Arbor Day Newsletter January/February 2022

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 2 • A R B O R D AY. O R G

Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides

This is an impressive tree by any standard. Of special note is that fossils in northern parts of the United States show that the dawn redwood knew the dinosaurs.

The tree was long thought to be extinct — until it was discovered alive and well in the 1940s in a rural, mountainous area of China.

Now this “fossil tree” is planted throughout the world. It rewards growers not only with a unique landscape tree, but one that grows rapidly, has few insect or disease problems, and can tolerate urban air pollution.

LEAVES: Approximately ½ inch

long, flattened but often wavy or curved, and needle-like. Opposite on slender twigs. Reddish-brown autumn color. Both the “needles” and twigs drop before winter.

CONES: Oval or round structures

about ¾ to 1¾ inches long, hanging on stalks that are up to 1¾ inches long. They are brown and contain small seeds encircled with narrow wings.

FLOWERS: Both sexes are found on

the same tree and bloom in spring as leaves appear. They are rather small and inconspicuous. Males are light yellow-brown and hang along stalks up to 12 inches long. Females are borne singly and are yellow-green.

BARK: On mature trees, reddish

bark darkens into gray and becomes shallowly furrowed with some sections shedding in vertical strips.

FORM: A large tree at maturity,

reaching 100 or more feet in height with a distinctly pyramid-shaped crown that spreads up to 25 feet.

The trunk is single and straight with upswept branches extending close to the ground unless pruned.

WILDLIFE VALUE: Provides winter cover for birds, small mammals, and deer.

To purchase or learn more about this tree and others,visit arborday.org/dawnredwood.

PLANTING: Suitable in hardiness

Scan to go directly to the dawn redwood in our online Tree Nursery.

zones 5–8 in spaces that are free of overhead wires. Prefers full sun and moist soil but will thrive in a variety of soil conditions.

RESTORING THE FORESTLANDS

OF NICARAGUA

An official publication of

.

We guarantee delivery of healthy trees to our members. Please check ordering deadlines and shipping dates at arborday.org/shipping. If you need to contact us about your trees, call 888-448-7337, email us at info@arborday.org, or drop us a note at Member Services, Arbor Day Foundation, 211 N. 12th St., Lincoln, NE 68508. We want your tree planting efforts to be successful!

© 2022 Arbor Day Foundation. The Foundation sometimes exchanges mailing lists with selected organizations with offers of interest to our members. If you do not want your name included, just write, email, or call Member Services and tell us not to exchange your name.

50132401

A Warm Welcome for Dan Lambe

ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE,

Matt Harris

A RB OR DAY J OU RNA L

Leading the Foundation has been the honor of a lifetime, and I believe strongly in the impact we are having on the world.

At no time in my tenure here have I been more optimistic about the future of this organization and the work we’re doing.

We’ve built the Foundation in a way that allows more sustainability and flexibility.

We’re positioned to make bold moves successfully and achieve significantly greater scale.

So, this is simply the right time for a positive transition. I am departing with not only a sense of pride for what we’ve accomplished together but also an excitement for what is to come for this Foundation and its members and partners.

Thank you for entrusting me with this role through the years, and thank you for your loyal support of the Arbor Day Foundation. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to lead such a special organization.

“I am truly honored and humbled by the opportunity to become the third chief executive in the 50 years of the Arbor Day Foundation,” said Dan. “I am remarkably optimistic about the future of the organization — not because of my leadership but because of our dedicated staff, loyal members, and supportive partners who have worked together to get us here.”

In his current role, Dan takes advantage of every opportunity to connect with planting partners, corporate partners, and members and share the importance of tree planting with the world. He has helped to build new Foundation programs from the ground up and develop initiatives designed to have lasting impact. His time as president has also prepared him to take on this new role.

TEN YEARS AGO, we sat down and asked an ambitious question: “How do we get more trees in yards across America?”

We wanted to empower Americans to plant in a way that benefited them — protecting their homes from the elements and saving them money on energy bills. To get there, we envisioned partnering with utility companies, who have a vested interest in improving their communities and the lives of their customers.

