Trees play a pivotal role in sustaining healthy ecosystems, providing essential benefits such as clean air, water filtration and habitat for wildlife. Tree planting efforts are crucial for maintaining these benefits, especially in areas where deforestation and environmental degradation have occurred. In a significant step towards ecological restoration, Clayton and the Arbor Day Foundation® have partnered to plant trees in forests of great need. This collaboration aims to enhance natural landscapes, improve biodiversity and help combat climate change through targeted tree planting initiatives.

The partnership between Clayton and the Arbor Day Foundation recognizes that forests are vital to the long-term sustainability of our planet, and, as partners, we have set a goal to plant trees in regions where reforestation is critically needed. Our efforts are often concentrated on public lands, which serve as vital reservoirs of biodiversity. By focusing on these areas, this partnership ensures that the impact of reforestation is maximized, helping to benefit the communities we serve.

Importance of Public Land

Reforestation on public land is an essential part of land management, promoting long term environmental and community health. Although placed into conservation, sometimes public lands consist of previously degraded environments that require extensive restoration. Native reforestation in these areas is crucial for rebuilding ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and cultivating community health. Healthy forests act as carbon sinks, help regulate water cycles and provide habitats for a myriad of species. Thus, planting efforts on public lands play a vital role in preserving these natural spaces for future generations.

"Reforestation is important in the National Park because public lands provide benefits to all of society,” according to Michael French, Director of Green Forest Work. “National parks provide a community with clean air, clean water, carbon sequestration and recreation. It’s important to the community to restore these impacted forests and undue damage that was done years ago."

New River Gorge National Park Project

As of 2021, there were more than 2,300 square miles of abandoned mine land in the Appalachian region, that’s more than twice the size of Rhode Island. This land that was once degraded is finding new purpose through innovative reclamation projects.

The legacy coal mine reforestation project, including the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia, is a prime example of the impactful work being supported by the Clayton and Arbor Day Foundation partnership. “Prior to the establishment of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, strip mines were reclaimed under the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act. Those initial reclamation efforts involved a heavy amount of soil compaction and non-native species invaded the area, leading to stunted and incorrect growth,” said Cheyney Halldin, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Physical Scientist. “Current reforestation efforts aim to restore the native oak and history forests to promote habitat for the indigenous species in the area and combat invasive species.”

Clayton, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and Green Forest Work, funded the planting of 60,000 of the 97,900 trees in the project, including native species like oaks, hickory, and pines, helping to restore 96 acres of land through the legacy coal mine reforestation effort. Over the next 40 years, these 60,000 trees will help to sequester 17,222 metric tons of carbon dioxide, prevent 7.8 million gallons of water runoff and remove 59.83 tons of air pollutants.¹

The collaboration between Clayton and the Arbor Day Foundation has resulted in more than 4.2 million trees planted, supporting restoration of more than 8,300 acres of forestland since 2022. These outcomes underscore the importance of mutual trust, allowing nonprofits to leverage their expertise and resources to drive meaningful change.

“The Arbor Day Foundation is lucky to have a lot of great corporate partners, like Clayton,” said Dan Lambe, CEO of the Arbor Day Foundation. “These partners help us drive impact, drive scale and plant trees in forests and neighborhoods of greatest need. This work helps us change lives for people across the planet.”

Reforestation is a powerful tool for ecological restoration, offering numerous benefits for ecosystems and communities alike. The partnership between Clayton and the Arbor Day Foundation exemplifies the positive impact that collaborative efforts can achieve. As the Arbor Day Foundation continues to plant trees and restore natural landscapes, their work serves as an inspiration for others to engage in similar environmental stewardship activities. To learn more about Clayton's social responsibility efforts, visit Claytonhomes.com/social-responsibility.

1 *Metrics projected over 40 years and reported by the Arbor Day Foundation, configured using USDA Forest Service i-Tree Tools.