| We are people who care about – and for – forests and our planet. Source of Ink green program: This program is simple. You make a purchase of $39 or higher
and we will plant a tree in your name. This is one of many ways that source of ink
tries to protect and restore our planet. Why it matters? American
Forests works to spread the word about the many benefits that forests provide
for the health and well-being of the entire planet. With a greater
understanding of what forests do for us all, we can encourage greater support
to protect and restore these valuable resources. Biodiversity
A greater variety of
life makes a forest better able to withstand and recover from disease, harmful
infestations, wildfires, and other threats. Clean Air &
Water
Forests supply most of the freshwater flow in the US, and
clean our atmosphere by intercepting airborne particles, carbon dioxide, and
other greenhouse gases. Medicine &
Health
Trees not only create a healthier environment, they also
provide a wide variety of medicines. Social Benefits
Greener
urban areas encourage more healthy social interaction between adults and
children. They’ve also been a proven deterrent to graffiti, property crime, and
even violent crime. Recreation
Forests
are a big part of why Americans love to get outdoors. They provide places for
hikers, bicyclists, fishermen, hunters, and families of all ages to play and
exercise. Climate
Forests
and climate are directly linked, both on the local and global scale. Healthy
forests contribute to regular weather patterns, and help to combat the drastic
changes that come from global climate change.
Who
do we work with:
American Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservation
organization in the country, advocates for the protection and expansion of
America’s forests. Since 1990, we have planted nearly 40 million trees. Our goal
is to work with our partners to plant an additional 25-30 million trees in
forest restoration projects during the next five years. We restore watersheds
to help provide clean drinking water. We replant forests destroyed by human
action and by natural disasters.
Our work is guided by science: choosing the right mix of trees
for particular locations, the best trees to act as windbreaks or to filter
water, the trees that will provide wildlife habitat, or are most suitable for
city streets and parks.
Our advocacy is also guided by science: keeping policymakers
informed about how trees interact with climate, sequester carbon, manage water,
and benefit cities. We explain that ecological services from trees and forests
have real economic value. We work in and advocate for federal, state, and urban
forests, and sometimes our work takes us beyond US borders. Our hundreds of
diverse projects have included:
Planting jack pine trees in Michigan’s
Huron-Manistee National Forest to restore summer habitat for the endangered Kirtland’s
warbler.
Restoring Cuyamaca Rancho
State Park near San Diego after 95 percent of it was destroyed
in a 2003 fire so hot that it killed the seeds that would have allowed the
forest to regrow naturally.
Planting ponderosa pines and Douglas
firs to help Colorado recover after a 2002 fire known as the Hayman Burn
destroyed over 135,000 acres, including 8,000 acres surrounding the Chessman
Reservoir, which supplies water to Denver.
Planting native trees in Michoacán,
Mexico, to provide winter habitat for migrating monarch
butterflies.
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