Our Energy-Saving Trees and Community Canopy program is now celebrating its 10th year. Over the past decade, we have distributed more than 457,000 trees to over 302,000 households nationwide through this program.

The program allows our partners to easily set up free or discounted tree distributions for residents in their communities through i-Tree, a custom online portal. Residents then visit the portal to claim their free trees and use a home mapping tool to see which location would offer the greatest energy savings.

Over the years, the program has saved 751.3 million kilowatt hours and sequestered 1.8 billion pounds of carbon. That’s the equivalent of taking 69,000 homes off the grid and 191,500 cars off the

“We will not skip a beat in transition,” said Matt. “Dan is an outstanding leader, and he will continue to be surrounded by a strong and experienced team to guide the organization.”

While Foundation staff and board members alike are sad to see Matt go, we are also happy for him as he begins his next chapter. And everyone is excited for Dan to seamlessly step into the role. “Matt has built an unparalleled team and organizational culture that is well-positioned to build upon the momentum he established as CEO. That starts with installing Dan Lambe as president & CEO,” said Pat Covey, Arbor Day Foundation Board of Trustees chair. “Dan has long been the face of the Arbor Day Foundation, and there isn’t any doubt he will be an exceptional CEO who will be welcomed by our members and partners.”

This time of transition is unquestionably a positive one for the Foundation, and we’re excited to share it with the people who help make our work possible.

road for an entire year. In total, homeowners are projected to save $242 million on their energy bills.

“Trees are essential to the health and beauty of our community,” said Centerpoint Energy, a Texas-based utility and one of 118 participants in the program.

“Energy-Saving Trees provides our customers with free trees, based on request, which can be planted in their yard to maximize shade and energy savings. Each year on a cool autumn Saturday, we make a difference in our workplace and our community through the EST giveaway here in Houston.”

Energy-Saving Trees also plays a large role in disaster recovery. Many partners have used the online tool to help homeowners replace trees lost to tornadoes, hurricanes, and windstorms.

“I think this program is wonderful and hope it can be continued, not only for us, but for others — especially the next generations,” said a resident in Coal City, Illinois, which was impacted by a tornado in 2015.

To learn more about Energy-Saving Trees or Community Canopy, visit arborday.org/energy.

Replanting Our Forests

@arborday.org

AFTER NEARLY TWO DECADES, my time with the Arbor Day Foundation is coming to a close. I recently announced that I will be stepping away from my role as chief executive at the end of January. And I’m pleased to report that the Foundation’s board of trustees unanimously agreed to name current president Dan Lambe as the successor. We will not skip a beat in transition. Dan is a great leader with 17 years of experience at the Foundation, and he will continue to be surrounded by a strong and experienced team dedicated to tree planting.

WITH THE DEPARTURE OF Matt Harris comes the announcement of a new chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation who will not feel “new” at all to many of our members and partners.

Dan Lambe, currently the president of the Foundation, will assume the role of president and chief executive on January 26 of this year.

Energy-Saving Trees Program Celebrates 10 Years of Impact

STAY CONNECTED WITH THIS IMPORTANT WORK The Arbor Day Foundation is involved in reforestation projects around the globe, and the work is ongoing. Members can stay up to date on these important efforts — as well as their impact — right on our website, at arborday.org/replanting.

Here you will find information about the importance of replanting our natural forests, the total number of trees we have committed to planting, a map illustrating where this work is happening, and stories from select projects. You will also see snapshots of our planting partners in action.

FOLLOW US AT

This is just one more way you can see the difference we are making together.

facebook.com/arborday

2 ARBOR DAY • January/February 2022 • 888-448-7337 • arborday.org

On the cover: Local planting partner Taking Root connects smallholder farmers in the area to tree planting opportunities that mean more income and a greener Nicaragua.

