DNR Has Planted 50 Million Trees in Wisconsin

Milwaukee County Board submitted photo

Wisconsin is halfway to its goal of planting 100 million trees by 2030. 

The state recently announced it had planted its 50 millionth tree as part of the effort.

Gov. Tony Evers signed the executive order for the trillion tree pledge in 2021 as part of a global effort. Wisconsin’s goal focused on conserving 125,000 acres of forestland and planting 75 million trees by 2030. Three years later, Evers bumped the goal up to 100 million planted trees by 2030.

“The state of Wisconsin recognizes that healthy forests are one of the best nature-based solutions to climate change,” said Trillion Trees Program Coordinator Bobbie Webster.

Trees can play many different roles in the environment. Webster said they protect soil, cool cities, and remove carbon dioxide from the air. Trees also reduce the impacts of climate change events such as drought and heavy rain — both of which have become more common in Wisconsin.

Northern Wisconsin is currently experiencing the largest exceptional drought in state history. And last August a record amount of rainfall fell in Milwaukee County in one day, causing heavy flooding.

Elton Rogers, DNR urban forestry coordinator for southeast Wisconsin, said he wants to ensure the trees are planted in conditions where they will thrive, especially in difficult climate conditions.

“The numbers are great, but from my perspective, my role is to make sure that not only are the trees going in the ground, but they’re being planted correctly to survive for ideally the next 100 plus years,” Rogers said.

The pledge wouldn’t be successful without partnerships, said Webster. She said the DNR’s partners help with the logistics of getting trees into the ground as well as educating the public on how to take care of them.

“Our partners are extremely important as far as getting these trees in the ground,” she said. “Those partners range from private forest landowners to just ordinary community members who maybe don’t even own any land and are just planting in their yards.”

Of the 100 million trees, 1 million are planned to be planted in urban areas. Eighty percent of the United States population lives in urban areas.

“Eighty percent of the population is interacting with the urban forest every single day,” Rogers said. “So things like taking (carbon) matter out of the air, reducing things like asthma, reducing cardiovascular diseases. All of these things are tied to having a resilient urban canopy.”

Havenwoods State Forest is a 10 minute drive outside Milwaukee. It’s the only urban state forest in Wisconsin, and the land has an extensive history of being used for other purposes, including a prisoner of war camp during WWII.

More trees have been planted here as a part of the pledge. DNR Urban Forest Analyst Dan Buckler said it is important for people in urban areas to have access to green spaces.

“It’s just absolutely magnificent, surrounded by the most densely populated and densely developed part of the entire state,” Buckler said. “Yet we have maybe 240 acres of beauty, of peace that’s brought to people. This is such a beautiful place and a powerful symbol of the kind of healing that that land can go through.”

Webster said anyone can be part of the trillion tree pledge, landowners or not. She said people can support local or state programs that fund tree planting and education. Additionally, orders for seedlings are now available online on the DNR’s website.

“Within DNR and our mission and vision, we’re very committed to carrying out this pledge,” she said. “Anyone who’s interested, there’s a there’s a place for you to engage and help in the pledge.”

DNR says Wisconsin has planted its 50 millionth tree as part of the trillion tree pledge  was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.