The Location

📍 Santiam State Forest, Oregon, United States

Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, is renowned for its natural beauty. From the windswept coastline along the Pacific Ocean to the lush forests of the Cascade Mountains and the high deserts of the eastern region, Oregon offers a wide range of ecosystems.

Its temperate rainforests, filled with towering Douglas firs and ancient redwoods, are some of the most iconic in the world. Oregon’s people have a strong tradition of outdoor recreation, environmental activism, and sustainable living.

Wildlife in the state is rich and varied, from elk and black bears in the forests to salmon in its rivers, which are central to the state's history of conservation. Oregon also has a long history of forest management and conservation, though in recent years, wildfires have become a significant environmental threat.

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The Problem

Over the last decade wildfires have caused immense deforestation in Oregon, devastating vast areas of the state’s iconic forests.

As a result of a century of fire suppression in the US, forests in many areas are now dangerously overgrown. Coupled with the effects of climate change, this creates ideal conditions for megafires. Megafires are fires greater than 40,500 hectares (100,000 acres) in size.

In 2020, the Labor Day windstorms resulted in five simultaneous megafires in Oregon and 12 other smaller scale fires. The series of fires destroyed the bulk of Oregon’s timber harvest and future timber supply.

These fires not only destroy trees and vegetation but also decimate wildlife habitats, disrupt ecosystems, and reduce biodiversity.

Economically, wildfires have a profound impact, threatening industries like timber, tourism, and agriculture. For local communities, wildfires often lead to displacement, health risks from smoke, and the loss of property and livelihoods.

The deforestation caused by these fires also contributes to global warming, as the carbon stored in trees is released into the atmosphere when they burn, further exacerbating climate change.

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The Solution

Given the nature and extent of the Labor Day fires, restoration efforts will be a long, multi-year process. With your support, we will be restoring the burned forest land in Oregon.

A diverse range of tree species will be planted, including seeds that are adapted to withstand the changing climate. The trees being planted are carefully selected to represent the local ecosystem and assist with natural regeneration. They include Douglas-fir, Noble-fir and Western Red Cedar. 

‍Partners - American Forests & the Oregon Department of Forestry.

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What is Reforestation?

Reforestation is the practice of planting trees in areas where forests have been destroyed or degraded, such as those impacted by wildfires in Oregon. This process helps restore ecosystems by reintroducing native tree species, improving biodiversity, and stabilizing soil.

Reforestation not only helps to rebuild habitats for wildlife but also plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration, as growing trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. Additionally, reforestation efforts can prevent soil erosion, protect water quality, and enhance the resilience of forests to future wildfires.

In Oregon, reforestation projects often involve a combination of planting new trees and managing forest regeneration, with the goal of restoring both the environmental and economic health of affected areas. Through these efforts, reforestation supports long-term sustainability and helps to protect Oregon’s rich natural heritage for future generations.

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The Impact

Approximately 0.77 tons of C02 will be sequestered over each new tree’s lifetime

The goal of this project is to restore the wildlife habitat for species such as Deer, Elk, Cougar, Bear, Trout and Spotted Owl.

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How You Can Help

Ecodrive enables you to seamlessly integrate sustainability into your business processes.

Our technology allows you to tie everyday actions like sales, reviews, emails sent, meetings booked, and much more, to projects like wildfire reforestation projects in Oregon

Meaning you’re doing good for the planet, and your business.

Easily plug-in to your existing Shopify, Amazon, or e-commerce store, and gain access to our marketing toolkits and verification portal to fully communicate your impact to consumers and stakeholders.

Learn more by booking an Ecodrive demo with a member of our team.

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