ARBOR DAY • January/February 2022 • 888-448-7337 • arborday.org

7

Planting Trees With Quilted Northern®

Nebraska City, Nebraska

A COMMITMENT TO MORE THAN REPLACING RESOURCES FOR RESERVATIONS TO STAY AT LIED LODGE: arbordayfarm.org • 800-546-5433

YOU NEED TREES TO MAKE TOILET PAPER, so it only makes sense that these companies commit to replacing the trees they use. But Quilted Northern is going beyond that formula through a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation.

In addition to replacing each sustainably sourced tree they use in an FSC-certified forest, Quilted Northern is working with the Foundation to support the planting of two additional trees in forests in need.

Since 2020, the company has funded the planting of more than 3.5 million trees, and the project is on track to plant millions more in 2022.

they love comes with the added benefit of giving back to the environment.”

This past year’s trees were planted to help reestablish the tree cover of National Forests, state forests, watersheds, and wildlife reserves in 20 different states across the country. These trees will grow to help improve the health of these forests, keep area waterways clean, provide critical wildlife habitat, and ensure a greener future for all of us.

Hazelnuts: A Field Report LAST YEAR BROUGHT A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH in hazelnut research for the Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium. A hybrid cultivar (known as “The Beast”) was developed that not only was resistant to eastern filbert blight but also produced larger nuts with thinner shells. This success was two decades in the making and was made possible with the assistance of thousands of Arbor Day Foundation members.

As this cultivar becomes available for nut-growing enthusiasts, many may be asking what comes next for the Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium. According to Aaron Clare, forestry properties manager for the Nebraska Forest Service/University of Nebraska– Lincoln, the research carries on — not just for The Beast but for new potential cultivars that are both hardy and able to withstand eastern filbert blight.

“It’s important that we do our part to restore forests in the U.S. through these tree planting projects,” said Amanda Gage Cole, Senior brand director for Quilted Northern. “Our commitment to planting trees through the Arbor Day Foundation gives consumers the comfort of knowing that the

IRA Distributions: Caring for the Earth in Retirement CURRENT TAX LAWS make it easy for you to support conservation through a traditional or Roth IRA. If you are 70½ or older (traditional IRA), or 591/2 (Roth IRA), you can leverage your IRA to make tax-free contributions — up to $100,000 per year. Simply direct a distribution in the amount you choose to the Arbor Day Foundation, which will not be subject to income tax. And the distribution can be set as either a onetime or recurring gift.

This is a great solution if you do not need the additional income from your required minimum distributions, you want to give more than the deduction limit, or you live in a state with no charitable income tax deduction.

Not only do you avoid paying income tax on this distribution; you have the satisfaction of knowing that you have made a lasting contribution to our environment.

If you are under 70½ years old, you can still use your IRA by making a withdrawal and donating a charitable contribution after taxes.

For more details, please consult your professional financial advisor, visit arborday.org/plannedgiving, or email development@arborday.org.

For The Beast, that means more cold-hardiness testing. Aaron says that, “Right now it’s available for people to plant in their areas, and we’re trying to fine-tune the limits of its cold-hardiness.

The target range we’re looking at is zone 5 or warmer. It doesn’t look like it’s going to be cold-hardy enough for zone 4 based on some of the preliminary results we’ve gotten so far.”

The Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium’s primary goal is to significantly expand the commercial production region of hazelnuts in the United States and Canada.

Testing is also ongoing to find more cultivars that have the needed disease resistance combined with good nut production.

“Both Oregon State and Rutgers have sent us dozens of superior F1 selections and thousands of F2 seedlings for testing over the next five to seven years, from which we expect to identify our next round of releases,” Aaron added. “The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. People want plants, and we’re trying to do everything we can to get them more plant material.”

More information about the Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium’s work can be found at arborday.org/hazelnuts.

PLANTING THE BEAST If you’re interested in planting this new cultivar, it is available on a limited basis through three nurseries: Great Plains Nursery in Nebraska, Foggy Bottom Tree Farm in New Jersey, and Z’s Nutty Ridge in New York. Also note that this hazelnut cultivar is not selfpollinating, so you should plant it with a compatible cultivar such as Grand Traverse to ensure a crop.

