Give a Tree: Why A Living Tribute’s Plant-a-Tree Cards Are a Lasting Alternative to Sympathy Cards and Flowers

When someone passes away, sending condolences is a timeless way to show you care. Traditionally, this has meant sending flowers or a sympathy card — heartfelt gestures, but ones that fade quickly and are eventually discarded.

With A Living Tribute, you can send something far more meaningful: a living memorial that grows stronger with time, helps restore forests across America, and leaves a positive environmental legacy in honor of a loved one.

A Gift That Lives On

• Flowers wilt within days, and sympathy cards are often tucked away or recycled.

• A card from A Living Tribute represents a living tree planted in someone’s honor. These trees grow for years to come, restoring forests and symbolizing hope and renewal.

• Instead of sending something fleeting, you’re giving a gift that endures, improves the environment, and stands as a living legacy.

Since 2014, more than 800,000 trees have been planted through our memorial tree programs—each one helping to heal our nation's forests and woodlands while honoring a life.

Healing the Land Through Reforestation

Every sympathy card from A Living Tribute directly contributes to reforestation in areas that need it most. Trees are planted in forests recovering from wildfires, insect infestations, and other natural challenges.

• Restoring wildfire scars: Seedlings are planted in places devastated by fire, where natural regeneration can’t keep up.

• Rebuilding wildlife habitat: New trees provide food and shelter for countless species, from birds and mammals to pollinators.

• Protecting clean air and water: Trees absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and filter water as it flows through watersheds.

• Stabilizing soil: Roots help prevent erosion and protect delicate ecosystems.

Each 1,000 tree seedlings planted can restore 2–3 acres of forest. Even a single tree makes a difference—helping revive lands damaged by wildfire, pests, or disease, and transforming grief into growth, loss into renewal.

Tree Planting Impact 🌲

• 1 Tree – Provides clean air and wildlife habitat, playing a small but meaningful role in forest restoration.

• 5 Trees – Restores about 1/100 of an acre, multiplying habitat support and air purification.

• 10 Trees – Restores about 1/50 of an acre, helping stabilize soil and bring balance back to ecosystems.

• 25 Trees – Restores about 1/20 of an acre, significantly aiding recovery after wildfire, pests, or disease.

• 100 Trees – Restores about 1/5 of an acre, making a major contribution to reforesting damaged landscapes.

Premium, Sustainable Tribute Cards

Unlike standard sympathy cards, which are often mass-produced and quickly discarded, our plant-a-tree tribute cards are designed to be beautiful keepsakes:

• Printed on FSC-certified, sustainable cardstocks that are both elegant and eco-friendly. With A Living Tribute, families receive a beautiful printed or framed card, or a digital e-certificate, detailing where their trees are planted.

• Created with heartfelt imagery and space for a personalized message.

• Available to be mailed directly to the recipient or funeral home.

• Meant to be displayed and treasured, rather than set aside.

These cards are not just symbols of sympathy — they’re physical reminders of your tree's lasting impact.

Shipped Carbon-Free

Every order is delivered carbon-neutral thanks to our commitment to offset shipping emissions. Our participation in Planet funds the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through trusted, high-impact climate projects.

From design to delivery, each tribute card is part of a greener, more responsible way to express sympathy.

Verified Tree Plantings and Tracking

One of the unique advantages of sending a living tribute is the confidence that comes with it.

• Each order plants real trees in designated reforestation projects. A Living Tribute partners with a network of more than 20 trusted reforestation companies and nonprofit organizations to ensure every tree is planted where it’s needed.

• Many of our plantings now include post-planting survival tracking, offering peace of mind that the tribute is thriving long after it is planted.

This level of transparency ensures that your gesture isn’t symbolic—it’s real, measurable, and lasting.

Why Choose Trees Over Flowers or Cards?

When comparing traditional sympathy gifts to plant-a-tree cards, the difference is clear:

Traditional Cards & Flowers

• Last only days or weeks

• Often discarded after services

• No lasting environmental benefit

• Limited emotional impact beyond the moment

Our Cards

• Create a living tribute that lasts generations

• Help restore damaged forests and ecosystems

• Provide clean air, water, and wildlife habitat

• Shipped carbon-neutral on sustainable cardstocks

• Backed by verified planting reports and ongoing tracking

• A gift that recipients can treasure and display proudly

Sending flowers or a sympathy card shows you care today—sending a tree shows you care for a lifetime.

