Hazelton
Chubb Group, New York City, NY
Climate Stewardship Corps provision follow him on Twitter @JadDaley
David Hunter, Ph.D.
Electric Power Research Institute
Washington, DC
Jeffrey Prieto
Los Angeles Community College District,
Los Angeles, CA
Elisa Rapaport
Rapaport Family Charitable Trust,
Rockville Centre, NY
Candace Dodson-Reed
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
(UMBC)
Ellicot City, MD
Mary Wagner
U.S. Forest Service (Retired), Ogden, UT
Youth are leading everywhere on all aspects of climate action.
treelines INFORMATION TO AMUSE, ENLIGHTEN AND INSPIRE
INNOVATION
Innovative financing brings carbon
markets to cities
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE in the store, as well as other benefits the trees For any given tree planting project,
United States talking about the need to provide to cities — such as less energy CFC calculates the carbon seques-
plant more trees in cities — especially needing to be produced at power plants, tered and dollar value of benefits trees
in socioeconomically disadvantaged fewer floods and cleaner air. Could will provide. That value is translated
neighborhoods and some neighbor- concrete numbers like these help get the into “Carbon+ Credits” that are then
hoods of color, where trees often are attention of investors? sold, often to companies and govern-
sparse — seems to increase every day. City Forest Credits (CFC), a national ments that are looking to reduce their
Limited funding and high costs to nonprofit, has proven that the answer contribution to climate change and in-
plant trees, though, can quash their is “yes” in over one dozen places, such vest in local communities. A company,
enthusiasm. It can cost up to $2,000 as Houston, Cleveland and Providence, for example, that emits greenhouse
to plant and take care of just one R.I. Thanks to support from the Doris emissions at its production facility.
tree in a city. Duke Charitable Foundation, American The CFC program is an opportunity to
What if the benefits of urban trees Forests works closely with CFC as a offset that impact by giving back to the
could be quantified, like they are in rural national partner and has been repre- community, in the form of more trees.
areas? A dollar figure could be assigned sented on its Board of Advisors since the The sellers often are local tree
to how much carbon dioxide the trees organization was created in 2015. planting organizations or govern-
issues credits,
monitors for compliance sells credits
CITY
AMERICAN FORESTS
LOCAL
FOREST BUYER
OPERATOR
CREDITS
plants or protects trees, buys credits
follows protocols
invests in trees offsets
and community carbon emissions
4 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 AMERICAN FORESTS
TreeFolks’ reforestation staff members sort saplings at a planting event along the Blanco River in Austin, Texas.
ments. The money they get from The CFC program is an opportunity for companies and governments
this transaction is put toward urban
forestry programs that plant more to offset their contribution to climate change by giving back to the
trees or take better care of the ones community, in the form of more trees.
already in the ground.
One of the first projects developed
was in Austin, Texas. A local organiza- funds allocated for carbon offsets. to employ and teach young people in
tion called TreeFolks reforested many Although the urban credits are notably Des Moines, Iowa how to plant and
sites throughout the city. One was a more expensive than a traditional rural care for trees in socioeconomically
5-acre area alongside a river. At 25 carbon credit, the city likes that it is disadvantaged neighborhoods. The
years of maturity, the trees planted able to keep its investments localized project attracted Microsoft, which
there will store around 530 tons of while addressing global climate change. chose to provide an award to support
carbon dioxide, intercept around Another option offered by CFC it in part because of the ability to
500,000 liters of rainfall per year, help is for companies to invest in local quantify and report outcomes that
improve air quality and more. The planting projects the organization has would be provided via CFC’s impact
project will generate over 500 Carbon+ certified as being good for the environ- certification process, such as com-
Credits. All proceeds from the sale of ment, human health and social equity. munity engagement in the design and
the credits will be used by TreeFolks The certification provides a new implementation of the project.
MATTHEW BRADFORD
for program administration and future framework to measure and demon- Science-based matchmaking
tree plantings in Central Texas. strate the benefits of planting projects. like this might be just what is needed
The City of Austin has already Take, for example, a $70,000 project to ensure all city neighborhoods
purchased some of the credits, using led by a nonprofit called Trees Forever are green.
AMERICAN FORESTS WINTER/SPRING 2021 | 5
treelines
PLACE-BASED PARTNERSHIPS culating Tree Equity Scores for all urban
neighborhoods in Maricopa County.
Coming together to plant trees and A Tree Equity Score uses a science-
based approach to determine the tree
help them thrive in desert cities canopy cover needed in a neighborhood
to ensure the people living in urban
areas benefit from trees.
