Drone image over the Central Appalachian region in West Virginia — Restoration site in the central Appalachian region A bird’s eye view of Cunningham Knob, a forest restoration site where nearly 40,000 red spruce trees were planted in the spring of 2024. © Understory Media

The United States

Sprucing up the Appalachians

TNC’s Plant a Billion Trees Program is helping connect and restore critical forests in West Virginia to mitigate climate change.

Plant a Billion Trees is a global initiative making an impact in the Appalachians. Here in West Virginia, the U.S.’s third most forested state, we are partnering with the U.S. Forest Service to restore rare and threatened habitats. We are planting red spruce trees to connect critical high-elevation spruce forests that the plants and animals of this region call home, easing the burden of climate change and ensuring their resilience for decades to come.

Sprucing Up the Appalachians TNC's global Plant a Billion Trees campaign has made a big impact in the Appalachians. In West Virginia, the U.S.’s third most forested state, we are partnering with the U.S. Forest Service to restore rare habitat. We are planting red spruce trees to connect critical high-elevation forests.

The decisions we make for our planet over the next decade will forever alter the future of the Appalachians and the millions of people who depend on its natural bounty.

Katy Shallows

Forest Restoration Manager, TNC Appalachians Program

Smiles for red spruce Katy Shallows, forest restoration manager for TNC’s Appalachians Program, smiles for the camera while planting red spruce trees. © Understory Media

Plant a Billion Trees program Our crew heading back to homebase after an afternoon of tree planting. © Understory Media

Enhancing Biodiversity for Resilient Lands

Healthy and diverse forests in the Monongahela National Forest contribute to the resiliency of the entire Appalachian landscape and our planet. This site on the Monongahela is important for restoration because of its high-elevation limestone landscape with frost-pocket wetlands and high-elevation aquatic systems which providesa home to many rare species moving in response to climate change. This project exemplifies the need for the Plant a Billion Trees program in the Appalachians.

Planting Red Spruce

TNC planted nearly 40,000 red spruce trees on Cunningham Knob, a Central Appalachians forest restoration site during spring 2024.

Drone aerial shot over Elk Run River in West Virginia

Aerial View of Elk Run: Beginning its journey amongst some of the highest peaks in West Virginia, Elk Run meanders through the Cunningham Knob property as it heads toward Laurel Fork Wilderness. © Understory Media

TNC's land protection manager with a bag of saplings over her shoulder plants a tree.

Every Tree Counts: Isa Bryant, land protection manager for West Virginia, contributes to the Plant a Billion Trees mission by planting one tree at a time. © Understory Media

4 TNC staff stand with tree planting tools

Planting Trees: TNC staff take a break from tree planting in West Virginia. © Understory Media

A canvas bag holds red spruce saplings with a grassy horizon in the background

Tree planting: Red spruce saplings wait to be planted. © Understory Media

Bold Visions Require Bold Actions

Trees provide so much benefit to our everyday lives. They filter clean air and water, help curb climate change, and create homes for thousands of plant and animal species.

Join us in restoring over two million acres of degraded lands by planting millions more trees across the Appalachians and one billion trees globally.

Together, we find a way.

Plant Your Tree With Us Today!

Your donation can help us protect and expand forests.

Plant Your Tree

Protecting U.S. Forests

A TNC forester stands on a rocky stream surrounded by green trees.

Resilient Forests

We are working to plant trees, prevent wildfires and build resilience in Minnesota’s precious forests.

A view of rolling green forests with Lake Superior in the distance. The sky is blue and full of white clouds.

Resilient Forests in Michigan

The northern forests of Michigan offer critical habitat for a variety of plants and animals, provide clean air, absorb carbon, filter water and provide year-round recreation and tourism opportunities.

View looking out over a valley to the forested mountains beyond. Two small farms are nestled into green openings in the forest.

Restoring Appalachian Forests

Conserving and strengthening our piece of the Appalachians—a critical migratory corridor for mammals, birds and amphibians.

Sprucing up the Appalachians

Enhancing Biodiversity for Resilient Lands