A Tribute for Every Occasion

Although many families choose A Living Tribute for sympathy, our gifts are also perfect for other meaningful moments:

• Celebrations of life and anniversaries

• Weddings and milestones

• Pet memorials

• Corporate gifts that reflect environmental responsibility

No matter the occasion, a tree planting is a universal symbol of life, hope, and renewal.

In Summary

A commemorative card from A Living Tribute is more than a gesture—they are a gift of life. Each tribute honors someone special while helping to rebuild forests and support wildlife.

Instead of sending flowers that fade or cards that get set aside, you can give a gift that grows stronger every year. With every tree planted, you’re creating a legacy of remembrance, healing, and hope for generations to come. 🌲

Choose the Tribute That’s Right for You

At A Living Tribute, we offer several meaningful ways to honor loved ones:

• Sympathy Cards – Beautiful, printed memorial cards mailed directly to the recipient or funeral home.

• E-Certificates – A quick and thoughtful digital option for same-day delivery, perfect when timing is important.

• Framed Cards – Elegant framed keepsakes designed to be displayed and treasured for years.

Whichever option you choose, each one plants a tree in someone’s honor and delivers a message of hope that lasts far beyond the moment.

Lake Tahoe Reforestation Sites

• West Shore - Lake Tahoe
  GPS: 39.1964388, -120.1224407
  Restoration work near Tahoe City with rust-resistant sugar pine seedlings.

• Truckee - Sagehen Summit
  GPS: 39.4481609, -120.2291165
  Tree planting projects along the mountain slopes of Truckee to restore native pine stands.

• North Shore - Galena Creek Park
  GPS: 39.349837, -119.853439
  Reforestation efforts on Tahoe’s North Shore, strengthening forest health and diversity.

• East Shore - Tunnel Creek
  GPS: 39.218907, -119.927754
  Plantings on the East Shore to restore critical habitats and protect the shoreline ecosystem.

• Carson City - Tamarack Fire Burn Scar
  GPS: 38.683460, -119.802380
  Healing landscapes impacted by wildfire through reforestation near Carson City.

• Caldor Fire - Sierra-at-Tahoe
  GPS: 38.802273, -120.080917
  Recovery plantings in the Caldor Fire burn scar, helping restore the Sierra-at-Tahoe area.

Forest Friends Memorial Tree Program: Celebrating 11 Years of Growth 🌲

Every year, our Forest Friends memorial trees are planted wherever the need is greatest across the U.S. National Forest system. Working in partnership with trusted reforestation partners such as the National Forest Foundation, A Living Tribute directs contributions to forests recovering from wildfires, insect infestations, disease, and other natural challenges.

This ensures that each tree planted not only honors a loved one but also helps restore landscapes in the most critical need of reforestation that calendar year.

For over a decade, A Living Tribute’s Forest Friends memorial tree program has helped families, friends, and communities honor loved ones by planting living trees across America’s National Forests. Now in its 11th year, Forest Friends continues to restore landscapes impacted by wildfires, insect outbreaks, and climate stress—while providing recipients with a beautiful, framed keepsake card.

Each tree planted is a legacy: a source of clean air, restored habitat, and a symbol of hope for generations to come.

Looking Back: Prior Years’ Planting Projects 🌎

The Forest Friends program has made a nationwide impact, from Minnesota’s Northwoods to the deserts of Arizona and the Pacific slopes of Oregon.