CLIMATE CHANGE-induced extreme In cities, trees help cool down People can use the scores to
heat is a serious and growing problem neighborhoods and mitigate the health prioritize planting and conserving
for cities nationwide. For desert cities, impacts of extreme heat, making them trees, as well as allocating resources
such as Phoenix, figuring out the best way critical life and death infrastructure. The for trees in neighborhoods that lack
to plant and care for trees is critical to city of Phoenix is committed to planting them. For example, city governments
addressing this problem. And saving lives. trees to help double its vegetative land and urban foresters might use the
That’s because extreme heat puts cover to 25% over the next decade. scores to make the case for planting
many people — especially low-income American Forests is working to trees in neighborhoods where families
families, the homeless and people with help achieve that goal. One way is can’t afford to run their air condition-
respiratory illnesses — at risk of heat- co-leading the Phoenix Metro Urban ing units 169 days out of the year —
related illnesses and death. In 2019, Forestry Roundtable, a coalition of the average number of days Phoenix
187 people died from heat-related more than 40 local partners, including experiences temperatures of 90
causes in Maricopa County, Ariz., members from academia and local degrees or higher per year.
which includes the city of Phoenix, nonprofit organizations, as well as Roundtable participants also are
one of the nation’s hottest cities. city, county and state government. assessing which tree species can toler-
That’s an increase of 232% from 2006, Together, a plan for planting trees in ate the area’s high temperatures and
according to data from the Maricopa an equitable way is being created. The developing best practices for keeping
MARK SKALNY / ADOBE STOCK
County Department of Public Health. first step is identifying which neigh- trees alive in desert climates. This is
borhoods need trees the most. important because planting trees in
With the help of an award from the the desert presents a number of chal-
In 2019, 187 people died from heat-related Microsoft Datacenter Community lenges, including drought and protect-
causes in Maricopa County, Ariz., which
includes the city of Phoenix, one of the Environmental Sustainability initiative, ing trees during monsoon events. The
nation’s hottest cities. American Forests has done this by cal- purpose of American Forests’ work
6 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 AMERICAN FORESTS
The city of Phoenix is committed to planting trees to help double its vegetative land cover to 25% over the next decade.
in Phoenix is to increase not only the
number of trees but also the level of
“With our collaborative efforts, Phoenix trees can grow longer and
care they receive long term. stronger. And with Tree Equity Score, we can use our collective
“We know as trees grow, so do the knowledge to plant trees in places where people need them the most.”
health and environmental benefits
— AIMEE ESPOSITO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TREES MATTER
they provide,” says Aimee Esposito,
executive director of Trees Matter,
a member of the Phoenix Metro
Urban Forestry Roundtable. “With The comprehensive approach Tree Equity. And when trees thrive in
our collaborative efforts, Phoenix American Forests is taking with its part- Phoenix, American Forests will be able
trees can grow longer and stronger. ners in Phoenix will ensure trees thrive, to share and replicate what worked there
AMERICAN FORESTS
And with Tree Equity Score, we can especially in places that need them the with other cities nationwide that face
use our collective knowledge to plant most, reducing temperatures, improving similar challenges.
trees in places where people need air quality and advancing environmental
them the most.” and social equity. That’s called creating
AMERICAN FORESTS WINTER/SPRING 2021 | 7
The city of Boise has pledged to
plant 100,000 trees (one for every
household) and 235,000 tree seedlings
(one for every city resident) in
surrounding Idaho forests by 2030.
MOVEMENT BUILDING Idaho’s Community Forestry Program
brought together a few dozen people
to discuss the rapid development hap-
City of Boise makes admirable pening in the Treasure Valley, where
commitment to plant trees Boise is located. People in the valley
jumped into action. Over the next few
years, they compiled data about the
WITH JUST 235,000 RESIDENTS, trees by 2030. The city pledged to plant impact the region’s trees have on air
Boise, Idaho, is not the biggest city in 335,000 trees. quality, created forest management
the United States. But it has made an Other cities to make pledges then to tools to help determine where to plant
outsized commitment to reforestation. the chapter, which is led by American trees, and founded the Treasure Valley
Boise is in the first cohort of cities that Forests and the World Economic Forum, Canopy Network, which is the catalyst
made a pledge in August to the U.S. are Tucson, Ariz., Detroit and Dallas. for collaboration and investment in
Chapter of 1t.org, a global movement The momentum for this started the valley’s trees.
to conserve, restore and grow 1 trillion building more than a decade ago, when A phone call last spring to Lance Da-
visson, who leads the network, took all of
this good work to the next level. The call
was from Boise City Council President
Elaine Clegg, who had the vision to plant
100,000 trees (one for every household)
in Boise and 235,000 tree seedlings (one
for every city resident) in surrounding
Idaho forests by 2030. The City of Trees
Challenge was born a month later.
“People love trees,” Clegg says. “Trees
clean the air and water. Planting a tree
for every household is an easy idea for
our residents to embrace so they can step
up in helping combat climate change.”
Treasure Valley is well on its way to
being an even greater treasure.
THIS PAGE: CITY OF BOISE
A group of volunteers at the city’s October
Free Tree Giveaway Saturdays, including
Mayor Lauren McLean (in green) and
Council President Elaine Clegg (in white).
8 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 AMERICAN FORESTStreelines
PARTNER PROFILE
Tribute Store provides opportunity to honor loved
ones while positively impacting the environment
IN SCATTERED SWATHS of Michigan Customers can purchase a memorial purchaser of the approximate location of
woodlands, more than 264,000 jack pine tree through the Tribute Store located the tree. The trees do not have memorial
seedlings are helping bring back the on the funeral home’s website and then plaques or identifying markers because
nesting habitat of a treasured songbird. post about the gift on the loved one’s they are planted in one of our priority
But these young trees are more online obituary tribute wall. threatened forest ecosystems on public
than a promise to the Kirtland’s Every six months, FrontRunner lands that American Forests wants to
warbler. They represent thousands of selects which American Forests plant- restore to as natural a state as possible.
people whose loved ones chose to plant ing projects to support. After plantings What they do have is the potential to
trees in their memory. occur, the company notifies each offer essential benefits to both humans
The trees were funded and wildlife. And a place where a rare
by Tribute Store, a Madi- bird can keep belting out its songs for
son, Wis.-based company years to come.
that provides thousands of
funeral homes nationwide
with the online tools
Last year alone, Tribute Store supported
needed so people can the planting of 666,276 trees by
purchase gifts that express American Forests.
their condolences. One gift
option is a “memorial” tree.
