Umpqua National Forest, National Forest Foundation Plant 429,500 Seedlings Across Burn Areas

The Umpqua National Forest and the National Forest Foundation planted 429,500 tree seedlings across 2,255 acres this winter as part of ongoing reforestation work in areas burned by major wildfires in recent years. The planting took place on the North Umpqua Ranger District in areas affected by the Jack, Little Bend, Chaos, and Archie Creek fires.

Forest officials and National Forest Foundation staff said some of the most challenging work happened in the Jack Fire footprint, where access made traditional planting difficult. To reach those areas, seedlings were distributed by helicopter to six drop sites covering about 400 acres that otherwise would have been inaccessible.

The effort is part of a broader push to restore forest lands after increasingly severe wildfire seasons. The National Forest Foundation says post-fire reforestation involves more than putting seedlings in the ground, with work also focused on seed collection, nursery growth, planting and long-term monitoring.

The foundation’s Umpqua reforestation work also highlights the growing need for restoration across fire-affected public lands. According to the National Forest Foundation, the need for tree planting on National Forests burned by wildfire has increased sharply in recent years as larger and more destructive fires leave behind landscapes that may struggle to recover on their own.

To learn more about the partnership with the National Forest Foundation, click here.