ARBOR DAY • January/February 2022 • 888-448-7337 • arborday.org

3

who have a desire to improve their farms,” Madelyn said. “I like to work hand-in-hand with the producers, learn from them as they learn from me.”

In addition to the feelings many of these farmers have about the importance of restoring the land, this work is also providing much-needed additional income.

Through CommuniTree’s carbon offset program, farmers are paid over a 10-year period for growing and maintaining their trees. In addition, the trees that they grow generate forest products such as coffee, biochar, and fruit that farmers can sell to increase and diversify their incomes.

This is the kind of financial stability that can ensure a better life for not just the farm families but their entire communities, as farmers here earn as little as $2 per day.

It is also the kind of forestry practice that will ensure improved forest cover for generations to come.

PLANTING TREES IN NICARAGUA RESTORING FORESTLANDS AND SUPPORTING FARMERS The largest country in Central America, Nicaragua offers a beautifully diverse landscape. Beaches, volcanoes, forests, and mountains all coexist in a space slightly larger than the state of New York.

But as with many countries near the equator, Nicaragua is facing the destruction of its forest canopy cover. According to Global Forest Watch, the total area of humid primary forest in Nicaragua has decreased by approximately 25% from 2002 to 2020.

By definition, a primary forest is an untouched forest in its original condition and is the most biologically diverse forest type.

The Arbor Day Foundation has partnered with Taking Root — an organization supporting tree planting efforts in the country since 2007 — to help restore forest cover and preserve the integrity of this land. And a key component of making this a reality is local farmers.

This work is part of an initiative called the CommuniTree Program, the largest reforestation initiative in Nicaragua. More than 2,000 smallholder farmers play an integral role in these efforts, as they are actively planting and preserving trees in conjunction with their agricultural practices. The overall goals are critical for the country: mitigate climate change, improve farmer livelihoods, and restore local forest ecosystems.

4 ARBOR DAY • January/February 2022 • 888-448-7337 • arborday.org

When asked about the importance of this work, Madelyn Patricia Centeno Cruz — a field technician working on this project — shared insights into what Nicaragua is facing. “It is very important not only for the environmental, economic, and social aspects. In this case, Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the world. We are going through climate change crises; the effects of climate change are affecting us drastically.”

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE TREES Together, we are working to help restore the canopy cover, and the benefits of these efforts are far-reaching. One big environmental benefit is cleaner water. Madelyn explains that this work is important because, “we increase water resources, which is one of the main environmental problems here in Nicaragua. There are polluted waters, and there are many municipalities that unfortunately no longer have water resources.”

Overall, the farmers are dedicated to helping improve the environment. “I am very proud to help all those producers who have a desire to reforest,

And for Marcel Ali Montoya, another field technician working directly with farmers, this is what makes his job so rewarding. “We are happy when we go to a producer and tell him that there is a forest incentive, that it’s going to help make his standard of living different,” he said. “It fulfills us because we are seeing a big change, both in them and us.”

MEASURING IMPACT To help measure and verify this work, Taking Root has developed an industry leading technology platform called FARM-TRACE. Information such as number of trees planted and metric tons of carbon stored can be easily tracked to highlight the environmental impact.

The platform even allows partners to see specifics about the work each participating farmer is doing to restore the tree canopy on his or her land and how that land is currently being used. The detailed reporting is a clear way to illustrate the true impact of any given project and the program as a whole.

This provides unparalleled levels of transparency to help tell the larger story of change that these tree planting projects are making possible.

ROOM TO GROW The success seen so far in Nicaragua is just the beginning of the story. As these farmers continue to reestablish forest cover, the environmental and economic benefits will continue to improve the country as a whole — in addition to preserving a precious ecosystem that benefits the world.

This is just one example of the important tree planting work happening every day in forests around the globe. We are proud to share this kind of impact with our loyal members. And we hope you feel that same sense of pride, as you are an important part of the Arbor Day Foundation.