Last year alone, Tribute
Store supported the
planting of 666,276 trees
by American Forests.
Planting a tree has become an
increasingly popular way to honor
someone who has died, and even more
so during COVID-19, when attending
BOTTOM RIGHT: STOCK IMAGE; TOP RIGHT: WWW.TRIBUTEARCHIVE.COM/MEMORIAL-TREES
funerals can be difficult, says Jason
Truesdell, president of FrontRunner
Professional, a partnered company
of Tribute Store. Some customers
choose trees because they prefer
a long-lasting gift that positively
impacts the environment.
Traditionally, condolence gifts
have been flowers. But over the years,
Tribute Store noticed that their cus-
tomers wanted a meaningful, longer-
lasting and environmentally friendly
option. Memorial trees made sense,
and the company chose American
Forests as its partner.
“There’s a lot in our business about
trust and reputation and longevity,”
Truesdell says. “There’s a lot of credibil-
ity behind the American Forests brand.”
AMERICAN FORESTS WINTER/SPRING 2021 | 9treelines
YOUTH PROFILE
Childhood experience in India inspires high school
student to become environmental ambassador
AS A NATIVE OF WASHINGTON, “There were no trees in my in partnership with a Black-owned
Santoshi Pisupati was used to a tem- neighborhood,” recalls Pisupati, now solar installation company that offers
perate climate and vast forests of lush 15. “It was always hot, always smoky, discounts to participants.
evergreens. So, moving to South India you could never go out without a mask. Pisupati and other area ambassa-
when she was 6 was a bit of a shock. It struck a nerve.” dors are also mobilizing to call on the
She wasn’t prepared for the outdoors That juxtaposition drove Pisupati Lake Washington School District and
she encountered. to share what she knew about the envi- its families to switch their search en-
ronment, hoping that would gines to Ecosia, a Berlin-based search
inspire Indian youth to help engine that uses a portion of its profits
build a more sustainable to plant trees. So far, the company
world. After her three-year claims to have planted 110 million
experience in India, she trees worldwide. That international
was excited to continue focus resonates with Pisupati.
pursuing her interest in the “When I was in India, it was very
environment when she got rare to see a forest. To find one, you
back to Seattle. had to go on vacation,” she says. “If you
Now a high school search for anything on Ecosia, you’re
sophomore, Pisupati is helping the environment.”
co-leader of her school In addition to her love for travel
district’s Sustainability and the environment, Pisupati has
Ambassadors chapter. The developed a passion for space.
nonprofit organization And that makes a lot of sense to
empowers youth to lead her mother, who imagines all three
campaigns that encourage of those interests melding into a
peers, parents and policy- fascinating future.
makers to advance sustain- “The next level would be outer
able practices. Among their space,” says Sirisha Pisupati. “Some-
projects, these students are day, maybe we’ll even make our
leading a county-wide, solar journey to another planet. There will
neighborhood challenge be sustainability needs there, too.”
THIS PAGE: COURTESY OF SANTOSHI PISUPATI
Above: Pisupati is a part of the Pacific
Northwest’s premier Model United
Nations conference, where she
hopes to educate students about
the nation’s most pressing issues.
Right: Pisupati, at age 8, gives a
presentation about natural resource
conservation to more than 300 students
at a middle and high school in South India.
10 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 AMERICAN FORESTS If you want a wider shot, place
your subject in either full shade or
MORGAN HEIM
full sun.
Use a flash or reflector to even out
Photographer Jenny Nichols in action capturing the beauty of the forest around her.
light on your subject.
Embrace the dappled light and get
ACTION CENTER Jenny Nichols offers her tips on creative with mood and story. What
documenting nature and capturing does it say if half of your subject’s
How to capture the beauty of forests:
One of the main challenges while
face is in a shadow?
Something that is very cool about
Forests in Focus photographing in a forest is the dappled photographing in a forest is the endless
light. The shadows and highlights layers. Have fun with depth of field!
make for a tricky exposure. But there Even in a peaceful forest, there is
NEXT TIME YOU VENTURE into the are ways to work around that problem. much happening that eludes our sight
woods, be sure to take your camera: Here are a few tips: and hearing. The trees, plants and
American Forests’ annual Forests in Keep a shallow depth of field. This animals that make up the ecosystem
Focus photo contest is back! Open to allows you to have a smaller section are very busy. Bring a macro lens to get
amateurs and seasoned professionals of the forest in focus, thus increasing up close to some of those tiny features
alike, the contest celebrates the won- your chances of bringing the entire and creatures.
der of trees, from those in large forest subject into focus. The soft back-
landscapes to city parks and streets. ground or circles of confusion that For more information about the
But before you head out, Colorado- occur around the sharp part of the Forests in Focus contest, see
based professional photographer image can be beautiful. americanforests.org/Forests-in-Focus.
