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Plant a Tree In U.S. National Forest – CO

Plant a Tree in A U.S. National Forest Colorado

As discussed in our last couple blogs detailing planting a memorial or celebration tree in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Arizona and Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota, planting a tree in a national forest in the United States or elsewhere around the world has become quite popular. Besides being a gift to a grieving family member or friend, or to celebrate a milestone event, these tree plantings are also a gift to the earth. The benefits range from helping reforest an area decimated by forest fire to aiding in improving the water quality of nearby rivers and lakes.  The Gifted Tree has planting projects in many United States National Forests, and this blog will focus on the project comprising many acres in and around Pike San Isabel National Forest, Colorado.

Pike San Isabel National Forest is a large forest in north central Colorado comprising well over a million acres including many of the state’s tallest mountains. When one thinks of Colorado, one thinks of lots of snow, but the environment in this area is actually quite dry, which makes it a prime location for forest fires. There have been several fires in this area over the past few years burning through Lodgepole pines and Spruce Fir forests. The intensity of these forest fires has made it difficult for these areas to naturally regenerate trees and other flora. By reforesting this area, our project that you help make possible, seeks to restore biodiversity, enhance ecosystem resilience, and mitigate the impact of future forest fires, ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of the landscape for both wildlife and communities alike.

A strand of beautiful Longleaf Pine Trees planted in a U.S. National Forest

Longleaf Pine Strand

While most of our planting projects around the world include several different tree species to be planted, this Colorado National Forest planting project only planted Lodgepole Pine trees. A number of tree experts determined collaboratively, in assessing the fire’s damage, that planting only Lodgepole pine trees was the best way to move forward to facilitate the ecosystem recovery of the area. The presence of other plant species in the understory (the vegetative layer and especially the trees and shrubs between the forest canopy and the ground cover) and adjacent habitats contributes to overall ecosystem diversity. Thus, focusing on only the Lodgepole pine for reforestation ensures the restoration of a vital component of Colorado’s forest ecosystems without excluding the presence of other species.

The Lodgepole Pine is a tree that is native to North America primarily in the Rocky Mountain region. This tree stands out with its paired needles, ranging from 1 to 3 inches in length, often twisted, giving it its distinctive appearance. In terms of bark, young lodgepole pines feature smooth, thin, grayish brown bark, while mature trees develop thick, deeply furrowed, and scaly bark with a reddish-brown hue. They are known for their towering heights, reaching between 50 to 100 feet tall, with a straight, slender trunk and a conical crown.

Distinctive needles and pine cone of a Longleaf Pine tree in a U.S. National Forest

Pine cone of a Lodgepole Pine,

Ecologically, Lodgepole pine trees serve a vital role in their native habitats. It offers various ecosystem services, such as:

Biodiversity Enhancement: By reintroducing Lodgepole pine saplings into areas affected by the fire, the reforestation project supports the recovery of vital habitat for a diverse array of fauna and flora species. Lodgepole pine forests are known to harbor numerous species, including birds, mammals, and insects, which rely on these habitats for shelter, nesting sites, and food resources. The re-establishment of these forests thus facilitates the return of biodiversity to the landscape, promoting ecosystem stability and resilience.

Carbon Sequestration: Lodgepole pine forests play a significant role in mitigating climate change through the process of carbon sequestration. Unfortunately, one of the costs of forest fires is that all the carbon stored in the old-growth trees is released and permanently lost when the trees burn. As the newly planted trees grow, they will absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their biomass and in the soil. By replanting Lodgepole pine seedlings, the reforestation project again allows the capacity of the landscape to sequester carbon, helping to mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and combatting climate change.

Soil Stabilization and Erosion Control: The establishment of Lodgepole pine forests contributes to soil stabilization and erosion control, particularly in mountainous regions prone to slope instability and erosion. The deep root systems of Lodgepole pine trees help anchor the soil, reducing the risk of landslides and sediment runoff into waterways. Through the reforestation project, the restoration of Lodgepole pine forests enhances soil stability, safeguarding valuable ecosystems and downstream water quality

Fire Resilience and Adaptation: Lodgepole pine forests are well-adapted to fire prone ecosystems, and their presence contributes to the natural fire regime of the landscape. By replanting Lodgepole pine saplings, the reforestation project restores the fire-adapted ecology of the area, enhancing its resilience to future wildfires.