Image Credits: Carly Cindrich @ Electric Peach

ARBOR DAY • January/February 2022 • 888-448-7337 • arborday.org

5

who have a desire to improve their farms,” Madelyn said. “I like to work hand-in-hand with the producers, learn from them as they learn from me.”

In addition to the feelings many of these farmers have about the importance of restoring the land, this work is also providing much-needed additional income.

Through CommuniTree’s carbon offset program, farmers are paid over a 10-year period for growing and maintaining their trees. In addition, the trees that they grow generate forest products such as coffee, biochar, and fruit that farmers can sell to increase and diversify their incomes.

This is the kind of financial stability that can ensure a better life for not just the farm families but their entire communities, as farmers here earn as little as $2 per day.

It is also the kind of forestry practice that will ensure improved forest cover for generations to come.

PLANTING TREES IN NICARAGUA RESTORING FORESTLANDS AND SUPPORTING FARMERS The largest country in Central America, Nicaragua offers a beautifully diverse landscape. Beaches, volcanoes, forests, and mountains all coexist in a space slightly larger than the state of New York.

But as with many countries near the equator, Nicaragua is facing the destruction of its forest canopy cover. According to Global Forest Watch, the total area of humid primary forest in Nicaragua has decreased by approximately 25% from 2002 to 2020.

By definition, a primary forest is an untouched forest in its original condition and is the most biologically diverse forest type.

The Arbor Day Foundation has partnered with Taking Root — an organization supporting tree planting efforts in the country since 2007 — to help restore forest cover and preserve the integrity of this land. And a key component of making this a reality is local farmers.

This work is part of an initiative called the CommuniTree Program, the largest reforestation initiative in Nicaragua. More than 2,000 smallholder farmers play an integral role in these efforts, as they are actively planting and preserving trees in conjunction with their agricultural practices. The overall goals are critical for the country: mitigate climate change, improve farmer livelihoods, and restore local forest ecosystems.

4 ARBOR DAY • January/February 2022 • 888-448-7337 • arborday.org

When asked about the importance of this work, Madelyn Patricia Centeno Cruz — a field technician working on this project — shared insights into what Nicaragua is facing. “It is very important not only for the environmental, economic, and social aspects. In this case, Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the world. We are going through climate change crises; the effects of climate change are affecting us drastically.”

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE TREES Together, we are working to help restore the canopy cover, and the benefits of these efforts are far-reaching. One big environmental benefit is cleaner water. Madelyn explains that this work is important because, “we increase water resources, which is one of the main environmental problems here in Nicaragua. There are polluted waters, and there are many municipalities that unfortunately no longer have water resources.”

Overall, the farmers are dedicated to helping improve the environment. “I am very proud to help all those producers who have a desire to reforest,

And for Marcel Ali Montoya, another field technician working directly with farmers, this is what makes his job so rewarding. “We are happy when we go to a producer and tell him that there is a forest incentive, that it’s going to help make his standard of living different,” he said. “It fulfills us because we are seeing a big change, both in them and us.”

MEASURING IMPACT To help measure and verify this work, Taking Root has developed an industry leading technology platform called FARM-TRACE. Information such as number of trees planted and metric tons of carbon stored can be easily tracked to highlight the environmental impact.

The platform even allows partners to see specifics about the work each participating farmer is doing to restore the tree canopy on his or her land and how that land is currently being used. The detailed reporting is a clear way to illustrate the true impact of any given project and the program as a whole.

This provides unparalleled levels of transparency to help tell the larger story of change that these tree planting projects are making possible.

ROOM TO GROW The success seen so far in Nicaragua is just the beginning of the story. As these farmers continue to reestablish forest cover, the environmental and economic benefits will continue to improve the country as a whole — in addition to preserving a precious ecosystem that benefits the world.

This is just one example of the important tree planting work happening every day in forests around the globe. We are proud to share this kind of impact with our loyal members. And we hope you feel that same sense of pride, as you are an important part of the Arbor Day Foundation.

