FORESTSAMERICAN SUMMER 2018 Borderlands Refuge CONSERVING THE MOST BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE HABITAT IN THE U.S. Janie Stapleton illustrates this Sleepy Fox print in her Arizona studio. When you purchase one, we’ll donate an additional $5 to American Forests (at no cost to you). We’ve raised more than $485,000 for American Forests, our Better to Give partner since 2010. When you choose them at checkout, we donate $1 (at no cost to you) toward their work to protect and restore the beautiful places we love to camp, hike, and just be. Visit uncommongoods.com. American Forests_Ad.indd 1 4/9/18 8:56 AM VOL 124 NO 2 CONTENTS SUMMER 2018 Departments 14 24 2 Offshoots A word from our President & CEO 4 Treelines PROJECT SHOWCASES: Read about our work to restore tree canopy in Houston after Hurricane Harvey and our efforts to boost the gopher tortoise population in the Southeastern U.S. FROM THE FIELD: From Detroit to Salem, Mo., follow what we’ve been up to in the field. PROFILES: Learn about our partnership with Thymes and how American Forests magazine has helped inspire two of our supporters to take action to protect and restore forests. CHAMPION TREE SHOWCASE: Yellow Birch ACTION CENTER: Despite increased funding in FY2018, the Urban and Community Forestry program budget is facing challenges under the Trump 40 32 Administration. 40 Of Owls and Salamanders How wildfire is impacting the habitats of two seemingly different species in a similar manner. 46 Earthkeepers MOVING FORWARD: REIMAGINING GREENSPACE How one woman, Fai Foen, is passionately working to restore Features greenspaces throughout the city of Detroit. 14 24 32 48 Last Look Beautiful photography from The Green Borderlands Before America Brian Kelley Factory Refuge Was America By Christopher Horn By Krista Schlyer By William Guion Explore how the field of The fight to save the most Discover the stories behind urban forestry is helping biologically diverse habitat Louisiana’s oldest southern COVER PHOTO by Krista Schlyer create jobs across America. in the U.S. live oaks. THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: THE GREENING OF DETROIT; KRISTA SCHLYER; WILLIAM GUION; SHEILA WHITMORE, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SCHLYER; KRISTA THE GREENING OF DETROIT; LEFT: FROM TOP CLOCKWISE THIS PAGE, AMERICANFORESTS.ORG SUMMER 2018 | 1 offshoots A Legacy and a Look Forward THIS IS A MONTH OF LASTS FOR ME legends, such as Teddy Roosevelt, Gif- In reality, my biggest contribu- here at American Forests — my last ford Pinchot and Aldo Leopold, helped tions to the organization may have board meeting, my last staff meeting and shape the organization, along with tens been a willingness to dream big and my last “Offshoots” column. In mid-July, of thousands of members. But by the end try new stuff, and the ability to attract my seven-and-a-half-year tenure as of the first decade of the new millen- people who were smarter than me. president and CEO of this great organi- nium, American Forests was struggling Today, American Forests is a very zation will come to a close. My to find its place. different organization. Our member- leaving is bittersweet, but I I knew when I was hired ship has grown threefold, our social am excited about the future of that I was an unusual choice to media audience has topped 250,000 American Forests, which will be CEO. While I had a personal (from under 2,000) and our financial continue doing vital work at love of forests and believe resources continue to expand. We have this critical time for the planet strongly that climate change is a courageous and supportive board, an — it is the right organization the most pressing issue of our exceptionally gifted staff and a growing at the right time. time, my prior career focused cadre of partners, donors and support- When I arrived here in late 2010, the on organizational strategy and communi- ers who believe deeply in the work we organization was venerable, but a bit cations. I knew little about the technical are doing together. worse for the wear. I was certainly daz- aspects of forests, had no contacts in the But the most important ways that zled by the organization’s legacy. Back in relevant government agencies, nor could American Forests has changed — and the day, American Forests helped launch I identify more than about 10 tree species will continue to change — relates to the conservation movement in America, by sight. But the board decided that what the work we do to care for our forests. gave birth to the idea of the U.S. Forest American Forests most needed was Eight years ago, we mostly functioned Service and a national forest system, and someone who knew how to lead change as a foundation — raising money and helped create the Civilian Conserva- in a nonprofit and who could help the selectively awarding it to government tion Corps, to list just three of its many organization tell its story more