PROJECT REPORT
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Dear friend, Thanks to your support, a total of 18,830 trees were planted to restore 21 hectares of land in Washington. 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 Washington. I hope you enjoy reading it and truly feel the impact you have made.
OVERVIEW The objective of the Washington 2023 - Private Land Bolt Creek Fire Restoration project was to restore private forested land that was devastated by the Bolt Creek wildfire in 2022. Through reforesting this area, this project reduces the risk of erosion and conversion to non-forestland that would have resulted if the site hadn’t been replanted, and protects the area and its surroundings from further degradation.
TREES PLANTED 18,830
TREE SPECIES PLANTED 2
FAMILIES BENEFITED 1
HECTARES REFORESTED 21
JOBS SUPPORTED 9 WILDLIFE SPECIES BENEFITED 25
ACRES REFORESTED 51
TREE SPECIES PLANTED Two native species were planted across 21 hectares for this project; Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and Western red cedar (Thuja plicata). With rising temperatures and a growing frequency of wildfires in the region, Douglas fir was selected as an optimal, primary species for reforestation due to their ability to withstand fire. With the exception of high intensity fires, Douglas fir are able to withstand significant heat, having thick, insulated bark that 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. Douglas fir, as well as Western red cedar, were planted at approximately 435 trees per acre. Planting these overstory dominate conifer species will eventually recreate a native forest structure over time. Once this is achieved, a more diverse and stable ecology will follow.
SPECIES PLANTED THROUGH THIS PROJECT Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) - 10,830 Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) - 8,000
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 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 that was used for this project, can grow up to 250 feet tall and can be identified by two white stripes present along the length of the underside of each needle. These needles are flat and grow out in all directions, while the cones hang down from the branches. Douglas fir fulfill a major 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 small 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. Western Red Cedar are large evergreen coniferous trees native to the Pacific Northwest of America. This species can be found flourishing along the coastal fog belt from Alaska to northern California, and inland from the Pacific Ocean toward Montana. Western red cedar are pyramidal in shape, have bark that is ridged and dark reddish-brown, and cones that are oval shaped and have between 1 and 12 scales. This tree can be identified by its flat sprays of foliage, which emit a distinctive aroma when crushed. Wildlife use this tree in many ways, from the provision of food in the form of foliage, to dens formed in hollowed-out trunks of mature stands, and habitat for wildlife species such as spotted owl and Vaux swifts.
YOUR IMPACT ON THE MAP The Washington 2023 - Private Land Bolt Creek Fire Restoration project supported the planting of 18,830 conifer trees across 51 acres located on private land within the footprint of the 2022 Bolt Creek Fire for the purpose of reducing erosion and stabilizing soils, and preventing harmful runoff and excess groundwater from entering the nearby Skykomish River. By reforesting these areas, this project aims to cultivate a stable forest system that is resistant to fires and other threats, and that provides ecological functioning for wildlife and the community alike.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE IMPACT In 2022, the Bolt Creek Fire scorched over 394 acres of land and killed more than 90% of trees throughout the site, leaving the property at high risk of erosion and conversion to nonforestland if quick forestry management decisions were not made and implemented. Planting trees after severe wildfires speeds up the natural reforestation process and helps prevent the takeover of fast-growing, wind-dispersed invasive species. Moreover, tree planting helps ensure that burned forests remain forests instead of converting to nonforested, limited-vegetation areas. When a new forest is planted, a similar amount of carbon that was released in the fire is recaptured over time and stored in standing biomass, provided the future forest is structurally similar to the old one. This project aimed to do just that: recreate the native structure of the forest so that it may function as it should. Watershed and riparian restoration — and protection — was another priority impact area. Forest root networks filter sediment and pollutants as they are carried towards flowing water, trapping silt and giving chemicals more time to degrade into less harmful components. By restoring the areas burned by the Bolt Creek Fire, we help reduce sediment delivery impacts to the Wild and Scenic Skykomish River, which is home to salmon, steelhead, and bull trout. Likewise, restoring the site to conifer plantations will help reduce surface erosion, which will ensure that impacts on the Skykomish River directly below are reduced. And with the soils on this site being incredibly productive, it is reasonable to assume they will vigorously capture and store above-average amounts of carbon — nearly reversing the impact of the Bolt Creek Fire. Thanks to donors like you, One Tree Planted has helped our planting partners achieve monumental change in restoring private forestland in Washington, as well as it’s capacity to support wildlife, recreational activities, and the local economy. This project’s impact will be critical to enhancing the resilience of these forests toward fire disturbances and the many ecological benefits they provide now and in the future.
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
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE FUNDING PROVIDED THROUGH ONE TREE PLANTED FOR ASSISTANCE IN REFORESTATION EFFORTS IN THE BOLT CREEK FIRE. THIS FIRE RESULTED IN CATASTROPHIC RESOURCE DAMAGE BOTH ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND ADJACENT PUBLIC LANDS, AND BEING ABLE TO QUICKLY IMPLEMENT REHABILITATION EFFORTS TO GET 50 ACRES REPLANTED THE FIRST SEASON AFTER THE BURN IS A VERY IMPRESSIVE EFFORT. THESE TREES WILL GROW QUICKLY, GIVEN THE LOW COMPETITION ON SITE AFTER THE FIRE, AND PROVIDE MANY YEARS OF WILDLIFE HABITAT, CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND TIMBER GROWTH.
COMMUNITY
BENEFITS
The local community will benefit from the restored forest primarily through recreational pursuits, aesthetic value, and reduced potential for public resource damage. The site is highly visible from Highway 2, and is immediately adjacent to the border of the Wild Sky Wilderness. Ensuring this property is abundant with a variety of trees and wildlife will improve aesthetic values of this area tremendously. Moreover, proper reforestation will reduce the potential for significant surface erosion and for landslides/earth movement. As there is very little live vegetation left on most of the property, restoring conifers will go a long way toward helping reduce excess groundwater.
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.
“Reforestation is one piece of the puzzle to solve the climate crisis. Thanks to donors like you, we can restore local ecosystems and combat global climate change. Together, we are progressing towards a world that not only survives but thrives.”
Meghan Danny
Global Projects Support Specialist
Angela Peterson
Senior Project Manager Indigenous and Local Communities