The Arbor Day Foundation is planting 50,000 trees in Blackwater River State Forest with the continued generous support of Canon U.S.A., Inc. Since 2009, Canon U.S.A.’s contributions to the Arbor Day Foundation have contributed to the planting of more than 250,000 trees in high-need national forests.
Located in Florida’s Northwest panhandle, Blackwater River State Forest is the latest forest to benefit from Canon’s support. Blackwater is one of the largest forests in the state, encompassing approximately 213,000 acres. It is one of the most diverse habitats with more than 100 species of plants and animals to be found on a quarter of an acre in the U.S. It is the central piece to the largest remaining contiguous tract of longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem in the world.
“The Blackwater River State Forest Recovery Campaign is about bringing life back to Northwest Florida,” said Dan Lambe, Arbor Day Foundation vice president of programs. “These trees are part of the long and important history of the people and land of this state. We thank Canon for years of generous support of our Nation’s Forests, and remind folks that for just $1 per tree, or about $500 per acre, supporters can make a big difference at any level.”
The newly planted trees help provide critical habitat for an array of wildlife including the black bear and river otter. The trees also help bring the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and Kirtland’s Warbler back from the brink.
Other forests in which trees were planted with the continued generous support of Canon contributions since 2009 include Bayfield County Forest in Wisconsin, Manchester State Forest in South Carolina and John Bethea State Forest in Florida.
America’s forests are a treasured legacy threatened by insects, disease and devastating wildfires. This year, the Foundation planted nearly five million trees in our nation’s forests through partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, with far-reaching impact throughout the country.
The generosity of supporters like Canon U.S.A. has made it possible for the Foundation to plant 40 million trees in total through more than 250 projects, recently expanding our work to include a growing number of state forests.
“We are proud to not only have reached our goal of contributing to the planting of 50,000 trees in the Blackwater River State Forest, but be able to leave a greener footprint in our community,” said Sam Yoshida, vice president and general manager, Marketing, Business Imaging Solutions Group, Canon U.S.A.
These new trees help restore life and vitality to the land. More than 180 million Americans rely on drinking water from forests, and replanting helps rain and snowmelt soak into soil and halt erosion around lakes, streams and reservoirs. The trees help mitigate the impact of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and replacing it with pure oxygen.
Arbor Day Foundation is a million member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.