Image Credits: Carly Cindrich @ Electric Peach

ARBOR DAY • January/February 2022 • 888-448-7337 • arborday.org

5

Planting Trees With Quilted Northern®

Nebraska City, Nebraska

A COMMITMENT TO MORE THAN REPLACING RESOURCES FOR RESERVATIONS TO STAY AT LIED LODGE: arbordayfarm.org • 800-546-5433

YOU NEED TREES TO MAKE TOILET PAPER, so it only makes sense that these companies commit to replacing the trees they use. But Quilted Northern is going beyond that formula through a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation.

In addition to replacing each sustainably sourced tree they use in an FSC-certified forest, Quilted Northern is working with the Foundation to support the planting of two additional trees in forests in need.

Since 2020, the company has funded the planting of more than 3.5 million trees, and the project is on track to plant millions more in 2022.

they love comes with the added benefit of giving back to the environment.”

This past year’s trees were planted to help reestablish the tree cover of National Forests, state forests, watersheds, and wildlife reserves in 20 different states across the country. These trees will grow to help improve the health of these forests, keep area waterways clean, provide critical wildlife habitat, and ensure a greener future for all of us.

Hazelnuts: A Field Report LAST YEAR BROUGHT A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH in hazelnut research for the Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium. A hybrid cultivar (known as “The Beast”) was developed that not only was resistant to eastern filbert blight but also produced larger nuts with thinner shells. This success was two decades in the making and was made possible with the assistance of thousands of Arbor Day Foundation members.

As this cultivar becomes available for nut-growing enthusiasts, many may be asking what comes next for the Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium. According to Aaron Clare, forestry properties manager for the Nebraska Forest Service/University of Nebraska– Lincoln, the research carries on — not just for The Beast but for new potential cultivars that are both hardy and able to withstand eastern filbert blight.

“It’s important that we do our part to restore forests in the U.S. through these tree planting projects,” said Amanda Gage Cole, Senior brand director for Quilted Northern. “Our commitment to planting trees through the Arbor Day Foundation gives consumers the comfort of knowing that the

IRA Distributions: Caring for the Earth in Retirement CURRENT TAX LAWS make it easy for you to support conservation through a traditional or Roth IRA. If you are 70½ or older (traditional IRA), or 591/2 (Roth IRA), you can leverage your IRA to make tax-free contributions — up to $100,000 per year. Simply direct a distribution in the amount you choose to the Arbor Day Foundation, which will not be subject to income tax. And the distribution can be set as either a onetime or recurring gift.

This is a great solution if you do not need the additional income from your required minimum distributions, you want to give more than the deduction limit, or you live in a state with no charitable income tax deduction.

Not only do you avoid paying income tax on this distribution; you have the satisfaction of knowing that you have made a lasting contribution to our environment.

If you are under 70½ years old, you can still use your IRA by making a withdrawal and donating a charitable contribution after taxes.

For more details, please consult your professional financial advisor, visit arborday.org/plannedgiving, or email development@arborday.org.

For The Beast, that means more cold-hardiness testing. Aaron says that, “Right now it’s available for people to plant in their areas, and we’re trying to fine-tune the limits of its cold-hardiness.

The target range we’re looking at is zone 5 or warmer. It doesn’t look like it’s going to be cold-hardy enough for zone 4 based on some of the preliminary results we’ve gotten so far.”

The Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium’s primary goal is to significantly expand the commercial production region of hazelnuts in the United States and Canada.

Testing is also ongoing to find more cultivars that have the needed disease resistance combined with good nut production.

“Both Oregon State and Rutgers have sent us dozens of superior F1 selections and thousands of F2 seedlings for testing over the next five to seven years, from which we expect to identify our next round of releases,” Aaron added. “The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. People want plants, and we’re trying to do everything we can to get them more plant material.”

More information about the Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium’s work can be found at arborday.org/hazelnuts.

PLANTING THE BEAST If you’re interested in planting this new cultivar, it is available on a limited basis through three nurseries: Great Plains Nursery in Nebraska, Foggy Bottom Tree Farm in New Jersey, and Z’s Nutty Ridge in New York. Also note that this hazelnut cultivar is not selfpollinating, so you should plant it with a compatible cultivar such as Grand Traverse to ensure a crop.