LET FORESTS
BE YOUR LEGACY
WITH A GIFT THAT COSTS YOU NOTHING NOW
We all want to be remembered as someone who made a difference in our world.
YOU CAN! — by leaving a gift to American Forests in your will, trust or by beneficiary designation.
It’s easy to do, and your gift costs you nothing today.
We can help you decide on a gift that’s right for you. To discuss the
best gift option for you or to notify us of a gift you have made,
please contact Jennifer Broome, vice president of philanthropy,
at 202.370.4513 or jbroome@americanforests.org.
Use our new FreeWill tool at www.americanforests.org/evergreensociety
AMERICAN FORESTS WINTER/SPRING 2021 | 11
AF_2019 House Ads_Half-Page_final.indd 1 1/8/20 3:43 PMtreelines
WASHINGTON OUTLOOK Tree Equity is about ensuring every urban
neighborhood has enough trees so that
every person benefits from them.
New American Forests policy
platform advocates government’s assistance and to plant trees at the
local level.
role in creating Tree Equity Legislation, called the TREE Act,
that would result in 300,000 more
THE UNITED STATES government’s federal government can do to help trees being planted every year in cities
support for planting trees in urban reach those goals — everything from and towns across the country. The $50
areas dates back to the 1930s. Its big- making sure there are enough and the million annual program, run by the U.S.
gest contributions are funding research right kind of trees grown in nurseries Department of Energy, would allocate
and running a program that awards to training people how to take care of grants to local governments, utility
urban forestry grants to states. trees after they are planted. companies and nonprofit organizations.
But far more is needed to create Tree The platform includes opportuni- A new program to support and
Equity in urban areas, defined as cities ties in the next two years to weave catalyze the growing number of busi-
and small towns that have at least 50,000 Tree Equity into appropriations and nesses, schools and local governments
people. Simply put, Tree Equity is about legislation. For example, American that are turning wood waste — such as
ensuring every urban neighborhood has Forests will advocate for: wood from demolished homes and trees
enough trees so that every person ben- An annual allocation of at least removed to widen roads — into furniture,
RUNGTIWA P / SHUTTERSTOCK
efits from them. Based on our analysis, $200 million for the U.S. Forest building materials and other products.
100 million trees are needed by 2030 to Service Urban and Community America is awakening to the
create Tree Equity across America. And Forestry Program, nearly seven importance of trees in healing our en-
another 300 million are needed by 2050. times more than the current level of vironment and economy. The federal
American Forests’ new Tree Equity support for the program. The funding government is a key player in making
policy platform lays out what the would be used primarily for technical that happen.
12 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 AMERICAN FORESTSHISTORY “We’re extremely
proud of our accom-
American ReLeaf celebrates plishments over the
last 30 years,” says Eric
its 30th anniversary Sprague, American
Forests’ vice president
of forest restoration.
EVERY YEAR, millions of monarchs which became part of a “We’re also looking
overwinter in the high-elevation forests decades-long effort to to the future. Going
of Michoacán, Mexico, where they cluster restore habitat for the forward, we want to
in oyamel firs for warmth and protec- rare Kirtland’s warbler. make sure that our
tion. Here, a Goldilocks combination Since then, American projects are resilient to
of temperature and humidity keeps the ReLeaf has partnered climate change, so that
butterflies healthy until spring. to plant 8.6 million jack the trees we plant are
But for decades, legal and illegal pines in Michigan, Wis- able to adapt.”
loggers have been felling the monarchs’ consin and Ontario — so Monarchs, which
winter home. In 2006, American many, in fact, that the Kirtland’s warbler can migrate 3,000 miles without any
Forests teamed up with local partners to was removed from the U.S. endangered help, are tougher than they look. But
restore Michoacán’s forests. Since then, species list in late 2019. even the toughest of butterflies need
American Forests has planted 1 million In the last three decades, American a forest to call home. As the climate
trees for the monarchs, including, in ReLeaf has worked with partners to crisis intensifies, a safe haven is more
2020, 72,000 more oyamel firs at higher plant 65 million trees in landscapes important than ever.
elevation to help the region adapt to a ranging from tropical forests on
changing climate. Hawaii’s Big Island to New Jersey’s Above: The American ReLeaf program
This is just one of the big suc- pinelands and the glacier-capped planted its very first tree in 1990: a jack
pine in Au Sable, Mich., which became part
cesses from American ReLeaf, American mountains of the West. The program of a decades-long effort to restore habitat
Forests’ program to restore large forested has helped to advance forest conserva- for the rare Kirtland’s warbler.
landscapes. Initially called Global ReLeaf, tion policy and develop cutting-edge Below: Millions of monarchs overwinter in
the high-elevation forests of Michoacán,
the program planted its very first tree forestry methods to prepare forests for Mexico, where they cluster in oyamel firs
in 1990: a jack pine in Au Sable, Mich., an uncertain future. for warmth and protection.
BOTTOM: JHVEPHOTO / SHUTTERSTOCK; TOP: AGAMI PHOTO AGENCY / SHUTTERSTOCK
AMERICAN FORESTS WINTER/SPRING 2021 | 13treelines
THE UNDERSTORY
What is an
urban heat island? Urban heat islands
are, on average, 5 to
7 degrees warmer +5-7
during the day,
Why is one neighborhood hotter than another? and can increase
temperatures by as
Chances are it is because it has fewer trees. Trees help much as 22 degrees +22
cool neighborhoods down and reduce what’s called at night.
the “urban heat island effect,” the creation of islands
of heat that result in a dangerous rise in temperature.
