1t.org Pledge

ACRE’s Wildfire Restoration Pledge: 20M Trees by 2030

From Fire to Forest: 20M Trees by 2030

Summary: 
The Alliance for Conservation, Restoration, and Ecology (ACRE) pledges to plant, regenerate, or restore 20 million trees by 2030across wildfire burn scars in California, Oregon, and New Mexico.

With stewardship agreements already in place covering over 1 million burned acres in California alone, ACRE is uniquely positioned to lead large-scale, climate-smart reforestation. We have mapped out critical elements of the supply chain—including seed sourcing, labor, logistics, and planting—and built cost models to ensure financial feasibility and long-term success.

Our pledge focuses on:

• Post-fire restoration of forests and watersheds on public, private, and tribal lands
• Equity and inclusion, directing at least 40% of activities toward disadvantaged or historically underserved communities
• Workforce development, training and employing crews from rural, tribal, and veteran communities
• Monitoring and accountability, using geospatial tools and field audits to track ecological outcomes and project delivery
• Climate finance integration, including carbon removals and biochar when aligned with ecosystem goals

ACRE’s approach goes beyond tree planting—we’re rebuilding resilient forest systems that support biodiversity, reduce future fire risk, and restore rural economies.

Verification and Accreditation:
All plantings on National Forest lands will be verified by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and independent third-party foresters, including Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) in California. On private and tribal lands, ACRE will work with an FSC-accredited certification body to conduct field audits and offer Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Project Certification where applicable. These FSC-certified auditors will coordinate directly with ACRE, 1t.org, landowners, and relevant agencies to ensure transparency, ecological soundness, and community benefit.  

Total Trees Committed: 20 million
Timeframe: 2025–2030
Geographies: California, Oregon, New Mexico
Forest Restored: 80,000 acre (32,500 hectares)

Already Completed:
Chiloquin Planting: 250,000 seedlings, 1,000 acres
Lakeview Planting: 1,000,000 seedlings, 4,000 acres
Berry Creek Planting: 80,000 seedlings, 400 acres

Restoration Strategy, Timeline, and Monitoring

ACRE’s pledge to plant and restore 20 million trees by 2030 builds on an operational foundation already in motion. Since 2023, ACRE has directly planted or facilitated the planting of 1.3 million trees across California and Oregon. These early efforts have helped establish scalable systems for post-fire restoration on both public and private lands.

🔹 Supply Chain and Scientific Approach

ACRE has resolved major supply chain constraints that typically limit reforestation:

• Seed Collection and Propagation: We have direct access to seed zones across our priority regions, contracts with experienced climbers and collectors, and propagation agreements with commercial and cooperative nurseries.
• Land Access: Our stewardship agreements with the U.S. Forest Service currently cover more than 1 million burned acres in California alone, with expansion into Oregon and New Mexico underway.
• Site Preparation: We maintain treatment crews and contractors experienced in mastication, scalping, and site stabilization, reducing the lag between planning and planting.
• Innovation: We are introducing the use of native endophytes to improve seedling survival, enhance drought resistance, and support soil regeneration—especially in high-exposure, post-fire landscapes.

🔹 Timeline and Milestones

Year	Trees Planted	Key Activities
2023–2024	1.3 million (already completed)	Initial planting on National Forest lands in California and Oregon
2025	1 million	Expanded planting under USFS stewardship agreements and private lands in high-burn areas
2026	3 million	Scale-up across CA, OR, and entry into New Mexico with endophyte-treated seedlings
2027–2029	10–12 million	Continued planting and regeneration, tribal partnerships, and FSC Project Certification on private lands
2030	Final 2.7–4.7 million	Completion of 20 million tree target, final reporting and third-party verification

🔹 Monitoring Plan

All reforestation work will be monitored through a standardized, field-based protocol, with oversight from Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) in California and equivalent certified foresters in other states.

Key Elements:

• Monitoring Plots: Permanent and temporary monitoring plots will be established on representative planting sites. These plots will be used to assess:
  • Seedling survival and species composition
  • Vegetative competition and browse pressure
  • Soil condition and slope stabilization
  • Canopy development and stand health over time
• Annual Surveys: RPFs will conduct annual surveys for the first three years post-planting, followed by longer-term follow-ups at years 5, 10, and 20 depending on site goals.
• Reporting: Monitoring data will feed into an internal GIS dashboard and be summarized in annual reports to 1t.org, the USFS, and project funders. Select sites will be used for demonstration, research, or public engagement.
• Verification:
  • On National Forest lands, the USFS will verify work as part of the stewardship agreement.
  • On private and tribal lands, an FSC-accredited certification body will conduct field audits and pursue FSC Project Certification where applicable.

