Forests Rebound After Helene With New Planting Jobs

Two years after Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeast, forests are finally growing back thanks to a partnership creating new jobs focused on replanting devastated landscapes.

The nonprofit American Forests recently posted job openings for orchard managers and a reforestation technician to restore national forests across the Southeast. These positions are part of a five-year agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to rebuild what the 2024 hurricane destroyed.

American Forests, traditionally known for planting trees in cities and towns nationwide, is now expanding its mission to federal lands. The organization is stepping up to meet the massive replanting demand left by Helene's destruction.

"I believe right now the conditions are calling for an all-hands approach," said Hilary Franz, President and CEO of American Forests. The organization is tackling reforestation on both federal and nonfederal land across the country, with the Southeast jobs representing just one piece of their nationwide effort.

The partnership comes at a critical time. Heavy workforce reductions at the Forest Service last year left gaps in staffing, while storm damage created unprecedented need for restoration work. Funding from the Biden administration five years ago made the collaborative approach possible.

The Ripple Effect

This collaboration shows how nonprofits and government agencies can work together when disaster strikes. The jobs being created aren't replacing government positions but instead adding capacity to meet extraordinary needs that neither organization could handle alone.

The reforestation work will restore habitat for wildlife, protect water quality, and help communities recover from one of the most destructive storms in recent history. Each tree planted represents not just environmental healing but economic opportunity in hard-hit regions.

American Forests emphasized that relying on partners isn't new for the Forest Service. What's different now is the scale and urgency of the mission, requiring creative solutions and new working relationships.

From destroyed hillsides to recovering forests, the Southeast is slowly healing one seedling at a time.