Higher temperatures can increase the risk of heat-
related illnesses, such as heat stroke or even death,
and can intensify the effects of air pollution in cities.
Planting and conserving trees is one equitable way
to reduce urban heat islands and save lives.
Heat islands
disproportionately affect
vulnerable populations,
In urban areas, hard socioeconomically dis-
surfaces — such as advantaged communities
rooftops, asphalt and and people of color. If
sidewalks — absorb actions aren’t taken to
and retain heat from slow climate change,
the sun, warming the heat-related deaths from
surrounding air. 2031 to 2050 could be
57% higher than they were
from 1971 to 2000.
In contrast to the
warming effects of urban
surfaces, trees act as air
PAGE 33 STUDIO / AMERICAN FORESTS
conditioning and can cool
down a city block by as
much as 10 degrees.
With fewer heat-absorbing
surfaces and more trees,
rural and some suburban
areas are better able to
SOURCES:
mitigate the urban heat https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190325173305.htm
island effect. https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.
pmed.1002629#pmed.1002629.s001
14 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 AMERICAN FORESTSMOTIVATIONAL MUSINGS
“The worst visions that
Hollywood has given us of “Strategies that
dystopian futures are real
possible futures if we don’t trees have honed for
act on the problem; the
greatest crisis that we face millions of years are
as a civilization.”
MICHAEL MANN, DIRECTOR OF THE EARTH
failing to keep pace.”
SYSTEM SCIENCE CENTER AT PENNSYLVANIA
STATE UNIVERSITY, SPEAKING ABOUT CLIMATE ERIC SPRAGUE, VICE PRESIDENT OF FOREST RESTORATION AT AMERICAN FORESTS,
CHANGE, CBS NEWS MEDIUM
“You can build a new building, you can ouis Blumberg
L
put new sod in, you can build new roads @lblumberg
— but no matter how much money and
power somebody has, they can’t put back Phoenix sets record with 144 days of
50-year-old trees.” 100-degree-plus temperatures! We
need real action on Extreme Heat
ROB DAVIS, FORMER DENVER CITY FORESTER, THE ATLANTIC
NOW! Let’s start by Naming Heat
Waves #NametheWave @ArshtRock
@ClimateResolve @ICRicardoLara
“We developed this real commitment LOUIS BLUMBERG, INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY
CONSULTANT, TWITTER
to keeping fire out and of course
that was completely backwards from
what Indigenous people had done for
thousands and thousands of years.”
MARY HUFFMAN, DIRECTOR OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES BURNING
“I love the calm, the
NETWORK, NEW YORK TIMES
peace, the intrigue;
I can go for a walk
and find a plant I’ve
im Christophersen
T
@TimChristo never seen before or
We need to link #inequality, #biodiversity
hear a new bird call,
and #climate: they are sides of the same or discover a weird
issue. We are all in the same storm, but not
(yet) all in the same boat.
fungus. This forest is an
TIM CHRISTOPHERSEN, COORDINATOR, UNITED NATIONS DECADE
amazing space to be.”
ON ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION 2021-2030 & NATURE FOR CLIMATE AT
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM, TWITTER
ANGELICA PATTERSON, PH.D. STUDENT AT COLUMBIA
UNIVERSITY’S DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE, ON NEW YORK’S BLACK ROCK FOREST, THE GUARDIAN
AMERICAN FORESTS WINTER/SPRING 2021 | 15treelines
FOREST FOOTNOTES
Determining the
impacts of restored
vacant lots on
adolescent health
When Baltimore announced a plan to “clean and
green” vacant lots in its neighborhoods, research-
American Forests has helped transform
ers at Johns Hopkins University viewed it as an
vacant lots into green spaces, such as the opportunity. The researchers plan to study, for
Osborn Outdoor Education Center in Detroit, the first time, the impact that converting vacant
pictured here. Pictured above is the vacant lot
before the transformation.
lots into green oases has on long-term adoles-
cent health. While recent studies have primarily
shown the benefits of this type of intervention
on adult health, this new longitudinal study will explore changes in adolescent health over time. The research might help reduce
health inequities among socioeconomically disadvantaged youth, whose health and well-being are influenced by neighborhood
factors. Ultimately, the research has the potential to improve youth health outcomes in Baltimore and beyond.
Are the West’s forest margins fated to wither from
wildfire? Maybe not, suggests new research
Life on the edge isn’t easy. In California’s
eastern Sierra Nevada and other dry forests
in the West, wildfires often start in the drier
zones, where trees meet sagebrush lowlands,
then sweep up forested slopes. Conven-
tional wisdom has long held that these dry,
low-elevation forests are fated to vanish as
BOTTOM: U.S. FOREST SERVICE; TOP LEFT AND RIGHT: LAURA MCDERMOTT
climate change whips up fiercer fires and
deeper droughts. A recent study in Ecosphere,
however, showed that these at-risk forests can
survive with the right help. For the research
team’s study sites in the Eastern Sierra,
drought alone wasn’t a fatal threat, with mod-
els predicting that enough water will remain
through 2100 to support seedling growth.