Here are highlights from prior years:

🌱 Forest Friends 2018

Our 2018 Forest Friends tributes helped to restore forests such as:

• Chattahoochee-Oconee NF (GA)

• Mississippi National Forests

• Hiawatha NF (MI)

• Chequamegon-Nicolet NF (WI)

• Chippewa NF (MN)

• GMUG & San Juan NFs (CO)

• Shoshone NF (WY)

• Deschutes, Ochoco, Malheur NFs (OR)

• Helena-Lewis & Clark, Lolo, Bitterroot NFs (MT)

• Boise, Idaho Panhandle NFs (ID)

• Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino NFs (AZ)

• Okanogan-Wenatchee, Umatilla, Gifford Pinchot NFs (WA)

• Sierra, Lassen, Shasta-Trinity, Lake Tahoe Basin NFs (CA)

🌱 Forest Friends 2019

Our 2019 Forest Friends tributes helped to restore forests such as:

• Florida, Mississippi, Alabama & North Carolina NFs

• Monongahela NF (WV)

• Ozark-St. Francis NF (AR)

• Hiawatha NF (MI)

• Chequamegon-Nicolet NF (WI)

• Superior, Chippewa NFs (MN)

• Cibola NF (NM)

• Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino NFs (AZ)

• GMUG NF (CO)

• Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF (UT)

• Shoshone NF (WY)

• Boise NF (ID)

• Bitterroot, Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Lolo, Flathead, Kootenai NFs (MT)

• Gifford Pinchot, Okanogan-Wenatchee NFs (WA)

• Malheur, Deschutes NFs (OR)

• Angeles, Lassen, Modoc, Klamath NFs (CA)

🌱 Forest Friends 2020

Our 2020 Forest Friends tributes helped to restore forests such as:

• Tongass NF (AK)

• North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida NFs

• Chattahoochee-Oconee NF (GA)

• Alabama & Mississippi NFs

• Kisatchie NF (LA)

• Texas National Forests

• Ouachita, Ozark-St. Francis NFs (AR)

• Mark Twain NF (MO)

• GMUG NF (CO)

• Fishlake & Dixie NFs (UT)

• Coconino, Coronado NFs (AZ)

• Shoshone NF (WY)

• Angeles, Lassen NFs (CA)

• Boise, Idaho Panhandle NFs (ID)

• Malheur, Deschutes, Ochoco, Willamette NFs (OR)

• Gifford Pinchot NF (WA)

• Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Lolo, Kootenai NFs (MT)

🌱 Forest Friends 2021

Our 2021 Forest Friends tributes helped to restore forests such as:

• Ocala NF (FL)

• Mississippi & Alabama NFs

• Chattahoochee-Oconee NF (GA)

• North Carolina NFs

• George Washington & Jefferson NF (VA)

• Huron-Manistee, Hiawatha, Ottawa NFs (MI)

• Chequamegon-Nicolet NF (WI)

• Chippewa NF (MN)

• Lincoln & Cibola NFs (NM)

• Apache-Sitgreaves NF (AZ)

• White River NF (CO)

• Shoshone NF (WY)

• Boise, Idaho Panhandle NFs (ID)

• Wallowa-Whitman NF (ID/OR)

• Colville, Okanogan-Wenatchee NFs (WA)

• Kootenai, Bitterroot, Lolo, Flathead, Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Helena-Lewis & Clark NFs (MT)

• Columbia River Gorge NSA (OR)

• Willamette, Umpqua, Fremont-Winema NFs (OR)

• Sierra, Stanislaus, Lassen, Klamath NFs (CA)

🌱 Forest Friends 2022

Our 2022 Forest Friends tributes helped to restore forests such as:

• Chippewa NF (MN)

• Mississippi National Forests

• Ouachita NF (AR)

• Chattahoochee-Oconee NF (GA)

• South Carolina National Forests

• Santa Fe NF (NM)

• Coronado, Tonto, Coconino NFs (AZ)

• GMUG, White River, Arapaho-Roosevelt, Medicine Bow-Routt NFs (CO)

• Cleveland, Angeles, Sierra NFs (CA)

• Willamette, Mt. Hood, Malheur, Deschutes, Ochoco, Umpqua, Fremont-Winema NFs (OR)

• Boise, Sawtooth, Nez Perce-Clearwater, Idaho Panhandle NFs (ID)

• Okanogan-Wenatchee, Colville NFs (WA)

• Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Lolo, Kootenai, Flathead NFs (MT)

🌱 Forest Friends 2023

Our 2023 Forest Friends tributes helped to restore forests such as:

• Bienville NF (MS)

• Kisatchie NF (LA)

• Ozark-St. Francis & Ouachita NFs (AR)

• Ocala NF (FL)

• South Carolina National Forests

• Huron-Manistee & Hiawatha NFs (MI)

