American Forests

American Forests is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization devoted to creating healthy and resilient forests in cities, rural landscapes, and wilderness areas. Established in Chicago in 1875 as the American Forestry Association, it is one of the oldest national forest-conservation organizations in the United States. Its work combines ecological restoration, urban forestry, public policy, environmental education, and the documentation of exceptional trees. The organization was founded by physician and horticulturist John Aston Warder and other supporters of systematic forestry. In its early period, the association sought to gather and distribute knowledge about forests, encourage the conservation of existing woodland, and build public support for professional forestry. It became associated with the American Forestry Congress in 1882 and resumed its original name in 1889. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it helped make forestry a national public issue through publications, membership activities, advocacy, and engagement with lawmakers and conservation leaders. American Forests has historically promoted the expansion of national forest reserves and supported measures that strengthened federal involvement in forest protection. It advocated for the Weeks Act and helped advance ideas associated with a national forest system and the eventual development of the U.S. Forest Service. The organization also supported the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Franklin D. Roosevelt era. Its public platform and publications have featured influential figures in American conservation, including Gifford Pinchot, Aldo Leopold, and Ansel Adams. Publishing has been central to the organization’s identity. Its periodical history includes The Forester, Forestry and Irrigation, Conservation, American Forestry, and American Forests. The publication has served as a vehicle for communicating forestry research, conservation arguments, policy positions, and accounts of forest and tree stewardship. The organization also began the tradition of supplying a living national Christmas tree to the White House in 1924. A major continuing program is the National Register of Champion Trees, begun in 1940. The program identifies and documents the largest known trees of native and naturalized species in the United States. Volunteers, state coordinators, and tree enthusiasts nominate candidates, creating a nationwide network that operates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The program has also inspired comparable big-tree initiatives in other countries. More than 750 U.S. champion trees are recognized in a typical year, with records reported through the National Register of Champion Trees publication. In 1990, the organization created Global ReLeaf, a tree-planting and forest-restoration program intended to restore damaged forest ecosystems in the United States and other parts of the world. The program addresses losses associated with wildfire, pests, disease, mining, development, and unsustainable clearing. American Forests states that more than 40 million trees have been planted through Global ReLeaf. The organization changed its name from the American Forestry Association to American Forests in 1992, reflecting a broader environmental mission and a constituency that extended beyond professional foresters. Its current program areas include rural forest restoration, Tree Equity in underserved urban communities, the National Register of Champion Trees, and forest policy. Through Tree Equity work, American Forests collaborates with city governments and community organizations to develop science-based urban forestry programs, increase canopy in historically underserved neighborhoods, support planting and maintenance, and advocate for public funding. The organization reports working with more than 22 cities. Its present mission links forests and trees to climate resilience, human health and well-being, clean water, wildlife habitat, and community equity.

American Forests traces its origins to September 1875, when John Aston Warder and a group of like-minded citizens established the American Forestry Association in Chicago. The founders aimed to collect and circulate information about forestry, encourage scientific forest management, and promote the conservation of existing forests. At a time when the United States was experiencing rapid settlement, timber extraction, and land conversion, the association helped create a national forum for discussing the condition and future of American forests. In 1882, the organization merged into the American Forestry Congress, which had been organized in Cincinnati, Ohio. The combined body quickly became influential in the developing American conservation movement. The original American Forestry Association name was restored in 1889. In 1897, the association was incorporated and assumed responsibility for publishing The Forester, a periodical that had previously been associated with the New Jersey Forestry Association. The publication subsequently appeared under several titles, including Forestry and Irrigation, Conservation, American Forestry, and American Forests. Its publishing activity gave the organization a durable way to explain forestry practices, promote conservation policy, and reach members and the wider public. By 1920, the association had approximately 10,000 members and was active in public education and forestry legislation. Its advocacy contributed to the broader campaign for federal forest reserves and the development of a national forest system. The association supported the Weeks Act, which strengthened federal support for forest protection and watershed conservation in the eastern United States. It also helped promote the ideas and institutions that led to the U.S. Forest Service. During the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, it supported the Civilian Conservation Corps, whose work included reforestation, erosion control, fire prevention, and the development of public lands. Through its publications and events, the organization provided a platform for prominent conservation thinkers and practitioners such as Gifford Pinchot, Aldo Leopold, and Ansel Adams. In 1924, the association began providing a living national Christmas tree to the White House, establishing a public conservation tradition. In 1940, it created the National Register of Champion Trees. The register records the largest known examples of native and naturalized tree species in the United States. Volunteers, state coordinators, and independent tree hunters nominate and measure candidates, while the program encourages local communities to protect mature trees and learn about their ecological and cultural value. The initiative eventually became active across all 50 states and the District of Columbia and served as a model for big-tree programs in several other countries. The organization expanded its restoration work in 1990 by creating Global ReLeaf. The program supports the planting of trees and restoration of forest ecosystems affected by wildfire, pests, disease, mining, development, and unsustainable land clearing. Its scope has included projects in the United States and other countries, and American Forests reports that more than 40 million trees have been planted through the initiative. In 1992, the American Forestry Association adopted the name American Forests. The change signaled a broader environmental identity: rather than representing primarily professional foresters, the organization increasingly addressed environmentalists, recreationists, community members, and people concerned with trees and forests. Its modern work is organized around four principal areas: rural forest restoration, Tree Equity in cities, the National Register of Champion Trees, and forest policy. Tree Equity became a central urban-forestry focus as research and public policy increasingly recognized that tree canopy is distributed unevenly among neighborhoods. American Forests works with city governments and community organizations to plan and finance tree planting, improve maintenance, increase canopy in underserved areas, and connect urban forestry with climate adaptation, public health, water management, and local employment. The organization reports partnerships in more than 22 cities. Today, American Forests remains a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its activities combine on-the-ground restoration, volunteer conservation, urban planning, public policy, and communications. The organization’s stated mission is to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to wilderness, that provide benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife.