Bark of a Longleaf Pine tree in a U.S. National Forest

Monitoring the planting project is accomplished via drone and satellite imaging as well as site visits, all with the goal of long-term growth achieving a multitude of ecological benefits that are even greater than just the reforesting of the area burned by the fire. By enhancing biodiversity, sequestering carbon, stabilizing soils, promoting fire resilience, and supporting water resource management, the project contributes to the long-term sustainability and resilience of the landscape, safeguarding its ecological integrity for future generations. As one of the project managers stated: “This project’s impact will be critical in ensuring the future mitigation of severe wildfires, thereby safeguarding an array of ecological and social benefits for the community. It is an honor to participate in such vital restoration work, and we look forward to assessing the trees’ progress in the upcoming years.” Thanks to your foresight, these projects in United States National Forests are getting funded. And The Gifted Tree makes it easy to plant  trees to celebrate an important milestone or to plant a memorial tree in memory of a loved one, in Colorado, or in 80+ locations around the world.

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The Best Time To Plant a Tree

There is an old proverb, aren’t they all old, which says: The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now. The wisdom is almost entirely true, but not totally true as I will explain in a bit. It is almost always a good time to plant a tree as they provide so many benefits.

Benefit of Trees

Tree branches form the shape of a heart with sunset in background.

Without getting into all the details, here are 10 reasons we need to plant and care for trees as is explained in more detail on our importance of trees page.

  1. Trees absorb CO2 gases helping offset the effects of climate change.
  2. Trees provide oxygen and clean the air at the same time.
  3. Tree coverage helps cool by day and retain heat at night thus conserving energy.
  4. Trees act as natural water filters, reduce soil erosion, and help prevent flooding.
  5. Trees help increase property values and beautify communities.
  6. Trees provide a habitat for the world’s plants and animals to, if not thrive, at least survive.
  7. Trees can provide food for both humans and animals.
  8. Trees provide many health benefits including shielding us from harmful ultra-violet rays.
  9. Trees create economic opportunities, especially in impoverished areas around the world.
  10. Trees provide shade so we can enjoy a picnic.

Best Time To Plant a TreeFather wearing gray shirt and shorts and son in checkered shirt and pants planting tree under sun.

The old proverb quoted above shows that man understood the benefits of lush arbor coverage centuries ago, however, one doesn’t just want to plant a tree at any time of year, but at the right time. The best time to plant a tree is typically during the dormant season, which is in the late fall or early spring, depending on your climate and the type of tree you’re planting. Here are some guidelines to consider:

  • Late Fall (Autumn): Planting in late fall, after the tree has dropped its leaves, can be an excellent time because the tree can focus on establishing and growing its root system during the cooler months without the stress of hot weather. Also, in the Fall, the soil stays warm well after the air temperature cools, which also encourages root growth. This allows it to be better prepared for the growing season in the spring.
  • Early Spring: Early spring is another suitable time for tree planting, just before new growth begins. The soil is still relatively cool, which encourages root development. It’s important to plant early enough in the spring so that the tree has time to establish roots before the heat of summer.
  • Avoid Extreme Weather: Avoid planting during the hot summer months or during freezing winter conditions. Extreme temperatures can stress the tree and make it harder for it to establish itself. Trees planted in the Fall are better equipped to deal with heat and drought in future seasons.
  • Consider Local Climate: The best time can vary based on your local climate and the specific type of tree you’re planting. Some trees may have specific planting times that are ideal for their growth.
  • Container vs. Bare-Root: If you’re planting a container-grown tree, you have more flexibility in terms of when you can plant, but still, aim for the dormant season or early spring. Bare-root trees are typically planted during the dormant season.
  • Fewer Insects: The cooler temps of Fall and early Winter keep down the activity of insects which can be harmful to newly planted trees (as well as more established, mature trees).
  • Rainfall: If possible, try to time your planting with periods of regular rainfall, which can help the tree establish itself more easily. Increased rainfall and cooler temperatures also means less watering time for you!

