US Forest Service Hits 25-Year Reforestation Record

The US Forest Service just wrapped up a record-breaking year that's bringing new life to America's forests and safer skies to fire-prone communities.

In 2025, the agency reforested 285,000 acres, the highest level in 25 years. That's enough new forest to cover roughly 216,000 football fields with fresh trees that will clean air, provide wildlife habitat, and supply timber for generations to come.

The wins didn't stop at planting. Despite facing the highest number of wildfire starts since 2016, firefighters and forest managers kept total acres burned to nearly half the 10-year average. That's almost 1 million fewer acres lost to flames, protecting both communities and ecosystems.

The secret? Active forest management. Crews treated over 3.3 million acres to reduce hazardous fuels like dead brush and overgrown vegetation that turn small fires into catastrophes.

Rural communities got a major boost too. The agency distributed $200 million in Community Wildfire Defense Grants across 22 states and supported 4,000 volunteer fire departments with safety gear and training. These local heroes form the first line of defense when fires ignite.

On the economic front, timber sales hit 2.94 billion board feet, supporting jobs in forest communities while reducing America's reliance on imported wood. The agency launched a strategy to grow timber volume by 25% by 2028, reaching levels not seen since 1993.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond the numbers, these efforts are rebuilding entire ecosystems. Crews restored 1,422 miles of streams and improved fish passage at 151 sites, giving salmon and trout new pathways to spawning grounds.

After devastating 2024 hurricanes, teams reopened more than 350 miles of trails and roads, including 250 miles in Sam Houston National Forest. They even provided materials from Pisgah National Forest to help reconstruct Interstate 40 in North Carolina.

The Forest Service also accelerated 80 projects across 8.8 million acres by streamlining environmental reviews, cutting approval times by up to eight months. Rural broadband permitting got faster too, with processing delays dropping 84%.

America's public lands generated over $1.1 billion this year, with hundreds of millions flowing back to local communities and the US Treasury.

Forest Chief Tom Schultz sees this as just the beginning of stronger forests and safer communities nationwide.