Trillion Trees Pledge Update: Gov. Evers, DNR Announce Nearly 12 Million Trees Planted in 2025, Bringing State Over Halfway Toward its Tree Planting Goal
The governor, DFI, and Edvest 529 continue tree planting efforts through new partnership to give away thousands of free trees to kids and families throughout Wisconsin
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in celebration of Earth Day, Arbor Day, and Forest Appreciation Week, today released Wisconsin’s Trillion Trees Pledge 2025 Annual Report. The report shows that Wisconsin planted nearly 12 million trees and conserved more than 7,800 acres of forestland in the state in 2025 as part of Wisconsin’s Trillion Trees Pledge, bringing the total number of trees planted since 2021 to over 54 million trees in just the first five years.
On Earth Day 2021, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #112, joining the pledge and committing to plant 75 million new trees and conserve 125,000 acres of forest in Wisconsin by the end of 2030. On Earth Day in 2024, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #221, increasing the state’s tree-planting goal to 100 million trees by the end of 2030. In just the fifth year of the state’s Trillion Trees Pledge, Wisconsin has already achieved over half—nearly 55 percent—of its tree-planting goal and almost 68 percent of its forest conservation goal. Wisconsin’s pledge is in collaboration with public, private, and non-governmental partners and focuses on planting, managing, and conserving forests and trees in both rural and urban areas throughout the state.
“I’m incredibly proud that, together, with students, public and private organizations, and state agencies, we’ve planted more than 54 million trees in urban and rural communities across the state since 2021, and we’re not slowing down in 2026,” said Gov. Evers. “Protecting our environment and conserving our natural resources are core to who we are as Wisconsinites, and I look forward to another successful year of planting the darn trees in 2026 with the help of partners like Edvest 529 and Neighborhood Forest.”
According to Wisconsin’s Trillion Trees Pledge 2025 Annual Report, of the nearly 12 million trees planted in 2025, the DNR supplied over 4.5 million of the seedlings planted, including nearly 2.3 million that were planted on private lands, nearly 1.7 million that were planted on DNR, federal, Tribal, and other public lands, over 544,000 that were planted in county forests, over 25,000 that were planted in school and community forests, and over 56,000 that were given to students last Arbor Day through the Arbor Day Free Seedlings for Fourth Graders program.
“We are truly fortunate to have tremendous natural resources in our state, which includes 17 million acres of forestland,” said DNR Secretary Karen Hyun. “The Trillion Tree Pledge is not only a recognition of the importance of our forests today, but it represents a call to sustain and grow our forests and the benefits they provide for Wisconsin residents and communities well into the future.”
Building upon the Evers Administration’s work to preserve forestland across the state, in 2024, the state of Wisconsin acquired the Pelican River Forest conservation easement, completing one of the largest conservation projects in state history. Altogether, over 67,000 acres of the Pelican River Forest will be protected, ensuring the forest will remain open to the public in perpetuity for outdoor recreation activities such as fishing, hunting, skiing, trapping, and hiking. Combined, the two Pelican River Forest conservation easements achieved nearly 55 percent of the governor’s Trillion Trees Pledge goal alone to conserve 125,000 acres of forestland by the end of 2030, and altogether, since signing the Trillion Trees Pledge, Wisconsin is at nearly 70 percent towards its goal.
The DNR is coordinating the continued implementation of the Trillion Trees Pledge on behalf of the state of Wisconsin through partnerships with private nurseries. In addition to the more than 2.3 million tree and shrub seedlings provided by the DNR for planting on private lands, partners also planted more than 288,400 trees purchased from private nurseries, bringing the total amount of trees planted on private lands to over 2.5 million. More information about the Trillion Trees Pledge, Wisconsin’s Tree Planting Map, the list of partners, and the full report of 2025 accomplishments is available on the DNR’s website.
NEW PARTNERSHIP THROUGH EDVEST 529 AND NEIGHBORHOOD FOREST BUILDS ON TREE PLANTING GOALS
Continuing the state’s efforts to plant 100 million trees, today Gov. Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), also highlighted a new partnership between Edvest 529, Wisconsin’s direct‑sold college savings plan, and Neighborhood Forest, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring environmental responsibility, to give away thousands of free trees to kids and families throughout Wisconsin.
In addition to receiving a specifically selected native tree seedling and planting and care instructions from Neighborhood Forest, participating kids and families will also be provided a pamphlet of information on saving for a child’s future with the Edvest 529 college savings plan. Tree distribution will take place through Arbor Day, which is on April 24.
“Edvest 529 is sponsoring this statewide tree giveaway as part of its commitment to build bright futures for Wisconsin children,” said DFI Secretary Wendy K. Baumann. “Just as a tree grows stronger over time with care and attention, an Edvest 529 college savings account is designed to grow through long‑term investing and the power of compounding, helping families prepare for future education expenses, including college tuition or trade school.”
The DFI’s Wisconsin 529 College Savings Program offers two college savings plans—Edvest 529, a direct-sold plan, and Tomorrow’s Scholar, available through financial advisors and fee-only planners— and works to engage with Wisconsin families on the importance of developing education savings strategies and the benefits of saving with a Wisconsin 529 college savings plan. For more information, visit the DFI’s Wisconsin 529 College Savings Program webpage.
Edvest 529 is partnering with more than two dozen schools and libraries across Wisconsin in both urban and rural communities to ensure kids statewide can participate in this Earth Day initiative, including:
- Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library, Iron River, Bayfield County;
- Washburn Public Library, Washburn, Bayfield County;
- Loyal Elementary School, Loyal, Clark County;
- Prairie du Chien Memorial Library, Prairie du Chien, Crawford County;
- One City Schools, Monona, Dane County;
- Milltown Public Library, Milltown, Polk County;
- Rusk County Community Library, Ladysmith, Rusk County; and
- Tri-County Area Schools, Plainfield, Waushara County.
Participating kids and families are encouraged to share photos of their newly planted trees as they grow, creating a lasting reminder of Earth Day 2026 and the role local communities play in shaping a greener future.
“By connecting environmental stewardship with education savings awareness, Edvest 529 hopes to inspire families to think about the future in meaningful, tangible ways,” said DFI Financial Capability Director Jessica Wetzel. “Opening an Edvest 529 account for a child does more than just help them out financially – it plants the seed early in life that higher education or career training after high school is possible.”
For additional information on Edvest 529, including investment options, fees, and frequently asked questions, visit Edvest.com, or follow Edvest 529 on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Wisconsinites can also watch “What is the best option for college savings”—part of the College Savings Connection series—to learn more about how a 529 plan works and how it can benefit their family.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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Trillion Trees Pledge Update: Gov. Evers, DNR Announce Nearly 12 Million Trees Planted in 2025, Bringing State Over Halfway Toward its Tree Planting Goal
Apr 21st, 2026 by Gov. Tony EversThe governor, DFI, and Edvest 529 continue tree planting efforts through new partnership to give away thousands of free trees to kids and families throughout Wisconsin
