Support Reforestation Across the Indigenous West

Happy spring to one and all!

After a long winter, we at Trees, Water & People (TWP) are excited to begin the planting season on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Last week, we happily bid farewell to 15,000 Ponderosa Pine seedlings provided by the Colorado State Forest Service Nursery. These trees will help reforest areas burned by wildfires on Pine Ridge.

Planting the Ponderosas will sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gases, improve air and water quality, reduce soil erosion, reestablish wildlife habitat, and enhance ecosystem resiliency, while engaging Native Americans in the protection of their lands. One thousand of the seedlings were sent with special well wishes written on gardening stakes by the Earth Day patrons from TWP’s recent Earth Day event in Colorado with New Belgium Brewery and Topo Designs. The collaboration was a huge success and a whole lot of fun! 

Helping us plant all these trees and veggies is long-time supporter, Rob Beheady of BeHeady.com. Rob has been raising funds to plant trees with TWP for many years through the sale of his beautiful steel drums. We are so grateful to have his help and support!

The tree planting crew consistes of 11 Native Americans and 3 non-Native volunteers, with Henry Red Cloud, our Lakota partner who runs Lakota Solar Enterprises, at the lead. Dispite a late frost scare, all the trees made it safe and sound and are in the process of establishing themselves in their new home.

We could not have done this without you! Thank you all for your generous support. We look forward to continuing this reforestation project into the future.