• 1992

  Name changed to American Forests

  [1]American Forestsen.wikipedia.org

  The American Forestry Association adopted the American Forests name to reflect its broader environmental mission.

• 1990

  Global ReLeaf created

  [1]American Forestsen.wikipedia.org

  The organization established Global ReLeaf to support tree planting and forest restoration in the United States and internationally.

• 1940

  National Register of Champion Trees launched

  [1]American Forestsen.wikipedia.org

  American Forests began maintaining a national record of the largest known trees of native and naturalized species.

• 1924

  First living national Christmas tree presented to the White House

  [1]American Forestsen.wikipedia.org

  The organization began a national Christmas-tree tradition by donating a living tree to the White House.

• 1897

  Incorporation and expansion of forestry publishing

  [1]American Forestsen.wikipedia.org

  The association was incorporated and took over publication of The Forester, the predecessor of its later magazine.

• 1889

  Original organizational name restored

  [1]American Forestsen.wikipedia.org

  The organization resumed the American Forestry Association name.

• 1882

  Merger with the American Forestry Congress

  [1]American Forestsen.wikipedia.org

  The association merged into the American Forestry Congress, expanding its national influence in the emerging forestry movement.

• 1875

  American Forestry Association established

  [1]American Forestsen.wikipedia.org

  John Aston Warder and fellow conservationists founded the American Forestry Association in Chicago to promote forestry knowledge and forest conservation.

A long-established, science-oriented forest conservation nonprofit combining restoration projects, urban tree-equity work, policy advocacy, public education, and volunteer-led stewardship.

• Forest restoration program · 1990

  Global ReLeaf

  Global ReLeaf is American Forests’ tree-planting and forest-restoration initiative. It supports projects intended to restore native forest ecosystems damaged by wildfire, pests, disease, mining, development, and unsustainable clearing. Projects have been undertaken across the United States and internationally. American Forests reports that more than 40 million trees have been planted through the program.

• Urban forestry program

  Tree Equity

  Tree Equity is American Forests’ urban-forestry framework for increasing and maintaining tree canopy in neighborhoods that have historically received fewer environmental investments. The program works with municipal leaders and community organizations on science-based planning, planting, maintenance, public awareness, funding, and policy. Its goals connect urban trees with climate resilience, public health, community quality of life, water management, and employment.

• Tree-conservation register · 1940

  National Register of Champion Trees

  The National Register of Champion Trees identifies and documents the largest known trees of native and naturalized species in the United States. Volunteers, state coordinators, and tree hunters submit nominations and measurements. The program operates throughout the 50 states and the District of Columbia, recognizes more than 750 U.S. champions in a typical year, and has influenced comparable big-tree programs abroad.

• Conservation publication · 1895

  American Forests magazine

  American Forests publishes a quarterly magazine covering forests, trees, conservation, restoration, policy, and environmental stewardship. The publication has appeared under several earlier titles, including The Forester, Forestry and Irrigation, Conservation, and American Forestry. It originated as a means of distributing forestry information and remains part of the organization’s public-education role.

• 1990Global ReLeaf

  United States · International project locations

  American Forests launched Global ReLeaf to restore forest ecosystems through tree planting and related restoration work.

  Outcome. The organization reports that more than 40 million trees have been planted through the program.

  Source
• Tree Equity

  United States

  American Forests’ Tree Equity campaign promotes more fairly distributed urban tree canopy by combining community partnerships, planting projects, urban-forestry planning, public awareness, and advocacy for public funding.

  Outcome. American Forests reports working with more than 22 cities on Tree Equity-related urban forestry efforts.

  Source

• 1992

  Adoption of the American Forests nameStrategy

  Background

  The organization had evolved from a professional forestry association into a broader environmental organization serving people concerned with forests, trees, conservation, recreation, and community conditions.

  Action taken

  It changed its name from the American Forestry Association to American Forests.

  Aftermath

  The new name reflected a wider conservation remit that later included rural restoration, urban Tree Equity, champion-tree protection, and forest policy.

  Source

1. 1American Forestsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2American Forests official websiteamericanforests.org
3. 3Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Announces Impact of Ongoing White Oak Tree Restoration as Partnership With American Forests Expands into Year Twoprnewswire.com