• Chequamegon-Nicolet NF (WI)

• Lincoln NF (NM)

• Tonto NF (AZ)

• Medicine Bow-Routt NF (CO)

• Angeles, Shasta-Trinity, Lassen, Klamath NFs (CA)

• Umpqua, Willamette, Deschutes, Ochoco, Malheur, Mt. Hood, Umatilla NFs (OR/WA)

• Gifford Pinchot & Okanogan-Wenatchee NFs (WA)

• Boise, Sawtooth, Nez Perce-Clearwater, Idaho Panhandle NFs (ID)

• Lolo, Kootenai, Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Helena-Lewis and Clark, Custer Gallatin NFs (MT)

🌱 Forest Friends 2024

Our 2024 Forest Friends tributes helped to restore forests such as:

• Chippewa NF (MN)

• Kisatchie NF (LA)

• North Carolina National Forests

• Wayne NF (OH)

• Huron-Manistee & Hiawatha NFs (MI)

• Mississippi National Forests

• Ouachita NF (AR)

• Nebraska NF (NE)

• Lincoln & Santa Fe NFs (NM)

• GMUG, White River NFs (CO)

• Shoshone NF (WY)

• Custer Gallatin, Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, Lolo, Bitterroot NFs (MT)

• Idaho Panhandle, Nez Perce-Clearwater, Boise, Payette, Sawtooth NFs (ID)

• Angeles, Sierra, Mendocino, Lassen, Shasta-Trinity, Klamath NFs (CA)

• Fishlake NF (UT)

• Prescott, Coconino, Tonto, Apache-Sitgreaves NFs (AZ)

• Willamette & Umpqua NFs (OR)

This Year’s Planting Projects (2025) 🌱

In 2025, your Forest Friends contributions will support vital restoration efforts nationwide.

Some highlighted sites include:

• White River Reforestation – Mt. Hood NF, Oregon

• Green Ridge & Big Red Fire Plantings – Medicine Bow–Routt NFs, WY/CO

• Lava Mountain Fire Restoration – Shoshone NF, Wyoming

• Whitebark Pine Planting at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort – Bridger-Teton NF, Wyoming

• Shoshone North Zone Insect & Disease Response – Shoshone NF

• Longleaf Pine Restoration – Mississippi & Francis Marion & Sumter NFs (SC)

• Chequamegon-Nicolet NF Reforestation – Wisconsin

• Black Hills Collective Reforestation – Black Hills NF, SD/WY

• Superior & Chippewa NF Restoration – Minnesota

• Red Spruce Restoration – Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina

• Kirtland’s Warbler Planting – Hiawatha NF, Michigan

• South Fork Reforestation – Lincoln NF, New Mexico

• Ocala Longleaf Restoration – Ocala NF, Florida

• East Troublesome & Williams Fork Planting – Arapaho & Roosevelt NFs, Colorado

• Sylvan Fire Planting – White River NF, Colorado

• Hermit’s Peak & Calf Canyon Fire Restoration – Carson & Santa Fe NFs, New Mexico

• Mustang & Moose Fire Spring Planting – Salmon-Challis NF, Idaho

• Trinity Whitebark Pine Reforestation – Boise NF, Idaho

• Creek Fire Reforestation – Sierra NF, California

• Copper Fire & Bear Divide Restoration – Angeles NF, California

Why Forest Friends Memorial Trees? 🌍

• A Living Legacy – Each tribute tree grows in memory of someone special, enriching forests and communities.

• Nationwide Impact – From Florida’s longleaf pine ecosystems to California’s Sierra Nevada slopes, projects span coast to coast.

• Sustainable Keepsakes – Each gift includes a beautifully printed, eco-friendly commemorative card.

• Holistic Reforestation – Starting in 2024, A Living Tribute began sponsoring holistic reforestation initiatives that support our forests from “need to seed to tree.” This approach helps close the national backlog of reforestation needs by identifying priority areas, collecting cones and seeds, funding nursery operations, and supporting site preparation and planting.

Celebrate Life. Restore Forests. 🌳

Over the past 11 years, the Forest Friends memorial tree program has united families and communities in planting hope. Whether in memory, in honor, or in celebration, your contribution heals America’s forests and creates a legacy that will last for generations.

