By Stewart Mior in News - Original — Nov 21, 2024

Oregon’s Reforestation Wins—Big Efforts, Small Acts 🌲✨

In the aftermath of the devastating Oregon wildfire season in 2020, reforestation efforts are underway. #HabitatRestoration #TreeMappingSoftware

Image courtesy of Peter Robbins.

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) just hit a major milestone in rebuilding the Santiam State Forest after the 2020 wildfires: planting over 2.3 million trees. This wasn’t a walk in the woods—it meant restoring 5,600 burned acres, fixing 200 miles of roads, clearing hazardous trees, and managing salvage timber sales. And somehow, they pulled it off without hiring extra staff, leaning on creative solutions like aerial seeding for areas where hiking is more “extreme sport” than casual stroll (though there was also plenty of old-fashioned manual planting).

But this isn’t just a story of big numbers and heavy machinery. Smaller contributions—from local volunteers rebuilding trails to businesses funding tree planting—have played a huge role in this recovery effort.

Tiny Wins, Big Impact ✨

While ODF tackled the big stuff, grassroots efforts added a critical boost. Volunteers pitched in to restore trails, and Columbia Gem House raised $10,000 to plant 10,000 trees across the U.S. (Proof that a little sparkle can go a long way.)

“This replanting is an important milestone, but we still have more work to do to make sure the Santiam State Forest recovers and remains accessible to all Oregonians” says ODF’s Mike Wilson, as reported by KTVZ. One standout effort? Columbia Gem House’s international jewelry raffle, which united participants from three countries in a bid to save forests while looking fabulous.

Wildlife: Making a Comeback in Umpqua 🦉

Reforestation isn’t just a win for trees—it’s a win for wildlife too. The northern spotted owl, long a symbol of forest conservation, has started returning to parts of the Santiam. ODF’s reforestation and habitat restoration efforts are also helping lesser-known residents, like the Oregon slender salamander, reclaim their homes. Long-term monitoring plans will keep an eye on how these species bounce back.

Recreation Revival 🌟

For hikers, campers, and all-around nature lovers, recovery is in full swing. Popular spots like Butte Creek Falls are open again, thanks to volunteers, corrections crews, and partnerships. Sure, some trails are still off-limits, but the progress is undeniable—and encouraging.

Open Data on Restor.Eco 📊

As wildfires grow more frequent and intense, this effort proves that restoring forests takes a mix of big operations and community grit. Together, they ensure forests like the Santiam—and countless others across the U.S.—have a chance to thrive for future generations.

And if you’re curious about the progress, here’s a fun twist: you can literally watch these trees grow back from space using Restor.Eco which is a platform for showing such detailed information about reforestation projects. That’s open data at its finest—making reforestation a global spectator sport. 🌎

(It doesn't look like allof the project sites are here yet, but we're hopeful).