ARBOR DAY • January/February 2022 • 888-448-7337 • arborday.org

3

A Warm Welcome for Dan Lambe

ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE,

Matt Harris

A RB OR DAY J OU RNA L

Leading the Foundation has been the honor of a lifetime, and I believe strongly in the impact we are having on the world.

At no time in my tenure here have I been more optimistic about the future of this organization and the work we’re doing.

We’ve built the Foundation in a way that allows more sustainability and flexibility.

We’re positioned to make bold moves successfully and achieve significantly greater scale.

So, this is simply the right time for a positive transition. I am departing with not only a sense of pride for what we’ve accomplished together but also an excitement for what is to come for this Foundation and its members and partners.

Thank you for entrusting me with this role through the years, and thank you for your loyal support of the Arbor Day Foundation. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to lead such a special organization.

“I am truly honored and humbled by the opportunity to become the third chief executive in the 50 years of the Arbor Day Foundation,” said Dan. “I am remarkably optimistic about the future of the organization — not because of my leadership but because of our dedicated staff, loyal members, and supportive partners who have worked together to get us here.”

In his current role, Dan takes advantage of every opportunity to connect with planting partners, corporate partners, and members and share the importance of tree planting with the world. He has helped to build new Foundation programs from the ground up and develop initiatives designed to have lasting impact. His time as president has also prepared him to take on this new role.

TEN YEARS AGO, we sat down and asked an ambitious question: “How do we get more trees in yards across America?”

We wanted to empower Americans to plant in a way that benefited them — protecting their homes from the elements and saving them money on energy bills. To get there, we envisioned partnering with utility companies, who have a vested interest in improving their communities and the lives of their customers.

Our Energy-Saving Trees and Community Canopy program is now celebrating its 10th year. Over the past decade, we have distributed more than 457,000 trees to over 302,000 households nationwide through this program.

The program allows our partners to easily set up free or discounted tree distributions for residents in their communities through i-Tree, a custom online portal. Residents then visit the portal to claim their free trees and use a home mapping tool to see which location would offer the greatest energy savings.

Over the years, the program has saved 751.3 million kilowatt hours and sequestered 1.8 billion pounds of carbon. That’s the equivalent of taking 69,000 homes off the grid and 191,500 cars off the

“We will not skip a beat in transition,” said Matt. “Dan is an outstanding leader, and he will continue to be surrounded by a strong and experienced team to guide the organization.”

While Foundation staff and board members alike are sad to see Matt go, we are also happy for him as he begins his next chapter. And everyone is excited for Dan to seamlessly step into the role. “Matt has built an unparalleled team and organizational culture that is well-positioned to build upon the momentum he established as CEO. That starts with installing Dan Lambe as president & CEO,” said Pat Covey, Arbor Day Foundation Board of Trustees chair. “Dan has long been the face of the Arbor Day Foundation, and there isn’t any doubt he will be an exceptional CEO who will be welcomed by our members and partners.”

This time of transition is unquestionably a positive one for the Foundation, and we’re excited to share it with the people who help make our work possible.

road for an entire year. In total, homeowners are projected to save $242 million on their energy bills.

“Trees are essential to the health and beauty of our community,” said Centerpoint Energy, a Texas-based utility and one of 118 participants in the program.

“Energy-Saving Trees provides our customers with free trees, based on request, which can be planted in their yard to maximize shade and energy savings. Each year on a cool autumn Saturday, we make a difference in our workplace and our community through the EST giveaway here in Houston.”

Energy-Saving Trees also plays a large role in disaster recovery. Many partners have used the online tool to help homeowners replace trees lost to tornadoes, hurricanes, and windstorms.

“I think this program is wonderful and hope it can be continued, not only for us, but for others — especially the next generations,” said a resident in Coal City, Illinois, which was impacted by a tornado in 2015.

To learn more about Energy-Saving Trees or Community Canopy, visit arborday.org/energy.

