PROJECT REPORT CALIFORNIA 2023 SONOMA COUNTY RESTORATION
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Dear friend, Thanks to your support, a total of 17,584 trees were planted to restore 21 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 - Sonoma County Restoration Project was to restore forest land previously degraded in a high intensity wildfire event. These planting sites were chosen to actively reforest as opposed to natural regernation due to the severity of the fire in order to reinstate the ecological benefits and services these forests provide. Other sites were selected in an effort to re-establish conifer species within hardwood-dominated stands, which have resulted from historical over cutting. By replanting in these areas, we enhance forest resilience against future disturbances — and in doing so, safeguard numerous ecological and economic benefits for the local community.
TREES PLANTED 17,584 FAMILIES BENEFITED 2 WOMEN INVOLVED 1 JOBS SUPPORTED 12 PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM TRAINING 12
TREE SPECIES PLANTED 2 HECTARES REFORESTED 21 ACRES REFORESTED 51 WILDLIFE SPECIES BENEFITED 50
TREE SPECIES PLANTED Two native tree species were planted across 21 hectares of land for this project: redwood (7,424) and Douglas fir (10,160). Planting sites and species selection were made with natural climate solutions in mind, ultimately leading to a wildfire recovery strategy for improving forest resilience as well as a strategy to re-establish conifer species within hardwooddominated stands that are the result of historical over cutting. Moreover, some sites took place within the footprint of the 2020 Walbridge Fire with a lightning fire restoration strategy. Heavily influenced by this plan was the selection of tree species utilized to restore the burned forest. With rising temperatures and the growing frequency of wildfires in the region in mind, redwood was selected as an optimal species for reforestation due to its ability to withstand fire. Redwood trees are notoriously tall, large and strong — but more than that, they are high in tannins and do not produce resin or pitch, which promotes resiliency in higher intensity fires. Their thick, pithy bark also provides protection and insulation for the tree, aiding in its survival. The selection of Douglas fir was made for similar reasons. With the exception of high intensity fires, Douglas fir are also able to withstand the heat. Their thick, insulated bark enables the species to withstand low to medium intensity fires. In fact, Douglas fir is one of the first species to appear following a fire. As a result, their natural resilience will benefit local biodiversity and allow for added stability in the forest’s recovery.
SPECIES PLANTED THROUGH THIS PROJECT Redwood (sequoia semperviren) 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 two varieties: Coastal 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. Coastal fir, the Douglas fir used for this project, can grow up to 250ft and can be identified by their fragrant, blunt needles. Douglas fir also produce light brown cones, and have unique forked bracts between the scales. These cones are nearly always intact and abundant both on and around the tree. Douglas firs are the most common and widely distributed species in the Pacific Northwest. There are only 3 species of redwoods that exist: dawn redwood, giant sequoia and coastal redwood. Though found in only a few areas of the world, these remarkably tall trees are a sight to see, bringing in visitors from all over the world each year. With their popularity has come the need to protect the remaining redwoods, making it no surprise many of its remaining stands can be found in National Parks throughout California. Coastal redwood, the type of redwood utilized for this project, can be best identified by its deep red color, coarse texture and lack of odor. Coastal redwoods have thick, fibrous, brown-cinnamon bark that is up to 12in thick and serves as a food resource for black bear.
THIS FUNDING PROVIDED INCENTIVE FOR LANDOWNERS, FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO PLANT TREES FOLLOWING A SEVERE WILDFIRE THAT DESTROYED PORTIONS OF THEIR TIMBER STANDS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PLANTED. THANK YOU TO ALL DONORS FOR MAKING THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE.
YOUR IMPACT ON THE MAP The California 2023 - Sonoma County Restoration project comprised of planting a mix of 17,584 softwood evergreen coniferous species across 21 hectares following a devastating fire in Sonoma County. In doing so, the planted trees will re-establish the forest for wildlife and the community alike to enjoy, all while enhancing local tree diversity by incorporating softwood species into a hardwood dominated area.
LANDSCAPE
IMPACT ON THE MAP Back in 2020, the Walbridge Fire was lit by a two day lightning siege and went on over a month before it was contained. During this time, the fire destroyed 156 homes and 293 structures, leaving much of the previously untouched, densely fueled forest in shambles. The impact of this project’s 17,584 trees will be vital to the recovery of these forests, their resilience moving forward and wildlife which still remain in the fragmented stands. Having been unscathed by fires for over a decade prior, this land will thrive through its growing trees and ecosystem alike strengthening over time. In addition to this, some of the planting sites were hardwood dominated properties, a result of over cutting. Establishing conifer as a component of these stands will demonstrate the advantage of complementarity of species. According to researchers, mixedspecies forests are less less susceptible to fires, droughts, storms and insects — and are more resistant and resilient to climate-induced change.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT Reforestation to Improve Tree Diversity and Resilience Against Fires
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
BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on earth at all levels, from genes to ecosystems, and all the processes that sustain life. Forests cover roughly a third of California, or approximately 33 million acres of land. The forests that dominate California’s landscape brim with pristine wilderness and abundant biodiversity. California’s exceptional biodiversity can be credited to its varied geography, including the highest and lowest locations in the continental U.S., as well as it’s proximity to both mountains and ocean. The forests that cover the state are largely dominated by Douglas fir, white fir, ponderosa pine, sugar pine, and Jeffrey pine.
California Forests Facts & Stats:
California is home to the world's tallest tree- coast redwood (379 feet); the world's most massive tree- giant sequoia (52,500 cubic feet); and the world's oldest treebristlecone pine (4,853 years) The rarest pine in the United States, Torrey pine, can be found here
Animals that inhabit Sonoma County Forests:
Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) California slender salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus) Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus) Acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) California newt or orange-bellied newt (Taricha torosa) California quail (Callipepla californica) Bobcat (Lynx rufus) Cougar (Puma concolor) Coyote (Canis latrans) American black bear (Ursus americanus) Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)
COMMUNITY
BENEFITS
The local community will benefit from the newly established forest in a multitude of ways, including shared economic values, watershed recovery, pollution reduction, and enhancement of public and scenic spaces, which were severely impacted by recent fires. Highlighting the economic values forests provide, California’s forestry and forest products industry contributes $39 billion to GDP and employs more than 177,000 individuals yearly. What’s more, this project involved collaboration with private landowners and provided an incentive for them, ranchers and farmers to reestablish and improve working forestlands that contribute to the local economy and otherwise would not have been replanted following the fires. Beyond the economic values forests provide are numerous ecological services and benefits. This project emphasized revitalization of public trust values, including wildlife habitat, riparian areas and scenic spots designed for public use. By sharing in these spaces, the community will also benefit from the growing forest’s ability to sequester carbon, purify waterways and provide a natural oasis to explore, exercise and admire for years to come.
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.
“What stands out about this project is that it not only addressed forest recovery, but a healing of the local community as well. Though the Walbridge Fire took a significant toll on the region, I am optimistic about the fate of the 17,584 trees planted, and look forward to witnessing their growth in the coming years.”
Meghan Danny
Global Projects Support Specialist
Brittney Burke
Director of Projects North America