March 21, 2026

Forest Friends 2026

Written By : A Living Tribute

forest friends 2026

🌲 Forest Friends 2026: Reforesting America’s Most Urgent Landscapes

Every year, A Living Tribute’s Forest Friends program supports reforestation where it’s needed most—helping restore US forests that have been impacted by wildfire, disease, drought, and environmental change.

Through Forest Friends 2026, your memorial tree gifts will help support 20+ National Forests across the United States, funding the planting of trees in landscapes that need it most—bringing new life to forests and honoring loved ones in a deeply meaningful way.

🌎 What Is Forest Friends?

Forest Friends—also known as our “Forests of Greatest Need” program—allows us to direct tree plantings toward the areas where reforestation will have the greatest impact.

Rather than designating a single tree planting location, this program supports a network of critical National Forest restoration projects, including:

Wildfire recovery zones
Wildlife habitat restoration areas
Watershed protection regions
Forests struggling with natural regeneration

This flexibility allows our planting partners to ensure that every tree planted contributes to real, measurable ecological recovery.

🌱 2026 Projects & Locations

Here are some of the key National Forests and restoration efforts planned for the year ahead:

🌄 Colorado Forest Restoration

Pike-San Isabel National Forest – Tree Planting
Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest – Cameron Peak Fire Recovery

These reforestation projects focus on restoring high-elevation forests impacted by wildfire and environmental stress, helping stabilize soils and protect water systems across the Rockies.

🌲 Northern Rockies & Pacific Northwest

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest (MT) – Tree Planting
Idaho Panhandle National Forests (ID) – Tree Planting
Umpqua National Forest (OR) – Jack Fire Recovery
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (OR) – Restoration Tree Planting

These efforts focus heavily on post-wildfire recovery, reestablishing native species and restoring long-term forest resilience.

❄️ Alaska & Unique Restoration Projects

Chugach National Forest (AK)
- Resurrection Creek mining reclamation project (2026)

This project restores land impacted by historic mining—bringing forests back to landscapes that have been altered for generations.

🌳 Southern & Eastern Forest Recovery

National Forests in Mississippi – Longleaf Pine Restoration
Wayne National Forest (OH) – Oak-Dominated Ecosystem Enhancement & Restoration
Mark Twain National Forest (MO) – Native Shortleaf Pine Planting
Santa Fe National Forest (NM) – Hermits Peak / Calf Canyon Reforestation
Gila National Forest (NM) – Black Fire & Trout Fire Recovery

These projects support large-scale reforestation and ecosystem restoration, improving biodiversity and strengthening forest health.

🐦 Great Lakes Region & Wildlife Habitat Restoration

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (WI) – Tree Planting
Hiawatha National Forest (MI) – Jack Pine Planting / Habitat Work
Huron-Manistee National Forests (MI) – Kirtland’s Warbler Habitat Restoration
Superior National Forest (MN) – Tree Planting
Ottawa National Forest (MI) – Wildlife Habitat Restoration

These projects are especially important for restoring critical wildlife habitat through tree stand improvement, including species like the endangered Kirtland’s warbler.

🌿 California & Western Reforestation

Mendocino National Forest (CA) – Northshore / Upper Thomes / Tehama
Sawtooth National Forest (ID) – Wildfire Recovery, Bald Mountain
Boise National Forest (ID) – 2024 Wildfire Recovery

These projects focus on wildfire recovery and watershed protection, restoring burned forests that play a vital role in water systems and biodiversity.

🌱 The Impact of the 2026 Program

Across all projects, A Living Tribute's 2026 Forest Friends contributions will support:

🌲 Over 50,000 trees planted nationwide
🔥 Restoration of wildfire-impacted landscapes
🐦 Critical wildlife habitat recovery
💧 Protection of watersheds and ecosystems
🌎 Long-term carbon sequestration and climate resilience

Each memorial tree purchased contributes directly to these efforts—turning remembrance into real environmental impact.

💚 Honor a Life. Restore a Forest.

When you choose our Forest Friends memorial tree gift, you’re not just planting trees—you’re helping restore entire forests across North America.

Your tribute becomes part of something bigger:

A living legacy that grows, heals, and gives back to the planet for generations to come.

Plant a Forest Friends Memorial Tree Today: https://shop.alivingtribute.org

🌲 A Living Tribute

For over a decade, A Living Tribute has helped individuals and families honor loved ones through meaningful, environmentally impactful tree planting programs.

With Forest Friends, your gift helps ensure that the forests that need it most receive the care—and renewal—they deserve.

Recommended Reading

The Blog

Read More
Client gallery powered by Picflow

Loblolly Pine Reforestation in Sumter National Forest

Nestled within the rolling woodlands of South Carolina, the Sumter National Forest is undergoing important reforestation efforts following the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Powerful winds and heavy rainfall impacted large sections of forestland, leaving behind damaged trees, erosion concerns, and areas in need of long-term restoration.

Today, new loblolly pine seedlings are being planted to help restore these forests and support the recovery of one of the Southeast’s most important ecosystems. Native to the region, loblolly pines are valued for their resilience, rapid growth, and ability to provide habitat for wildlife while helping stabilize soils and improve watershed health.