As you can see, proper tree planting involves more than just timing. Make sure to prepare the soil properly, dig an appropriate planting hole, and provide the tree with adequate water and care after planting to ensure its success and healthy growth. Additionally, consider the specific requirements of the tree species you’re planting, as some may have unique preferences and needs.

Here at The Gifted Tree, all of our memorial and celebration gift trees are planted in the location’s late spring or fall. This is being done to ensure the long-term survival of the trees as well as to accomplish the goals of the project. We have worked with our tree planting partners for years as they oversee the planting of our memorial and celebration trees as well as monitor their well-being afterwards to help ensure long-term survival allowing these trees to create a legacy lasting for generations.

The Gifted Tree has planting projects in over 80 locations in United States National Forests and in countries around the world. Each planting project has specific goals and plants different species of trees. Join us in exploring these planting locations as we update our locations pages to make it easier to view the projects available and to learn about the goals of the project, the species of trees planted, and, if available, a link to virtually view the general planting area via Bing earth maps.

Trees and a rushing Mountain Stream

 

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Support Our Military Kids & Help Fight Climate Change w/ our Trees for a Cause Program

Connect Personally - Benefit Globally - Support A Cause

The Gifted Tree has always helped the earth by planting trees worldwide to counteract the devastating effects of forest fires and climate change, but we have added a new wrinkle. Your gift tree will still help you connect with someone special to you and give the world a gift, too, but now you can also help support a meaningful cause.

Announcing Our Trees for a Cause Planting Program

The Gifted Tree’s Trees for a Cause charity donation program is a win-win-win partnership. Win 1 = Connect on a personal level with someone important to you and show them you care. Win 2 = By planting a tree, you are helping the earth, counteracting the devastating effects of forest fires and climate change. Win 3 = Directly help the hard work of a worthwhile cause by planting your gift tree in a charity-specific “Giving Grove,” located in a U.S. National Forest. When you choose our Trees for a Cause program, The Gifted Tree will donate 10% of the purchase price to that organization to help fund their valuable programs.

Our Military Kids Logo - Empowering Military Kids

Our Military Kids Partnership with the Gifting Tree

Our first partnership is with Our Military Kids. Their “Giving Grove” is called the Empower Tree Grove and is located in a U.S. National Forest. Since 2004, Our Military Kids has empowered military kids by funding sports, arts, and other enrichment activities when their parents are deployed overseas with the National Guard or Reserves or recovering from severe injuries sustained in a post-9/11 overseas mission.

National Guard and Reserve families sometimes have trouble accessing support services from military installations. During deployments, these families may lose income when their military member leaves a civilian job to accept a military position overseas. The loss of income and lack of resources can create gaps that are hard on families. Our Military Kids fills these gaps with a simple grant program that pays for their children’s activities.

Wheel-chair bound amputee military father helping his daughter on the playgroundWhen military members are injured in service to our country, their families face many changes. They may have to move closer to medical care or change their comfortable routines. Children must often take a back seat while parents deal with more pressing issues related to medical care, financial strains, and other adult responsibilities. Our Military Kids grants ease the financial strain on parents while giving their children the chance to participate in positive activities that will help them laugh, grow, and feel connected to the community.

The History of Our Military Kids

In early 2004, Our Military Kids started small, with a pilot program focused on a National Guard unit from Winchester, Va. The pilot program was extremely successful, and they expanded to help all deployed Reserve and National Guard families living throughout Virginia.
Air Force father holding his daughter

Calls from deploying soldiers were sometimes heartbreaking. Feeling the need to help more children cope with the challenges brought on by lengthy separations, Our Military Kids began covering families living in Maryland, the District of Columbia and, eventually, the entire United States.

In 2008, Our Military Kids expanded its program once again, this time to include children of service members and veterans from all branches of service who were severely injured in post-9/11 combat operations, and whose families were struggling to deal with financial and emotional hardships.

Today, Our Military Kids is a national organization, funded entirely by private donors, foundations and corporate sponsors. Since its inception, the group has provided more than 67,000 grants to military families across the country, allowing military kids the opportunity to participate in sports, arts and other activities while their parents are deployed or recovering from severe injuries sustained in combat. Participation in these activities helps military children cope with stress and build self-confidence while their parents are recovering or serving overseas.