🔹 Post-2030 Commitment

ACRE will continue to steward planting sites for at least 5 years beyond completion, conducting maintenance (e.g., infill planting, thinning, weed control) and performance tracking. Sites tied to carbon finance or restoration finance mechanisms will be monitored for up to 30 years to ensure permanence and ecosystem resilience

Responsible Implementation: Ecological Integrity, Stewardship, and Community Engagement

ACRE’s pledge is guided by the principle of “right tree, right place”—not just for today, but for the climate and ecosystems of the next century. Our planting strategy emphasizes native, climate-adapted, and pest-resilient species, tailored to site-specific conditions across California, Oregon, and New Mexico. Every planting prescription is developed through ecological assessment and collaboration with local experts, ensuring alignment with regional seed zones, soil conditions, elevation, and future climate projections.

This commitment also supports the biodiversity and structural complexity of reforested landscapes. Whether in urban corridors, burned watersheds, or tribal forests, our projects seek to increase species diversity, reduce monocultures, and improve forest resilience to pests, drought, and wildfire. In cities and towns, native and ignition-reducing species are prioritized to replace invasive or highly flammable vegetation along roadsides and in the wildland-urban interface (WUI).

To ensure long-term stewardship and continuity, ACRE engages Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) and other qualified professionals to oversee planning, implementation, and monitoring. On public lands, stewardship agreements with the U.S. Forest Service ensure rigorous oversight and continuity of care. On private and tribal lands, ACRE works with FSC-accredited auditors to promote sustainable land management practices and achieve project-level certification where feasible.

We also recognize that community engagement is essential to lasting restoration. ACRE partners with tribal governments, local crews, conservation corps, municipalities, and veterans’ groups to deliver economic and ecological benefits directly to the regions we serve. Special attention is given to Justice40 communities, ensuring that at least 40% of our pledge’s benefits are directed to historically underserved areas.

By combining sound science, thoughtful planning, and collaborative stewardship, ACRE ensures that our pledge meets not just the numerical goal of 20 million trees, but a living legacy of resilient, diverse, and community-rooted forests.

Ecological Co-Benefits

• Biodiversity enhancement: Restoration of mixed-species forests and native understory habitats; increased habitat for birds, pollinators, and wildlife
• Soil stabilization: Root systems reduce erosion, especially on post-fire slopes, protecting watersheds and infrastructure
• Water quality protection: Forest cover improves filtration, regulates runoff, and protects streams from sediment and pollutants
• Invasive species control: Native tree establishment displaces flammable or invasive vegetation in both rural and urban settings
• Improved ecological function: Supports nutrient cycling, microbial diversity (including through endophytes), and forest succession dynamics
• Wildfire risk reduction: Strategic planting of ignition-resistant species and pre-commercial thinning lowers fuel loads and breaks fire continuity
• Climate adaptation: Use of climate-resilient genotypes and species strengthens long-term forest resilience in the face of drought and pests

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🔹 Climate and Carbon Co-Benefits

• Carbon sequestration: Estimated 4 million metric tons of CO₂ stored by 2080
• Long-term carbon storage: Use of selective harvesting and sustainable forest products supports embodied carbon in wood products
• Microclimate regulation: Increased canopy cover helps moderate local temperatures and retain soil moisture
• Urban heat island mitigation: Urban tree planting cools cities and reduces energy consumption

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🔹 Economic and Supply Chain Co-Benefits

• Job creation: Supports employment in seed collection, propagation, site prep, planting, monitoring, and forest management
• Rural economic development: Revitalizes local milling, contracting, and stewardship industries with long-term revenue potential
• Sustainable forest products: Promotes supply of locally sourced, climate-smart lumber for housing and construction
• Workforce training: Provides career pathways for youth, veterans, tribal members, and workers from disadvantaged communities

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🔹 Social and Community Co-Benefits

Health benefits: Trees improve air quality, reduce stress, and encourage physical activity in urban and rural areas alike

Environmental justice: At least 40% of work prioritized in underserved and disadvantaged communities (Justice40 alignment)

Tribal partnerships: Collaboration with Indigenous governments to restore culturally significant landscapes and sovereign territories

Urban greening: 100,000 urban trees improve health, aesthetics, and livability in cities, suburbs, and towns

Public education and engagement: Community planting events, school programs, and field tours foster environmental awareness