A Lasting Gesture of Comfort: Sending a Sympathy Card That Plants a Tree

When someone experiences the loss of a loved one, finding the right words—or the right gesture—can be difficult. Traditional sympathy cards are thoughtful, but often fleeting.

At A Living Tribute, we believe that honoring a life should leave something behind—something that grows, heals, and gives back to the Earth.

That’s why we offer tree planting sympathy cards: meaningful, eco-conscious alternatives that express your condolences while contributing to real-world reforestation projects across the United States and Canada.

Looking Back: Three Powerful Reforestation Projects That Rebuilt Forests and Habitats

Over the past decade, millions of trees planted for reforestation have taken root across American forests—restoring ecosystems, providing vital habitat for wildlife, and healing landscapes scarred by wildfires, storms, and disease.

In this post, we’re taking a closer look at three major reforestation efforts that have shaped the future of our forests in the Rocky Mountains and Ozark Highlands. From the rugged peaks of Wyoming and Idaho to the resilient oak woodlands of Missouri, these projects highlight the power of renewal through tree planting.

Restoring Whitebark Pines in Shoshone National Forest (2017)

More than 40,000 whitebark pines were planted across 163 acres in Wyoming’s Shoshone National Forest—part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem—as part of year three in a decade-long reforestation effort.

Project Location:
Wind River Ranger District, Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming

Project Significance:
Established in 1891 by President Benjamin Harrison, Shoshone is the oldest national forest in the United States. With elevations ranging from 4,600 to 13,800 feet, it supports over 335 wildlife species, including the largest population of bighorn sheep and some of the last remaining grizzly bears in the contiguous U.S. It was also once a favorite destination of Amelia Earhart and Ernest Hemingway.

Whitebark pines are keystone species—providing food and shelter for wildlife, stabilizing snowpack, and promoting ecosystem recovery after wildfire. However, their populations had been severely impacted by blister rust, mountain pine beetles, and climate stress, with mortality exceeding 80% in parts of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. These threats prompted consideration for listing the whitebark pine under the Endangered Species Act.

In 2013, the Burroughs Creek Fire swept through more than 1,700 acres of forest. Tragically, the fire affected areas that had just been designated as high-priority zones for whitebark restoration the year prior.

This reforestation project contributed to a broader 20-year effort to restore whitebark pine using science-based strategies, including planting genetically resilient trees and mapping mortality across the region. It marked a significant step toward ecological renewal in one of America’s most iconic wild landscapes.

Restoring Forest Diversity in Idaho (2017)

In a major step toward long-term forest recovery, 21,640 trees were planted across 60 acres in the North Fork region of the Coeur D’Alene River Ranger District—part of Idaho’s Coeur D’Alene National Forest. This reforestation project played a key role in restoring tree species diversity and building ecological resilience in an area deeply impacted by wildfire, pests, and disease.

Project Location:
North Fork of the Coeur D’Alene River, Coeur D’Alene National Forest, Idaho

Background & Importance:
In 2015, the Grizzly Complex Fire tore through more than 30,000 acres of forestland. The severity of the fire was fueled by a combination of factors: decades of damage from mountain pine beetles and blister rust, as well as reduced species diversity that left the landscape more vulnerable to wildfire.

Historically, white pine had been a cornerstone of the local ecosystem—providing essential food and habitat for native wildlife. But during the mid-20th century, blister rust and pine beetle infestations wiped out most of the mature white pine stands along the Coeur D’Alene River. In their absence, grand fir and western hemlock became dominant—species that are shallow-rooted, susceptible to fungal disease, and highly vulnerable to fire due to their thin bark.

Recognizing the ecological importance of white pine, restoration efforts in recent years focused on planting disease-resistant varieties. Early trials showed promising results, but a prolonged drought increased the region’s fire risk—ultimately contributing to the scale and intensity of the Grizzly Complex Fire.

This planting initiative marked the first year of a multi-phase reforestation effort within the Idaho Panhandle. The 2019 phase alone introduced 6,500 Engelmann spruce, 6,500 western larch, and 8,640 blister-rust-resistant western white pines. Each tree planted helped reestablish balance in a recovering landscape—laying the foundation for a more diverse, fire-resilient forest for generations to come.

