SUMMER 2021 THE PHOTO ISSUE FORESTS IN FOCUS See the inspiring images that earned top honors in our annual photo contest LET FORESTS BE YOUR LEGACY WITH A GIFT THAT COSTS YOU NOTHING NOW Use our new FreeWill online tool at www.americanforests.org/evergreensociety We all want to be remembered as someone who made a difference in our world. YOU CAN! — by leaving a gift to American Forests in your will, trust or by beneficiary designation. It’s easy to do, and your gift costs you nothing today. We can help you decide on a gift that’s right for you. To discuss the best gift option for you or to notify us of a gift you have made, please contact Sarah Mitchell, Director of Donor Experience and Engagement, at 202-737-1948 or [email protected]. CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE PROBLEM. FORESTS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SOLUTION. AF_2021 House Ads_Full-Page_FINAL.indd 4 4/27/21 10:35 AM VOL. 127, NO. 2 CONTENTS SUMMER 2021 THE PHOTO ISSUE Departments 2 Offshoots A word from our president and chief executive officer 4 Treelines A PLACE TO CALL HOME: The dynamic partnership between forests and wildlife. FORESTS: THE PROTECTOR OF WATER: Just as water is life, healthy forests are as well. FAMILY TREE STRINGS: Graphic designer Carla Delgado creates a project that reflects 12 her family and their love of trees. HISTORY: American Forests and Girl Scouts of the USA announce a new initiative together, continuing a partnership that dates back to 1921. THE UNDERSTORY: A new study reveals how to advance Tree Equity by planting 31.4 million trees. PARTNER PROFILE: Learn about our far-reaching partnership with LightStream, which is nearing a major milestone. 36 Last Look Read what our social media community had to 18 say about our 2021 Forests in Focus People’s Choice nominees. BACK COVER FOLD-OUT 26 Champion Tree Showcase Features Cucumber magnolia 12 The economic lifeblood of trees Take a look at some of the unique jobs generated by, and reliant on, forests and trees. 18 Landowners key to restoring the native forests of the Lower Rio Grande Valley By Katherine Gustafson American Forests is partnering with rancher Betty Perez and other private landowners to restore native thornforest habitat in South Texas. 26 7 2021 Forests in Focus Photo Contest See the stunning photography that earned top honors in this year’s contest. COVER PHOTO: DAVE SHAFFER CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: PAGE 33 STUDIO; MICHAEL MARDON; JOSH CLAGUE; JAMES FOGUTH / AMERICAN FORESTS FOGUTH JAMES CLAGUE; MICHAEL MARDON; JOSH STUDIO; 33 PAGE LEFT: FROM BOTTOM SHAFFER CLOCKWISE DAVE PHOTO: COVER AMERICAN FORESTS SUMMER 2021 | 1 offshoots But we also have a need, clearer now America needs a than ever, for big outdoor adventures. You have probably read about the record forest bath numbers of people visiting our national parks during the pandemic, in some BY JAD DALEY cases pushing those places to their breaking point. My wife and I love to visit Shenan- IN TOUGH TIMES — like the COVID- to the outdoors is a long way from the doah National Park and the George 19 pandemic — we often learn important wildlands Aldo Leopold explored. It’s Washington National Forest, both of lessons. One such lesson for me has been right outside our front door. which are less than two hours from our the close connection between my men- Just being able to walk under the home. I used to wonder why we didn’t see tal health and ability to connect with the leaves and hear birds on a tree-lined more people in these places. outdoors. More than just an interesting street, or have a shaded path for running Not anymore. Now we have had to “aha” moment, I believe that this realiza- and biking on a hot day, can make all the aim for “off hours” windows to visit our tion calls me, American Forests and all difference. In my own life, it has been close-to-home parks because they are of us to action. incredibly valuable to be able to come out so heavily trafficked on the weekends it You will note that I did not say of my basement office and simply enjoy has not always felt possible to manage a connection to “nature” or even the trees in my backyard, as well as the social distancing while on the trails. “forests.” For me and, I believe, many small urban forest I am blessed to have at This difficulty has been seen across others, our most frequent connection the end of my street. the nation, posing a huge challenge for Daley and his family hike along Vermont’s Long Trail in Hazen’s Notch State Park. Pictured are Jad Daley (front), (from left to right) his nephew Connor Stevenson, brother-in-law Ken Stevenson, sister Shannon Daley-Harris and mother, Patti Daley. DALEY OF JAD COURTESY PHOTOS 2 | SUMMER 2021 AMERICAN FORESTS THE PHOTO ISSUE EDITORIAL STAFF Publisher Jad Daley Editorial Director Michele Kurtz Managing Editor Ashlan Bonnell Contributing Editor Jill