These reforestation efforts are helping transform storm-impacted landscapes into thriving forests once again. As the seedlings mature, they will contribute to cleaner air, healthier habitats, and stronger forests for future generations throughout the Sumter National Forest region.
14/05/2026 •
- South Carolina
From Seedling to Forest: Loblolly Pine Reforestation in South Carolina
Read More
Client gallery powered by Picflow

Red Pine Reforestation in Roscommon State Forest

Located in the heart of northern Michigan, this section of the Roscommon State Forest near Grayling showcases a landscape defined by sandy soils, gently rolling terrain, and expansive conifer forests most notably, thriving stands of red pine.

This region is part of one of the largest state forest systems in the eastern United States, with a history shaped by intensive logging during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today, those once harvested lands have become a cornerstone of modern reforestation. Carefully planned plantings of red pine and jack pine are established in managed rows, helping restore forest cover, support diverse wildlife habitats, and ensure the long term health and sustainability of the ecosystem.

The area is known for its clean air, quiet beauty, and remarkable resilience. Here, young plantations steadily grow into mature forests creating a lasting legacy of restoration that will benefit both the environment and future generations.
03/05/2026 •
- Michigan
From Seedling to Forest: Red Pine Reforestation in Roscommon State Forest
Read More
Restoring Forests After Wildfire: Verified Memorial Tree Planting in British Columbia

Wildfires have reshaped vast areas of British Columbia in recent years, leaving behind landscapes that need thoughtful, long-term restoration. In response, our verified memorial tree planting program is helping bring these forests back to life—while giving families a meaningful way to honor loved ones.

Through carefully managed reforestation projects across Nadina-Cheslatta, Bulkley-Nechako, Williams Lake, and the Nicola Valley, each tree planted represents more than a symbol—it’s part of a real, trackable effort to restore ecosystems impacted by wildfire.

Aerial maps courtesy of: veritree

A Living Tribute in BC Forests That Need It Most

British Columbia’s interior has experienced increasingly severe wildfire seasons, affecting millions of acres of forestland. These fires can damage soil structure, reduce biodiversity, and disrupt wildlife habitat.

By planting trees in these regions, our Canada division at A Living Tribute helps:

Stabilize soils and reduce erosion

Restore critical wildlife habitat

Rebuild forest cover for long-term ecosystem health

Capture carbon and support climate resilience

Each memorial tree designated for planting in BC contributes directly to these outcomes—turning remembrance into real environmental impact.

Nadina-Cheslatta & Bulkley-Nechako

These regions in central British Columbia have faced extensive wildfire damage in recent years. Reforestation here focuses on restoring native forest ecosystems that support diverse wildlife and watershed health.

Tree planting efforts help rebuild forests that are essential for species ranging from moose and black bear to migratory birds—while also protecting critical water systems.
Aerial maps courtesy of: veritree

Williams Lake-Cariboo Area

The forests surrounding Williams Lake have been heavily impacted by past wildfire seasons, including some of the most significant fires in the province’s history.
- Re-establishing native conifer forests
- Improving soil stability in fire-affected areas
- Supporting long-term forest regeneration
Between 2017 and 2021, repeated wildfire seasons devastated the Cariboo region, burning over 1.3 million hectares of land. These fires burned with such intensity that they wiped out entire forests and left lasting damage to the soil beneath them.

The planting site is within the Cariboo Region, not far from the city of Williams Lake and just north of Becher’s Prairie Provincial Park. The large body of water to the west of the planting site is Drummond Lake.

Aerial maps courtesy of: veritree

Nicola Valley

Located in southern British Columbia, the Nicola Valley has also experienced wildfire-related forest loss. Restoration here supports a mix of ecological and watershed benefits.
- Rebuild forest cover in sensitive landscapes
- Protect water quality in surrounding watersheds
- Create habitat for native wildlife species
The combined impact of the Linton Creek and July Mountain wildfires—followed by unprecedented atmospheric river events—led to catastrophic flooding across the region. The Spahomin Creek Valley, a major tributary of the Nicola River, was among the hardest hit, experiencing severe landscape disruption and watershed damage.

The Nicola Valley planting sites are located in Clapperton, BC near Nsatiscou Lake.

Aerial maps courtesy of: veritree

Native BC Trees for Long-Term Forest Health
- Lodgepole pine
- Ponderosa pine
- Douglas-fir
- Hybrid spruce
Planting the right species ensures that forests can recover naturally and remain resilient for generations to come.

🌱 Plant a Verified Memorial Tree

Honor someone special while helping restore wildfire-impacted forests in British Columbia and beyond.
15/04/2026 •
- British Columbia
Replanting BC: Verified Memorial Tree Planting in British Columbia

Aerial maps courtesy of: veritree

Williams Lake-Cariboo Area

Aerial maps courtesy of: veritree

Nicola Valley

Aerial maps courtesy of: veritree

Native BC Trees for Long-Term Forest Health

🌱 Plant a Verified Memorial Tree

Forest Friends 2026