Restoring the Oak Woodlands of Missouri’s Mark Twain National Forest (2017)

Over 400,000 trees were planted across 1,353 acres of Missouri’s Mark Twain National Forest in a large-scale reforestation effort aimed at restoring native oak woodlands and strengthening long-term forest resilience.

Project Location:
Salem Ranger District, Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri

Project Overview:
Spanning more than 1.5 million acres across 29 counties, Mark Twain National Forest is a diverse and ecologically important landscape. Home to black bears, wild boar, 200 fish species, and more than 300 unique bird species, it also shelters 46 types of snakes and contains multiple protected wilderness areas. The forest serves as both a vital habitat and a recreational keystone for the state of Missouri.

The forest is primarily dominated by oak species, which are native, fire-adapted trees that support the local ecosystem. However, decades of fire suppression had left the forest with a dense, mature canopy—and little to no regeneration underneath. Without the benefit of periodic burns to rejuvenate the understory, the oak stands lacked the saplings needed to naturally replace older trees as they aged out.

In 2009, a powerful wind event known as the “Super Derecho” swept through the region. With micro-gusts exceeding 90 miles per hour, the storm leveled large swaths of the forest. While some ecosystems are capable of rebounding from such damage, the absence of an established understory meant that many areas struggled to recover—even eight years after the event.

This reforestation project took a new approach. Instead of relying solely on planting nursery-grown seedlings, proven land management practices were used to stimulate natural oak regeneration—encouraging the forest to heal itself through sprouting and seeding processes. The goal was to restore the forest’s ability to self-sustain while reestablishing habitat across more than 1,350 acres.

By combining active planting with nature’s own recovery mechanisms, this effort helped breathe new life into one of Missouri’s most treasured woodlands.

🌿 Help Grow the Next Chapter

These reforestation projects are powerful reminders of what’s possible when we come together to restore and protect our natural world. Every tree planted tells a story—of resilience, remembrance, and renewal.

When you dedicate a memorial or tribute tree, you’re not just honoring someone—you’re helping restore forests like these for future generations to enjoy. Whether it’s in memory of a loved one or as a gift that gives back, your support helps keep these efforts growing strong.

🌿 Pet Memorial Gifts That Grow: A Meaningful Way to Honor a Beloved Companion

Losing a pet is one of the hardest goodbyes. They’re more than just animals—they’re family, best friends, and constant companions who leave paw prints on our hearts.

At A Living Tribute, we understand how profound that loss can be. That’s why we’ve created a heartfelt way to honor their memory with pet loss sympathy gifts that not only express your love—but also give back to nature in a meaningful, lasting way.

💚 Why Choose a Living Tribute as a Pet Loss Gift?

When someone loses a beloved pet, it’s often difficult to know how to truly offer comfort. Words can fall short, and while flowers or sympathy cards are thoughtful, they’re often temporary. A Living Tribute offers something more meaningful—a living, growing memorial that honors the life of a cherished companion while helping to restore forests in need.

Each tree is planted as part of a certified reforestation project in the United States or Canada, bringing new life to areas affected by wildfires, disease, or deforestation. With every tree planted, we also send a beautifully crafted, personalized tribute card—letting the recipient know a tree has been planted in loving memory of their pet.

It’s a lasting expression of sympathy that brings peace to grieving hearts and renewal to the planet—a gift that grows with time and meaning.

🐾 Thoughtful Gifts for Pet Loss That Make a Lasting Impact

Whether you’re comforting a friend, family member, or even marking the passing of your own pet, our gifts for pet loss are designed to bring peace, remembrance, and renewal.

Each Pet Memorial Gift Includes:

• 🌲 Tree(s) planted in a U.S. or Canadian forest in need

• 🖋️ A personalized tribute card on high quality, sustainably sourced cardstock

• 💌 Message honoring the pet and offering words of sympathy

• 🚚 Fast shipping via USPS or FedEx

You can choose to plant a single tree or a sponsor the planting of multiple seedlings, and cards are available in pet-themed designs to fit the occasion. These gifts are a gentle yet powerful way to say, “Your loss matters, and their memory lives on.”