Adopt an Acre Program Launches: A Deep New Way to Restore and Defend Our Beloved Community ForestNestled in the misty expanse of Northern California, where the silence speaks and sunlight filters through towering giants, the redwood forest tells an ancient story. It's a story of resilience, interconnectedness, and time. Today, that story enters a new chapter where you, your family, and your community can become direct participants in the forest's ongoing tale.The Redwood Forest Foundation (RFF) is proud to announce the official launch of our Adopt an Acre program—an innovative and deeply personal way for individuals to support the restoration, stewardship, and protection of our redwood forestlands. This isn't just about saving trees. It's about investing in climate solutions, strengthening rural economies, preserving biodiversity, and reconnecting with the natural world.A Living Legacy: Why This Program MattersThe redwood forest isn't just a collection of trees. It's a complex, ancient ecosystem that serves as one of the most effective carbon sinks on the planet. These forests are home to centuries-old coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens)—some growing over 300 feet tall—and provide critical habitat for wildlife, including the Northern spotted owl, Pacific fisher, and endangered Coho salmon.But for all their majesty and endurance, these forests are vulnerable. Decades of unsustainable logging, fire suppression, and habitat fragmentation have taken their toll. Even today, climate change accelerates the challenges: extended droughts, hotter wildfires, and invasive species continue to threaten forest health.That's where Adopt an Acre comes in.Through this program, supporters can symbolically adopt a specific acre of the Usal Redwood Forest, the 50,000-acre community-owned forest managed by RFF. Every adoption directly contributes to the hands-on restoration work—removing invasive species, replanting native flora, repairing creeks for salmon spawning, and supporting controlled burns to reduce fire risk.Each acre adopted helps us turn back the clock on ecological damage and move closer to a thriving, self-sustaining forest that benefits people, wildlife, and the planet.More Than a Donation: A Personal ConnectionAdopting an acre isn't just a financial contribution. It's an invitation to become part of a living, breathing legacy.Supporters will receive a personalized adoption certificate and detailed information about their acre's specific location and condition. You'll also gain access to exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes stories from the field, sharing the seasonal rhythms, restoration milestones, and wildlife activity on your patch of forest.For those who seek an even deeper connection, opportunities to visit, volunteer, and participate in community events are available throughout the year. From creek restoration projects to forest walks with our ecologists, these experiences offer a tangible, soul-filling reminder of your impact.Adopting an acre is a lasting and meaningful gesture, whether you're honoring a loved one, celebrating a milestone, or simply expressing gratitude for the natural world. It's a gift that echoes across generations.Science-Driven StewardshipAt RFF, our approach to land management is rooted in scientific rigor. We use LiDAR mapping, long-term ecological monitoring, and adaptive forestry practices to ensure that every decision we make benefits the health and resilience of the forest.A commitment to biodiversity, watershed health, and carbon sequestration guides our restoration strategies. In fact, Usal Redwood Forest is home to one of the most significant community-based carbon offset projects in the U.S., generating verified carbon credits under the California Cap-and-Trade program.Adopting an acre helps fund this vital work—supporting foresters, biologists, fire ecologists, and rural jobs essential to forest health.Community First, AlwaysThe Usal Redwood Forest is owned not by a corporation or private entity, but by the people. It is California's first working community forest, benefiting the environment and local residents.Your support helps us provide job training, educational programming, and economic resilience to rural communities along California's North Coast. It also ensures public access for recreation, cultural preservation for Indigenous communities, and a forest that thrives for generations to come.Join Us in This Next ChapterTo stand among the redwoods is to feel small in the best possible way. These trees, some over 1,000 years old, remind us that time is vast, and our choices today can ripple centuries into the future.Adopting an acre means you are doing more than giving—you are growing. You are defending a forest that has given so much and helping shape a story of renewal and hope.We invite you to join us. Visit [Insert link] to select your acre, learn more about your forest, and become part of something enduring.Let the forest know your name.Let your name stand among the giants.
