PROJECT REPORT
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Dear friend, Thanks to your support, a total of 109,800 trees were planted to restore 104 hectares of land in California. Planting trees in areas that have been degraded or deforested helps the environment by accelerating and assuring the re-establishment of healthy forests. Through reforestation, the canopy is restored, ecosystems are made whole, and biodiversity can thrive. None of this would be possible without you. On behalf of everyone at One Tree Planted, thank you! What follows is a report outlining the project you supported in California. I hope you enjoy reading it and truly feel the impact you have made.
OVERVIEW The objective of the California 2023 - Red-Salmon Fire Restoration project (Phase 1) was to reforest indigenous land managed by the Hoopa Valley Tribe that was previously backburned during the Red-Salmon wildfire of 2020. If left untreated, it was highly likely that this area would have been converted to a hardwood and brush dominated landscape, increasing future fire risk. By restoring these sites, this project will help reestablish vital natural resources for the Hoopa Valley tribe, as well as improve forest resilience against future fires and enhance biodiversity.
TREES PLANTED 109,800
TREE SPECIES PLANTED 1
FAMILIES BENEFITED 500
HECTARES REFORESTED 104
INDIGENOUS GROUPS ENGAGED 1 JOBS SUPPORTED 15
ACRES REFORESTED 257
TREE SPECIES PLANTED One native species was planted for this project: Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Planting sites and species selection were made with natural climate solutions in mind, ultimately leading to a wildfire recovery strategy for improving tree resilience. Heavily influenced by this plan was the selection of tree species utilized to restore the forest. With rising temperatures and the frequency of wildfires in the region in mind, Douglas fir were selected as an optimal species for reforestation due to their ability to withstand fire. With the exception of high intensity fires, Douglas fir are able to withstand heat, having thick, insulated bark that enables the species to withstand low to medium intensity fires. In fact, Douglas fir is also one of the first species to appear following a fire. In other words, their natural resilience will benefit local biodiversity and allow for added stability in the forest’s recovery. Douglas fir were hand-planted . Planting this overstory dominant conifer species will lead to re-establishment of a native forest structure over time. Once this is achieved, then a more diverse and stable ecology will follow.
SPECIES PLANTED THROUGH THIS PROJECT Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
TREE SPECIES
IDENTIFICATION & USE Douglas fir are evergreen coniferous trees native to coastal areas in western North America and British Columbia. What’s unique about this species is that it has three recognized varieties: Coastal Douglas fir, Mexican Douglas fir, and Rocky Mountain Douglas fir. Coastal firs are found in moist coastal areas of British Columbia and California, whereas Rocky Mountain firs are smaller, tolerating drier sites throughout the Rocky Mountains in Canada all the way through southwestern US and Mexico. Mexican Douglas fir is largely native to the Sierra Madre mountain ranges of Mexico. Coastal fir, the type of Douglas fir which were used for this project, can grow up to 250 feet tall and can be identified by two white stripes located along the length of the underside of each needle. These needles are flat and grow out in all directions, while its cones hang down from the branches. Douglas fir play a vital role in an ecosystem, including the provision of numerous ecological benefits, such as mitigating climate change, improving air quality, absorbing and filtering runoff, and providing natural areas for research, recreation, and spiritual activities. Likewise, Douglas fir habitats support a wide range of wildlife, including the federally threatened northern spotted owl and federally endangered marbled murrelet. This species provides food for a number of mammals, including chipmunks, mice, shrews, and red squirrels, as well as sap for bears. Many songbirds will eat the seeds right out of the cone, and raptors, like the northern spotted owl, rely on Douglas fir for cover. In fact, Douglas-fir forests have the highest average bird counts of any forest type in North America. Douglas fir are the most common and widely distributed species in the Pacific Northwest. Because of their value, they are typically harvested within a century, but have been known to grow for centuries onward. Part of their demand comes from their versatility in purpose. Douglas fir timber can be used to make furniture, flooring and construction of homes. On top of this, and because of their festive appearance, they are highly sought out as Christmas trees.
YOUR IMPACT ON THE MAP The California 2023 - Red-Salmon Fire Restoration project supported the planting of 109,800 Douglas fir trees across 257 acres of the Hoopa Valley Tribe forestlands for the purpose of restoring wildlife habitat and a variety of natural resources used by the tribe. By reforesting these sites with fire-resistant conifer species, this project strives to set the foundation for what will soon become an ecologically diverse, sustainable forest capable of resilience to fires, supporting wildlife and the community alike.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT Reforestation for Wildfire Recovery and Restoration of Natural Resources
DOCUMENTING YOUR IMPACT Through authentic and informative storytelling, we help donors relate to the people who plant their trees and to the impact they're making for the planet. We share photos, videos, and updates from our global projects across our social media, website, and other media to create a personal connection to the incredible work happening on the ground.
PHOTOS FROM YOUR PROJECT
BECAUSE OF THIS FUNDING, FUTURE TRIBAL MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM A HEALTHY FOREST THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR THEIR ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS. ON BEHALF OF THE HOOPA VALLEY TRIBE, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORT ONE TREE PLANTED AS WELL AS THE CONTACTS WHO HAVE HELPED MAKE ALL THIS HAPPEN, BRITTNEY BURKE AND KYLEIGH HUGHES.
COMMUNITY
BENEFITS
The Hoopa Valley Tribal Forestry Department, under the direction of the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council, is responsible for the management of over 87,000 acres of timberland. These lands contain an abundance of commercial and cultural resources that the Hoopa Tribe has relied on for thousands of years. The Hoopa Valley Tribal Reservation is the largest forested Reservation in the State of California. As this project was located just outside Hoopa Valley, the local tribe community will benefit from the restored forest through use of its natural resources, recreational activities, and wildlife conservation. The forests of the Hoopa Reservation have been and still are utilized by Hoopa Tribal Members for hunting and gathering. The forest grows an abundance of culturally useful plant species, such as bear grass, hazel stick, and ferns. The Forests also provide habitat favorable to the animal species tribal members have hunted for subsistence and for cultural uses, such as in dance regalia. The re-establishment of the forests will promote many of these resources.
U.N. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THIS PROJECT CONTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:
WHAT ARE SDGS? Sustainable development entails seeking out solutions that not only boost the economic outcomes of developing and poorer nations, but also work to limit (or eliminate) our impact on the planet. Trees are one such solution. From creating jobs and reducing hunger to improving gender equality, cleaning air and water, absorbing carbon, protecting life on land and water, and more, planting trees can address all 17 sustainable development goals.
“This forest fire restoration project produces ecological benefits including habitat restoration, erosion control, and carbon sequestration for climate stabilization. In addition, restoring this forested landscape will benefit the local community. Thank you for your support!”
Meghan Danny
Global Projects Support Specialist
Brittney Burke
Director of Projects North America