effec- agencies and on-the-ground partners remarkable achievements. Conservation tively. These things I could do. to plant trees in forests around the CHUCK FAZIO 2 | SUMMER 2018 AMERICANFORESTS.ORG EDITORIAL STAFF Publisher Scott Steen Editorial Director Lea Sloan Managing Editor Ashlan Bonnell Contributing Editor Christopher Horn world. Our primary While these programs “Forest conservation Editorial Assistants measure of success was provide a foundation for Devon Kellums the number of trees we is one of the most the future, leadership and Leah Rambadt Art Direction and Design had planted. valuable things we innovation are revealing Brad Latham As our staff has the potential for American American Forests (ISSN 0002-8541) is published can do for the health quarterly by American Forests, 1220 L St. NW, become increasingly Forests’ future impact. Suite 750 Washington, DC 20005. sophisticated, our of the planet. And During the last year, our Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., and additional mailing offices. approach to the work has while American programs team has led POSTMASTER: Send address changes to changed and our impact an aggressive strategy American Forests, 1220 L St. NW, Suite 750 Forests is doing great Washington, DC 20005. has grown. Our Ameri- for advancing the use American Forests’ mission is to restore can ReLeaf program work now, I have no of forests as a natural threatened forest ecosystems and inspire people still plants millions of doubt that its impact solution to climate change, to value and protect urban and wildland forests. (202) 737-1944 trees each year, but these will only increase.” positioning the organiza- www.americanforests.org days, we are going deep tion at the forefront of AMERICAN FORESTS on some of the most these efforts nationally. BOARD OF DIRECTORS important and threatened landscapes American Forests is thriving and the Bruce Lisman, Chair in America. Long-term impact is now work has never been more needed. So Private investor, Shelburne, VT Richard Kabat, Vice Chair our principal metric. We are building why am I leaving? I have always believed Kabat Company, Washington, DC wide-ranging restoration partnerships, that one of the greatest gifts a leader can Rod DeArment, Treasurer Covington & Burling LLP, Washington, DC conducting science-based planning, give an organization is knowing when Ann Nichols, Immediate Past Chair advancing a policy agenda that sup- to move on. American Forests needs a Chevy Chase, MD ports these efforts, and increasingly different kind of leader today than it did Scott Steen, President & CEO (ex officio) American Forests, Washington, DC viewing our projects as learning labo- when I was hired. Our challenges are dif- William H. Bohnett ratories for our other projects and for ferent, and so a different set of skills and President, Whitecap Investments LLC, Jupiter Island, FL the greater conservation community. experiences are necessary to take this Zim Boulos Our Community ReLeaf program, organization to its next level of success. Office Environment Services, Jacksonville, FL launched in 2013, has grown into a That said, I fully intend to stay Rob Bourdon Linkin Park, Sherman Oaks, CA model outreach effort that balances the engaged — as a cheerleader, advocate and Jeff Elliott large-scale environmental benefits of donor. Forest conservation is one of the Iridian Asset Management, Westport, CT expanding tree canopy in cities with most valuable things we can do for the Donna Dabney The Conference Board, New York, NY the need to expand access to trees and health of the planet. And while American William Hazelton greenspace in underserved neighbor- Forests is doing great work now, I have no Chubb Group, New York City, NY Elisa Rapaport hoods. Like American ReLeaf, Com- doubt that its impact will only increase. Rapaport Family Charitable Trust, munity ReLeaf is grounded in local Rockville Centre, NY partnerships, science-based planning Jonathan Silver Greenbanc Global, LLC, Washington, DC and a supporting public policy agenda. Robert Steinberg Steinberg Family Foundation, Greenwich, CT Mary Wagner U.S. Forest Service (Retired), Ogden, UT Scott: Thank you for your leadership and inspiration. We have grown and thrived — a bit like the trees that have been planted during your time at American Forests. And like the trees, our strong roots will continue to support us through the many seasons ahead.” — The Staff at American Forests CHUCK FAZIO treelines INFORMATION TO AMUSE, ENLIGHTEN AND INSPIRE In November 2017, American Forests held a tree planting at Burnett-Bayland Park with Bank of America and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. PROJECT SHOWCASE for our Community ReLeaf program. Luckily, we found each of these qualities in the Houston-Galveston Area Council Partnering for Success (H-GAC), the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) and in Houston Trees for Houston.