4-Star Rated Nonprofit Organization

While The Gifted Tree is so impressed with the mission of Our Military Kids, we are also attracted to the group’s financial acumen and transparency.  Our Military Kids has earned the highest possible 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator, the leading charity watchdog organization. Because of the group’s careful money management, a high percentage of donation dollars is going directly to fund kids’ grants, something that is important to The Gifted Tree and guided its decision to include the organization in our Trees for a Cause program.
Two Our Military Kids children proudly holding their grant award certificates

How Our Charity Tree Donation Program Works

If you want to plant a tree in memory of, in celebration of or in honor of someone close to you and make a difference in a child’s life, consider our Trees for a Cause option. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase price of your gift tree will be donated to the organization to directly help fund its programs, which can ease stress for military kids by paying for participation in sports, fine arts, & tutoring programs while their parents are serving their country overseas or recovering from battle wounds.

Back our charity donation program by choosing the Trees for a Cause planting location and help support Our Military Kids.

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How To Choose Where To Plant Your Gift Tree – Part 1

Madagascar Landscape

No matter where you plant, realize you are making a difference 

You have decided to plant a gift tree – either a memorial tree planted in memory of a loved one (human or pet), or in someone’s name to celebrate one of life’s milestones, perhaps a birthday, anniversary or birth. The Gifted Tree plants gift trees in over 20 countries around the world, the only memorial tree planting company to do so. Now you must decide where you would like to plant the tree. No matter which location you choose, or if you can’t decide and just want to have us plant the gift tree in the area of most need, realize that you are making a monumental difference for the earth and opening a new doorway to the world for future generations.

Beyond forest fires and climate change

Typically, most of us think that our gift tree should be planted to reforest areas that have been devastated by forest fire or negatively affected by climate change. While these are two good and valid reasons for deciding where to plant, there is another important benefit that can be gained by planting your memorial tree in certain locations around the globe; socio-economic gain.

Planting gift trees make a difference in people's lives

Spending the day collecting firewood

This benefit can be difficult to grasp, mainly because in our first world country, we do not experience the difficulties of everyday life encountered by third world communities. A significant amount of deforestation, particularly in African and Asian nations, occur because the population needs the wood just to cook their meals. The sad part is, as time goes on and the wood sources move farther away from homes, citizens, particularly women and children, need to travel miles everyday just to collect firewood to cook that evening’s dinner. The better part of the day is spent gathering wood with little or no time left to work on jobs that would lead to economic gain.

No problem, forest resources are unlimited, Not

The alarming rate of deforestation in these areas is also due to the economic value of the forest, specifically timber products. Deforestation is so serious that individuals have cut down large trees that have been standing for decades for little or no reason at all. Many believe the forest is meant to be exploited or cut down to meet their needs. Bush burning and unsustainable logging are very widespread, and many believe forest resources are unlimited, and that what they take from the forest is too minimal to make a difference.

Beyond planting trees, educating

The gift tree planting projects The Gifted Tree is involved in Africa and Asia have multiple socio-economic benefits. Not only are we planting trees in these regions, but farmers are also being trained in best tree planting methods, nursery preparation, farm conservation and finance, and irrigation management. Most of these individuals have no prior knowledge of proper land management techniques, but this training will be a significant factor in the fight against deforestation. They also learned methods and techniques to protect trees to withstand local climatic conditions and thus help to ensure the newly planted trees’ long-term survival.Planting gift trees changes lives, forever

 

Planting trees and changing lives, forever

Your planting of a gift tree in these developing nations will include a variety of fruit and nut-bearing trees such as fig, quince, pomegranate, apple, lemon, olive, apricot, orange, pear, and walnut. This social forestry education, coupled with an increase in technology literacy, provides sustenance for the villagers, as well as allowing for job growth in the region, and the ability to earn a sustainable income by selling excess fruit and nuts in the local markets.

By choosing to plant your gift tree in an African or Asian nation, you give families the ability to transition from unsustainable farming techniques to a forest garden system. Your memorial tree not only sustains and empowers the citizens of these regions, but also changes their lives forever.

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