Instead, the biggest peril to these forests is
severe wildfire — which can be prevented via
controlled burns and thinning overgrown
trees. According to one of the study’s authors,
interventions like controlled burns “could
actually create very resilient conditions in
At-risk forests can survive with the right help, such as controlled burns.
places where most people have been suggest-
ing that we’ll see forest loss.”
16 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 AMERICAN FORESTSWildfire smoke exposure is linked to cardiovascular
issues and increased susceptibility to the flu and
COVID-19. Due to record wildfires in California,
this photo shows the resulting thick orange haze
above San Francisco with ash and smoke floating
BOTTOM: YEVHENII CHULOVSKYI / SHUTTERSTOCK; TOP: SVETLANASF / SHUTTERSTOCK
over the Bay Area.
The hidden health costs of wildfires: damaged lungs,
poisoned water
Blade Runner skies over San Francisco. Moonscapes of ash and blackened trees. Last year’s staggering fire season offered
plenty of scenes of destruction, but some of the fires’ worst effects are invisible. In San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Ore.,
and other western cities, wildfire smoke caused some of the world’s worst air pollution for weeks on end. Prolonged expo-
sure to smoke triggers long-term lung damage, and is particularly worrisome for younger and older people, as well as those
with asthma and other lung conditions. Wildfire smoke exposure is also linked to cardiovascular issues and increased
susceptibility to the flu and COVID-19.
The wildfires have also put regional water supplies — including those we rely on for drinking water — in danger. Incinerated
watersheds can fill waterways with debris and wash arsenic and other toxins from mines, towns and industrial sites into streams
and rivers. Heat-damaged plastics and building materials, such as plastic water pipes, can also leach poisonous chemicals. After
California’s 2017 Tubbs and 2018 Camp wildfires, the potent carcinogen benzene was found in water at levels that could cause
immediate harm, along with a cocktail of other dangerous compounds. Limiting smoke exposure and improving building codes
can mitigate these risks — but the only way to tackle them in the long-term is with climate action and climate-resilient forestry.
A breakthrough
in science:
transparent wood
Scientists have discovered a way to make wood
transparent. With this breakthrough, we might
be looking through wood windows in the not too
distant future. While glass is the most common
material used for windows, it is not very energy
efficient. Heat can easily transfer through it,
which can lead to increased energy demand and
higher energy bills, especially during hot sum-
mer months and windy, cold winters. Wood, on
the other hand, is very energy efficient. A team of
Because wood is very energy efficient, light and durable, it’s possible
transparent wood could replace products commonly used today for windows.
researchers from the United States Department of
Agriculture Forest Products Laboratory, Univer-
sity of Maryland and the University of Colorado
found that the lignin that gives wood its color is removed when wood is immersed in a sodium hypochlorite solution and,
later, a polyvinyl alcohol solution. Because wood is lighter and more durable than glass, it’s possible this product could
replace glass, and even plastic, products commonly used today for windows.
AMERICAN FORESTS WINTER/SPRING 2021 | 17Seeing the city for the trees BY MORGAN HEIM 18 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 AMERICAN FORESTS
WHEN EBONI HALL FIRST ENTERED COLLEGE,
she thought for sure she was going to become a
sports therapist. She wanted to learn kinesiology,
the study of body movement and muscles. It was
a sensible choice, something familiar, and a far cry
from her ultimate path in urban forestry.
She’d grown up in Baton Rouge, La., entrenched in a love for natural
areas, her childhood full of making mud pies, climbing trees and read-
ing books outside. Despite that connection to nature, she’d never really
thought about urban forestry as a concept, let alone a potential career
path. “I remember thinking, urban forestry? That sounds like some-
thing for tree huggers,” she says.
It was during a summer program called BAYOU, Beginning
Agricultural Youth Opportunities Unlimited, at Southern
University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, that Hall’s world
changed. Hall is young, Black and a woman, quite different from
the typical description of a forester, a field long dominated by
white men. “People of color don’t have a reflection of themselves
in this field, and they get discouraged,” says Hall. “Maybe if people
see I’m able to do it, they’ll think they can.”
The BAYOU program introduced Hall to an array of environmen-
tal science disciplines and job opportunities that redefined urban
forestry for her. She went on to study the discipline at Southern, the
only four-year university that offers a bachelor’s degree in urban
forestry. Eventually, she earned her Ph.D. and now works as the senior
manager of urban forestry education at American Forests. Hall has
made it her life’s mission to provide other young people with the
inspiration she found through BAYOU. In doing so, she is shaping one
of the most important roles for building social and environmental
equity and combating climate change.
CREATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF URBAN FORESTERS
People who work in urban forestry are addressing climate change, as
well as social and environmental equity. City trees help absorb carbon
from the atmosphere and make people’s lives better by providing shade,
filtering the air, lifting moods and more. Trees also create jobs. But not
everyone benefits equally from trees, largely because socioeconomically
disadvantaged communities historically have lacked trees.
