Wells Fargo & the Arbor Day Foundation

For a third year, Wells Fargo has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees in our nation’s forests.

Wells Fargo has set a goal of being responsible environmental stewards in every community where it does business. Since Wells Fargo began offering online statements, a total of 649 million paper statements have been eliminated. This translates into an environmental savings of over 223,000 trees.

Last year, Wells Fargo helped plant trees on Pere Marquette State Forest and Tillamook State Forest. This year, in honor of customers who opt for paperless statements, Wells Fargo will plant 50,000 trees on Six Rivers National Forest.

With support from Wells Fargo, the Foundation has planted more than 127,000 trees in neighborhoods and forests throughout the country, including seedlings distributed to the people of Joplin, Missouri, to restore community trees lost in last year's tornado.

2012—Six Rivers National Forest

Six Rivers National Forest lies on 957,590 acres east of Redwood State and National Parks in northwestern California, and stretches southward from the Oregon border for about 140 miles. The six rivers for which the forest is named – the Smith, Klamath, Eel, Trinity, Van Duzen and Mad – support exciting recreational activities. Large populations of Chinook and Coho salmon and steelhead, rainbow, and cutthroat trout provide some of the best fishing in the world. These new trees will greatly benefit the salmon runs throughout the Klamath Basin in 2012 and beyond.

Restoration in spring of 2012 includes a part of the 2008 Panther Fire that blazed across the north portions of the magnificent Marble Mountain Wilderness and steep canyons that drop to the wild & scenic Salmon River. The project also includes areas of the 2008 Siskiyou fire that burned extensive acreage in the Siskiyou Mountains of Northern California across two major drainages on two national forests. Replanting these forest lands will ensure the return of a forested landscape across vital watersheds, prevent damaging soil erosion, and will be key to restoring impaired salmon runs.

2011—Pere Marquette State Forest

Pere Marquette State Forest is located just south of Cadillac, Michigan and lies on the borders of Manistee National Forest. The forest is well known for its scenic hiking trails, campgrounds, numerous waterways, and miles of breathtaking natural beauty. The forest is also an important nesting area for the endangered Kirtland’s warbler.

In 2011, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, with the help of Arbor Day Foundation and Wells Fargo, helped to plant over 40,000 jack pine trees to improve habitat for the endangered Kirtland’s warbler. Today, Kirtland's warblers are found in only ten counties on Michigan's northern lower peninsula and four counties in the upper peninsula. Efforts by our replanting partners have increased the number of singing male Kirtland’s warblers from less than 200 to more than 1,300, bringing them back from the brink of extinction.

2011—Tillamook State Forest

The Tillamook State Forest was established as a result of large wildfires in the 1930’s and 1940’s and the large-scale reforestation efforts that followed. More than 70 million trees were planted by volunteers and schoolchildren in response to the Tillamook burns. Due to these efforts, a diverse and sustainable forest is now a place of recreation and enjoyment. This gem in northwest Oregon is an hour drive west of Portland, and is home to 364,000 acres of beauty and wonder.

The goal in 2011 was to improve long-term watershed health and to provide diverse habitats for the many wildlife species that call this place home. With support from Wells Fargo and the Arbor Day Foundation, the Oregon Department of Forestry planted approximately 30,000 red alder, western redcedar, and western hemlock trees as part of their plan of action for 2011.

Thanks to Wells Fargo's continued support, the Foundation has been able to plant more than 127,000 trees in high-need areas. These trees will provide cleaner air and water, habitat for wildlife and beauty for generations to enjoy. By planting trees in our nation’s forests, Wells Fargo is doing its part to conserve precious natural resources.