American Forests
2024 & 2025 - $25,000 Tree Equity Score Toolkit
2022 - $25,000 Cool Corridors
2021 - $20,000 Tree Equity
2019 - $20,000 Tree Equity Toolkit
Founded in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the United States and a leader in the movement to protect and restore forest ecosystems. For more than 150 years, the organization has advanced science-driven approaches to forestry, shaping many of the practices used in conservation today. Its mission is to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to large natural landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife.
American Forests’ work centers on ensuring that forests remain powerful natural climate solutions, and it provides scientific tools, resources, and long-term planning needed to keep forests thriving. These resources enable partners nationwide to implement restoration and management practices that remain effective as climate conditions evolve.
A core pillar of American Forests’ work is climate-smart reforestation. Through its Resilient Forests program, the organization partners with federal and state agencies, Tribal Nations, local communities, and private landowners to restore forests in some of the country’s most ecologically vulnerable regions. American Forests develops and applies climate-informed reforestation strategies using tools such as its Reforestation Hub, which identifies low-cost, high-feasibility opportunities for restoring forest cover across the U.S. This work includes expanding native seed and nursery capacity, supporting climate-ready forestry jobs, and helping communities plan large-scale restoration across millions of acres.
Equally central to the organization’s mission is its Tree Equity program. Tree cover in the U.S. is distributed unequally: in many cities, low-income neighborhoods and communities of color have significantly fewer trees than wealthier areas. These disparities contribute to hotter temperatures, higher energy bills, poorer air quality, and increased health risks. To close these gaps, American Forests works with city leaders, community-based organizations, and residents to build urban forests that support health, resilience, and opportunity.
At the foundation of this work is the Tree Equity Score, a nationally recognized tool developed by American Forests to quantify and map the need for trees at the neighborhood level. The free, publicly available tool analyzes factors such as current tree canopy, surface temperature, income, race, age demographics, and health vulnerabilities to identify where trees will have the greatest benefit. Cities across the country use the Tree Equity Score to guide investment, set canopy goals, prioritize neighborhoods for greening, and engage residents in decision-making.
Policy leadership is another essential pillar of American Forests work. The organization collaborates with lawmakers, federal agencies, and national coalitions to expand funding for reforestation and urban forestry, modernize forest management, and integrate climate resilience and environmental justice into public policy. These efforts have helped secure historic federal investments, like the REPLANT Act, and have strengthened the systems needed to scale climate-smart forestry nationwide.
As climate challenges accelerate, American Forests continues to scale its work to meet national need: restoring forest landscapes across millions of acres, advancing Tree Equity in cities nationwide, and preparing the workforce needed to steward forests for generations to come. With its long history, scientific expertise, and commitment to community-centered solutions, American Forests is driving lasting change and ensuring that forests and the people who depend on them can thrive far into the future.