A blossoming movement toward Tree Equity — which, simply
put, is about ensuring every city neighborhood has enough trees
so that every person benefits from them
— is fueling the demand for more urban
Left: Eboni Hall foresters. In fact, jobs for people who can
spends her days split
between research,
plant, prune and maintain trees in cities is
LEFT: COURTESY OF EBONI HALL
increasing urban expected to grow 10% by 2028.
forestry education at Attracting young people to the field is
institutions, assisting
youth in navigating
essential to growing that workforce. Hall and
their urban forestry others like her are taking on the challenge,
career path and educating youth about urban forestry and
mentoring students,
all while working to
related fields as a career and helping create
achieve Tree Equity. clear pathways for professional advancement.
AMERICAN FORESTS WINTER/SPRING 2021 | 19The first step is making sure these future foresters
understand that city trees are more than something
nice to look at.
TREES AS CRITICAL URBAN
INFRASTRUCTURE
In America’s cities, trees help the environment, but
they also play a vital role in fulfilling our basic needs.
That is particularly true during the COVID-19 Suleima Mednick-Coles is cobbling together her interests
pandemic. “Green spaces are a peaceful place to go to as an amalgamation of multiple majors and minors,
including international studies, sustainable development
find refuge. When you don’t have access to them, you and environmental justice and African-American studies.
often are surrounded by unhealthy environmental
conditions, and it has impacts on mental health,”
says Suleima Mednick-Coles, one of Hall’s mentees In order to meet that need, American Forests has
and a student in the Black Scholars program at the set a goal that by 2030 at least 100,000 people,
University of San Francisco. particularly those from socioeconomically disad-
Making the connection between the importance vantaged communities, will enter jobs in forestry.
of caring for trees and how they benefit day-to-day “I think it’s something that’s really a no-brainer to
life is critical to growing interest in urban forestry, invest in,” Anderson says. “And it’s a well-paying
says Sarah Anderson, director of Career Pathways one, with average entry-level tree workers earning
at American Forests. “Communities with low tree about $20 an hour, roughly $40,000 per year.”
canopy cover tend to have higher rates of unemploy-
ment, and if you don’t have access to trees, you can’t PAVING THE WAY
make money caring for them.” One obstacle to building an urban forestry work-
Job opportunities to plant and care for trees are force is that many young people don’t know how
expected to rise, thanks in part to the important role to access the field, or that it even exists. American
cities will play in the global trillion trees movement. Forests is working with Southern University and
LEFT: BOUYANT PARTNERS / AMERICAN FORESTS; ABOVE: COURTESY OF SULEIMA MEDNICK-COLES
20 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 AMERICAN FORESTSgroups like Speak for the Trees, Boston to raise Today, Hall spends her days split between
awareness of, and build bridges to, the field. research, increasing urban forestry education at
American Forests has developed two guides to institutions, assisting youth in navigating their
help individuals map their journeys to urban forestry urban forestry career path and mentoring students,
careers: the Career Pathways Exploration Guide and all while working to achieve Tree Equity.
the Career Pathways Action Guide. Geared toward “Don’t wait too long to take that exam,” Hall
people who could benefit most from joining the field, teases, while on a recent Zoom call with Jordan
these guides spotlight educational pathways and Davis. Davis is about to graduate with a degree
entry-level job training programs that train and place in urban forestry from Southern University. He
individuals who face barriers to employment so that entered college bent on studying engineering
they can enter the field. There are pilot projects in when he discovered the BAYOU program and a
six cities: Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit, Chicago, new future. The exam Hall is referring to is the
Providence, R.I., and Syracuse, N.Y. International Society of Arboriculture Credential,
The local programs also try to provide additional a requirement to become a certified arborist. Davis
services, such as transportation and childcare, both laughs good-naturedly. “I won’t. I won’t,” he says.
significant barriers to job entry in communities He’s thinking of returning to his hometown of
where people are struggling financially. “It’s all about Jackson, La., to provide urban forestry community
meeting people where they’re at, physically, emotion- outreach. A lot of students get interested in jobs they
ally, age-wise,” says David Meshoulam, executive learn about in high school, Davis says. He wants
director of Speak for the Trees, Boston. urban forestry to be one of them. He’s thinking of
Job shadowing, paid apprenticeship and pre- someday launching his own arboriculture business. Below: Teen
apprenticeship programs can remove barriers to His family even started a company, Carpet Cuts, Urban Tree Corps
member Maya
finding viable careers. “Many youth live in the now LLC, a lawn care business that incorporates tree Hall demonstrates
and go into survival mode in order to provide for care. His face beams with pure optimism. how to input data
their families,” says Hall. “They can’t afford to stop on a street tree
to Boston City
working to improve a skill set.” That’s where partner- Morgan Heim is a conservation journalist based in Councilor Annissa
ships, programs, resources and expertise provided by Oregon’s forest country. Essaibi George.
American Forests come into play.
A FIELD WITH MANY DISCIPLINES
One exciting outlook in the field of urban forestry is
how expansive it is. Traditionally, urban forestry has
been synonymous with arboriculture and tree main-
tenance, Hall says. “But urban forestry encompasses
so much more than trees alone.”
An array of disciplines have jobs that fall under
the urban forestry umbrella: environmental law,
hydrology, psychology, soil science, urban planning
and public health, to name a few.
Currently, Southern University and A&M
College is the only university in the United States
that offers a designated degree in urban forestry.
