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Trillion Trees Pledge

The State of Wisconsin recognizes that healthy forests are one of the best nature-based solutions to climate change and joins a wide variety of corporations, governments and non-profit organizations in the US Chapter of the global Trillion Trees Initiative [exit DNR], led by the World Economic Forum and American Forests.

On Earth Day 2021, Governor Tony Evers signed an Executive Order [PDF exit DNR] pledging to protect and restore Wisconsin’s forestland by conserving 125,000 acres and planting 75 million trees by 2030.

The pledge includes providing wildlife habitat, supporting rural economies and equitable distribution of tree canopies in urban areas while continuing to support the responsible management of public and private forestland across Wisconsin. The Executive Order directs the DNR to implement the pledge [exit DNR] in partnership with public, private and non-governmental partners on behalf of the state of Wisconsin.

By 2030, the goals in Wisconsin are to:

  • Conserve 125,000 acres of forestland
  • Plant 74 million trees in rural areas
  • Plant 1 million trees in urban areas

 

22,279,000
Trees planted in Wisconsin as of Dec. 31, 2022

 


Wisconsin Tree Planting Map

Put your newly planted trees on the map! This short survey will let you count the trees you've planted as part of Wisconsin's pledge toward the Trillion Trees Initiative. Just answer a few questions on the type and number of trees planted, mark their locations on the map and see the progress you've made toward moving Wisconsin closer to its pledged goal.

Launch Web Map

A screenshot of the Tree Planting Map application.

Background

Wisconsin has a more than century-long history of planting trees – the DNR's Reforestation Program has supplied Wisconsin landowners with over 1.6 billion seedlings since 1911. There was a record high of more than 44 million seedlings planted in 1959. Tree planting has since declined for several reasons, with fewer than 3 million seedlings being planted each year across the state for reforestation purposes.

The 1 Trillion Tree Planting pledge renews a commitment by the state to manage our public lands, work with private landowners and engage with organizations across Wisconsin to sustain and grow the benefits that forests offer. Forest products contribute $24.4 billion annually to the state’s economy, and this planting effort will help ensure that Wisconsin forest industries have the source materials well into the future.

The Wisconsin pledge will address tree equity. In most U.S. cities, the distribution of urban tree canopy often disproportionately benefits high-income neighborhoods. Research has found that trees offer many positive attributes to urban residents, improving air quality and public health, reducing heat and heat illnesses, lowering utility bills, improving water quality and reducing flooding and stormwater runoff. Urban tree planting combined with enhanced tree maintenance can substantially increase urban forest carbon storage and deliver additional benefits through energy savings, especially if tree planting programs are targeted to urban heat islands.

In addition to safeguarding water resources, providing wildlife habitat and supporting rural economies, maintaining healthy forests is also essential to mitigating climate change. Recognizing this, Gov. Evers’ Task Force on Climate Change recommended forest management as a critical state strategy for mitigating climate change.

When fully realized, this pledge will result in sequestering an additional 28.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over the next 50 years.

The annual reports provide more details on our progress toward our pledge:

Get Involved

So how is all this going to happen? We need your help. How can we support your efforts in the state? Is there a project we can collaborate on to achieve multiple outcomes? We have already begun discussions with some entities and look forward to discussing what role we can all play in this pledge.

For more information, contact Carmen Hardin.

Partners