Science-led impact
American Forests believes our strategies for large-scale reforestation and urban canopy expansion must keep pace with our changing climate and strengthen the forestry field. This is why American Forests digs deep into innovation. Whether prescribing climate-smart techniques — like direct seeding, carbon modeling or assisted migration — or supporting genome sequencing research, our approach to forest health is always science-led. We also incubate new, data-rich tools — as well as improve existing ones — to help cities prioritize planning and planting trees in neighborhoods that need them most.
Innovating together for science-led impact drove new opportunities to dig deep on forest health through pivotal support in the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest.
Throughout 2024 with indispensable support from our partners, American Forests implemented science-led advancements across landscapes spanning the western U.S. In the Northern Rockies, our innovative approach helped move the needle on efforts to save the whitebark pine. Through partnerships with the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation and the University of California, Berkley, we supported whitebark pine DNA sequencing research to help identify whitebark pine that contain natural resistance to disease, such as white pine blister rust which has decimated populations across the species’ range.
Photo Credit: Colin Wann / NRCC
By shortening the time it takes to identify disease resistance, we are accelerating the pace for saving the whitebark pine by potentially making restoration 10 times quicker and 10 times more cost-efficient. We also embraced an innovative approach to restoring this iconic species by establishing joint American Forests and National Park Service positions dedicated to whitebark pine restoration and advancing our national restoration plan.
This work would not have been possible without the catalytic support of our partners. Last year, a generous grant from the Life Time Foundation supported two ecologists working to restore whitebark pine across the West. A portion of the grant also funded the Whitebark Pine Genome Project. As a foundational partner, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust played a critical role in launching American Forests’ Northern Rockies program, with their instrumental support helping to establish it in 2022.
We also saw our collaborative and innovative efforts come together to produce results that will help restore fire-scarred landscapes across south central Oregon. By innovatively rethinking how seedling locations are selected and applying insights from our collaborative reforestation strategy, geneticists identified the most suitable seedlings and planted them in the high-priority areas identified for restoration. By continually adapting and innovating as the threats to our forests shift, we remain nimble and develop new ways to ensure forests are resilient for generations to come.
“Our support to save the Whitebark pine reflects our belief in bold, science-driven action to protect biodiversity and sustain ecosystems. American Forests has brought nothing but expertise to this innovative effort, giving us full confidence that our support is in the right hands. What began as a grant has evolved into a powerful partnership — one grounded in our shared belief that a healthy planet is essential to healthy lives.”
— Sarah Emola, Director of ESG Programs and Life Time Foundation, Life Time
Improving tools to analyze tree canopy
In 2024, American Forests launched an upgrade to our Tree Equity Score tool: Location Insights. This interactive toolkit shares fresh insights and never-before-seen canopy metrics for over 12,000 cities and towns. Cities are using it to advocate for and plan canopy expansion, as well as understand disparities and communicate the benefits of new and existing canopy. We also launched six new Tree Equity Score Analyzers, including three in Texas for Austin, Dallas and Houston; one in Columbus & Franklin County, Ohio; one in Indianapolis & Marion County, Ind.; and our first international analyzer in Toronto, Ontario.
Innovation in action
Nurturing trees and cultivating careers with Nespresso
Nespresso and American Forests teamed up in 2024 to support the Greenbelt Native Plant Center in Staten Island, N.Y. Our partnership used an innovative approach to grow seedlings and fund internships for individuals starting careers in urban forestry or transitioning into the field.
Photo Credit: Aleksandr Watson / American Forests
Photo Credit: Rick D’Elia / American Forests
Photo Credit: Rick D’Elia / American Forests
Expanding tree cover in Phoenix with Salesforce
In cities across the U.S., striking disparities in tree cover affect how residents experience extreme heat. In Phoenix, a neighborhood with a Tree Equity Score of 92 (left) experienced surface temperatures nearly 5 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than a south Phoenix neighborhood with a score of 63 (right). Last year, American Forests strengthened our Tree Equity work in Phoenix through local partnerships and generous support from donors like Salesforce, whose contributions are helping expand Tree Equity in Phoenix and beyond.
Pioneering an innovative approach to resilient reforestation
In collaboration with the Forest Service and regional partners, American Forests expanded an initiative to provide Tribal Nations and private landowners access to financial and technical support for climate-resilient reforestation. This initiative will support reforestation education, planning, implementation and monitoring assistance to help these forest stewards navigate and participate in emerging private markets for climate, water and biodiversity benefits. By unlocking non-traditional funding sources, the initiative will accelerate the pace and scale of reforestation, delivering climate, ecological, social and cultural benefits.
Photo Credit: Andrew Studer / American Forests
“I am proud to represent Deloitte on the board of American Forests. Each of us strive to bring innovative solutions that nurture and advance forests and urban canopies to create resilient and healthy communities.”
— Nes Parker, Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP
Innovating a holistic partnership with Deloitte
To further amplify Tree Equity and American Forests’ role as a leader in the resilience and sustainability space, Deloitte hosted a panel at Climate Week NYC 2024 on the topic of how emerging leaders can help create sustainable solutions, which included speakers such as Principal at Deloitte Consulting LLP and American Forests Board Member, Nes Parker, and American Forests Tree Equity Ambassador, Jerome Foster.