Students elsewhere often have to create their own
paths. For example, at the University of San Fran-
cisco, Mednick-Coles is cobbling together her
interests as an amalgamation of multiple majors
and minors that encompasses international stud-
ies, sustainable development and environmental
justice and African-American studies. To entice
RIGHT: DAVID MESHOULAM
and prepare students, Hall hopes more colleges
and universities will begin offering urban forestry
programs, making more connections to other dis-
ciplines and utilizing an interdisciplinary urban
forestry curriculum she developed.
AMERICAN FORESTS WINTER/SPRING 2021 | 21earthkeepers
walked to a nearby creek to meditate. She
A bond forged in fire: knew the Creek Fire was raging not too
far away, but it seemed unlikely it could
Brittany and Gilbert Dyer cross the “big wet firebreak” of the San
Joaquin River. As she sat, though, “all of
a sudden a weird feeling came over me,”
she recalls. Something was telling her to
BRITTANY AND GILBERT DYER the United States Forest Service, where leave. She raced home to grab their dogs
are good at turning problems into oppor- he’s worked for the last 20 years. and evacuation bags, fleeing in sight of a
tunities. A decade ago, the pair met when As familiar as they are with wild- 50,000-foot pyrocumulus cloud — one of
Brittany bumped into Gilbert at a bar and fires, the biggest single fire in California the largest ever recorded.
spilled her beer on him. “It was love at history left them stunned. On Septem- The evacuation that followed lasted
ALL PHOTOS: KATE YBARA / AMERICAN FORESTS
first sight,” Gilbert laughs. They married ber 4, the Creek Fire exploded about 13 nearly a month and tested the Dyers’ lim-
in 2017 in a “secret wilderness wedding” miles from their house in North Fork, its. Gilbert worked back-to-back 24-hour
attended by six friends and five dogs. growing to 40,000 acres in a single day. shifts, snatching just a few hours of sleep
Now, the Dyers work to fix a far “The fire moved the fastest I’ve ever at a time. Brittany, still working long days
thornier issue: California’s flagging forest seen without being in a desert with high for American Forests, evacuated to one
health. As the California state director winds,” Gilbert said. friend’s house, and then another.
for American Forests, Brittany works to The next day, Gilbert left home before But even through smoke and flame,
restore forests across the state, particu- sunrise to patrol for unsafe campfires and the pair found ways to be together. On
larly those charred by severe wildfires. other issues from Labor Day weekend Gilbert’s birthday, Brittany tracked
Gilbert is a fire prevention officer with campers. A few hours later, Brittany down where he and his crew would be
22 | WINTER/SPRING 2021 AMERICAN FORESTSLeft: When the Dyers got married, sleeping for the night, and drove up to
they knew that climate change would deliver cupcakes. Because of pandemic
transform their lives. Just not like this.
Below: Gilbert is a fire prevention concerns, the pair couldn’t hug. “That
officer with the U.S. Forest Service. was really hard,” Brittany says. “I just
Brittany is the California state director wanted to be in his arms.”
for American Forests.
In late September, Brittany
and Gilbert were cleared to
return home. Their house
escaped with minor damage,
but many of their neighbors’
houses and nearby forests did
not. “It’s devastation,” Gilbert
says. “Driving though it every
day, it still pretty much brings
a tear to the eye.”
The Creek didn’t wreak
total destruction. Brittany
expects that portions of the
380,000-acre burn scar will
prove to be moderate “good”
fire, which rejuvenates rather
than wrecks forests.
The blaze mostly spared Jackass Lake
in the John Muir Wilderness, where Brit-
tany and Gilbert got married ankle-deep
in the lake’s water. Even then, they knew
that the climate crisis would one day
reshape their lives — both worked it into
their vows, unknown to the other. Their
house is in the center of a tinderbox,
where climate change-fueled drought
and pest outbreaks have killed 163 million
trees since 2010. It was just a matter of
time before it burned.
Despite the fire, the pair is hope-
ful. The scope of the destruction has
finally made the state’s wildfire problem
impossible to ignore. Brittany dreams
of a day when the wail of sirens doesn’t
mean danger, but that her husband and
other forestry workers are out setting
controlled burns, a key tool to prevent
out-of-control wildfires. She’s gearing up
to make American Forests a driving force
Brittany and Gilbert Dyer to reforest the Creek Fire’s burn scar.
stand in the ash of the 2020 As for Gilbert? “Being a firefighter,”
Creek Fire, California’s he says, “it makes you prepared
largest-ever single fire.
for anything.”
AMERICAN FORESTS WINTER/SPRING 2021 | 23UNITED
STATES
THE
FIREOF
We must
make friends
CECILIO RICARDO / U.S. FOREST SERVICE
with fire, or
be consumed
by it.
BY ALLISON GUYWHEN THE CREEK FIRE
roared to life near Shaver Lake,
Calif., last September, it chewed
through the area’s overgrown,
sickly forests, belching smoke
and spitting out blackened,
matchstick trunks.
But in forests owned by
the electrical utility Southern
California Edison, the Creek’s
famished roar turned to a purr.
The wildfire licked over the
landscape, charring mature
trees but not killing them.
There simply wasn’t enough
fuel — dense, dry shrubs and
drought-stricken trees — to
feed the fire to excess.
Laura Spellman, a “hot shot”
firefighter, uses a drip torch
to burn vegetation as part
of efforts to contain a 2018
wildfire in Mendocino
National Forest, Calif.
AMERICAN FORESTS WINTER/SPRING 2021 | 25You can also read