Schwartz Contributing Writers Ashlan Bonnell, Carla Delgado, Michele Kurtz, Rebecca Long, Shanita Rasheed and Jill Schwartz Art Direction and Design Brad Latham Daley has found continual solace during the day by walking to Forest Park right at the American Forests’ mission is to restore threatened forest ecosystems and end of his street. inspire people to value and protect urban and wildland forests. (202) 737-1944 public land managers and the people our communities, ideally reachable www.americanforests.org who go to these places. by large numbers of people in differ- AMERICAN FORESTS One of the main reasons for this is ent ways, including public transit. BOARD OF DIRECTORS that we have had fewer structured activ- American Forests has planted 65 Richard Kabat, Chair Kabat Company, Washington, DC ities, like youth sports and concerts, million trees since 1990. We need to Jeff Elliott, Vice Chair and Treasurer competing for our time. But equally step this up in close-to-home places Iridian Asset Management, Westport, CT Bruce Lisman, Immediate Past Chair important is that the overwhelming that can expand accessible outdoor Private investor, Shelburne, VT intensity of sitting in just one place and experiences for all. Jad Daley, President & CEO (ex officio) having endless screen time day after American Forests promotes Tree American Forests, Washington, DC Holly Beale day has prompted a raw physical need Equity and close-to-home natural Microsoft, Redmond, WA to balance our digital stimuli with the areas as a focus for tree planting efforts William H. Bohnett President, Whitecap Investments LLC, opposite — the sounds and experiences through the 1t.org US Chapter, the Jupiter Island, FL of being in nature. trillion trees platform that includes E. Zimmermann Boulos Office Environments & Services entities ranging from gov- Jacksonville, FL ernments and companies to Ara Erickson “I hope we can help remind America of the Girl Scouts and faith groups. Weyerhaeuser, Seattle, WA William Hazelton healing power from mixing more outside Finally, we need to speak Chubb Group, New York City, NY for time under the trees David Hunter, Ph.D. time into our busy modern lives, and Electric Power Research Institute as life moves into a post- Washington, DC influence more people to do so.” pandemic mode. Those Clara Poffenberger Clara Poffenberger Environmental happy faces I have seen on Law & Policy, LLC, To address this, American Forests the bustling trails suggest to me that Fairfax, VA Jeffrey Prieto is doubling down on its commitment to we have rediscovered something really Los Angeles Community College District, Tree Equity. Simply put, Tree Equity important by taking away, temporar- Los Angeles, CA Elisa Rapaport is about ensuring every neighborhood ily, other things that have come to Rapaport Family Charitable Trust, has enough trees so that every person dominate our time. I hope we can help Rockville Centre, NY Candace Dodson-Reed can reap the benefits that trees have to remind America of the healing power University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) offer — such as calming our minds on from mixing more outside Ellicot City, MD Mary Wagner busy Zoom days. Soon we will roll out time into our busy modern lives, and U.S. Forest Service (Retired), Ogden, UT Tree Equity scores for every urbanized influence more people to do so. area in the United States. City govern- Our forests have never needed ment employees, community activists, us more, and we have never needed urban foresters and others can use the them more, too. Thank you for scores to make the case for planting everything you help make possible trees in the neighborhoods that need at American Forests. them most — notably, neighborhoods subjected to disinvestment and discrimination — and allocate the resources needed to do so. For more news and updates from Jad, We also need to create more follow him on Twitter @JadDaley PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAD DALEY OF JAD COURTESY PHOTOS “big nature” opportunities outside treelines INFORMATION TO AMUSE, ENLIGHTEN AND INSPIRE In fact, 80% of all land-based species This dynamic partnership benefits A place to live in forests. forests in other ways as well. Often, the But it’s far from a one-sided vibrancy and anticipation of spotting call home relationship. While forests provide wildlife is what draws people to forests. habitat and food for wildlife, many While there, they can find adventure and wildlife species return the favor, emotionally connect with nature, which, WHETHER BURROWED below the nourishing their forest homes by ultimately, creates a desire to protect it. forest floor, nested among branches dispersing and germinating seeds, When that happens, we help ensure or denned beneath downed trees, controlling threatening pests these creatures have a place to call countless creatures call forests home.