Cabela's, Arbor Day partner to rebuild forests affected by wildfire

Cabela’s Outdoor Fund and The Arbor Day Foundation have partnered together to replant in forests devastated by natural disaster.

A press release sent out by the Arbor Day Foundation said the reforestation efforts, which include the planting of 200,000 trees, are critical to preserving wildlife habitat. Record wildfire seasons in recent years have destroyed millions of trees in forests around the country. Many areas were burned so severely that natural regeneration is not possible, making the need to replant necessary. Insect infestations, disease and weather events also destroy forests.

The trees will be planted over the course of four years, with 50,000 trees planted every year. This year’s forests benefiting from the replanting efforts include Choccolocco State Forest in Alabama, Nebraska National Forest, Malheur National Forest in Oregon, and Bayfield County Forest in Wisconsin.

Nebraska National Forest consists of Buffalo Gap, Fort Pierre and Oglala National Grasslands and the Nebraska and Samuel R. McKelvie National Forests.

Timothy Buskirk, District Ranger for the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service said the areas affected by the large fires in 2006 and 2012 are where most of the tree planting will take place. He said more than 27,000 acres were affected by the Roberts, Spotted Tail and Deadhorse fires in 2006, and in 2012, more than 86,000 acres were burned.

Of these totals, said Buskirk, 30,783 acres were on US Forest Service lands. The total acres of forested (or once forested) area on the Pine Ridge Ranger District (Federal Lands) is only about 50,000 acres.

“There have been a total of 79 fires on national forest lands since 2006, but the vast majority were under 5 acres and contained within a couple of hours,” said Buskirk.

Buskirk said “a large percentage of the lands that we manage have been affected by wildfires over the last decade.”

The press release from the Arbor Day foundation went on to say “it is imperative that these forests are replanted within a reasonable time after a fire, insect infestation, disease or weather event takes its toll. If there is too much delay, invasive species of trees and brush that are fire-prone could take over, wildlife will not have critical habitat, and critical watershed areas will no longer be able to provide clean water.”

“Partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation on these reforestation efforts helps to further the mission of the Cabela’s Outdoor Fund by ensuring our customers have places to enjoy the outdoor activities they love, while also protecting the natural habitat,” said Scott Wanetka, Cabela’s Outdoor Fund vice president.

“We’re grateful to Cabela’s Outdoor Fund for becoming a steward of our nation’s forests,” said Dan Lambe, Arbor Day Foundation president. “Our forests are part of the long and important legacy of the people and the land of our country. Thanks to Cabela’s Outdoor Fund long-term commitment, thousands of trees will be planted to help clean the air, protect water resources, and restore habitat and beauty to forests that have suffered devastation.”

This year the Arbor Day Foundation is celebrating the 60-millionth tree planting in national and state forests as part of the Replanting our Forests program. The press release stated “the milestone tree planting is possible because of partnerships like Cabela’s Outdoor Fund.”