Replanting Our Forests

@arborday.org

AFTER NEARLY TWO DECADES, my time with the Arbor Day Foundation is coming to a close. I recently announced that I will be stepping away from my role as chief executive at the end of January. And I’m pleased to report that the Foundation’s board of trustees unanimously agreed to name current president Dan Lambe as the successor. We will not skip a beat in transition. Dan is a great leader with 17 years of experience at the Foundation, and he will continue to be surrounded by a strong and experienced team dedicated to tree planting.

WITH THE DEPARTURE OF Matt Harris comes the announcement of a new chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation who will not feel “new” at all to many of our members and partners.

Dan Lambe, currently the president of the Foundation, will assume the role of president and chief executive on January 26 of this year.

Energy-Saving Trees Program Celebrates 10 Years of Impact

STAY CONNECTED WITH THIS IMPORTANT WORK The Arbor Day Foundation is involved in reforestation projects around the globe, and the work is ongoing. Members can stay up to date on these important efforts — as well as their impact — right on our website, at arborday.org/replanting.

Here you will find information about the importance of replanting our natural forests, the total number of trees we have committed to planting, a map illustrating where this work is happening, and stories from select projects. You will also see snapshots of our planting partners in action.

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This is just one more way you can see the difference we are making together.

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2 ARBOR DAY • January/February 2022 • 888-448-7337 • arborday.org

On the cover: Local planting partner Taking Root connects smallholder farmers in the area to tree planting opportunities that mean more income and a greener Nicaragua.

ARBOR DAY • January/February 2022 • 888-448-7337 • arborday.org

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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 2 • A R B O R D AY. O R G

Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides

This is an impressive tree by any standard. Of special note is that fossils in northern parts of the United States show that the dawn redwood knew the dinosaurs.

The tree was long thought to be extinct — until it was discovered alive and well in the 1940s in a rural, mountainous area of China.

Now this “fossil tree” is planted throughout the world. It rewards growers not only with a unique landscape tree, but one that grows rapidly, has few insect or disease problems, and can tolerate urban air pollution.

LEAVES: Approximately ½ inch

long, flattened but often wavy or curved, and needle-like. Opposite on slender twigs. Reddish-brown autumn color. Both the “needles” and twigs drop before winter.

CONES: Oval or round structures

about ¾ to 1¾ inches long, hanging on stalks that are up to 1¾ inches long. They are brown and contain small seeds encircled with narrow wings.

FLOWERS: Both sexes are found on

the same tree and bloom in spring as leaves appear. They are rather small and inconspicuous. Males are light yellow-brown and hang along stalks up to 12 inches long. Females are borne singly and are yellow-green.

BARK: On mature trees, reddish

bark darkens into gray and becomes shallowly furrowed with some sections shedding in vertical strips.

FORM: A large tree at maturity,

reaching 100 or more feet in height with a distinctly pyramid-shaped crown that spreads up to 25 feet.

The trunk is single and straight with upswept branches extending close to the ground unless pruned.

WILDLIFE VALUE: Provides winter cover for birds, small mammals, and deer.

To purchase or learn more about this tree and others,visit arborday.org/dawnredwood.

PLANTING: Suitable in hardiness

Scan to go directly to the dawn redwood in our online Tree Nursery.

zones 5–8 in spaces that are free of overhead wires. Prefers full sun and moist soil but will thrive in a variety of soil conditions.

RESTORING THE FORESTLANDS

OF NICARAGUA

An official publication of

.

We guarantee delivery of healthy trees to our members. Please check ordering deadlines and shipping dates at arborday.org/shipping. If you need to contact us about your trees, call 888-448-7337, email us at info@arborday.org, or drop us a note at Member Services, Arbor Day Foundation, 211 N. 12th St., Lincoln, NE 68508. We want your tree planting efforts to be successful!

© 2022 Arbor Day Foundation. The Foundation sometimes exchanges mailing lists with selected organizations with offers of interest to our members. If you do not want your name included, just write, email, or call Member Services and tell us not to exchange your name.

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