Angeles National Forest Restoration

Strategy and timeline for replanting the Angeles National Forest after the 2009 Station Fire

Over 160,000 acres of the Angeles National Forest were burned in the historic Station Fire of 2009. It was the largest such fire in the modern history of Los Angeles County. The Angeles Forest is a vital part of Los Angeles, providing the county with -- among many other things -- 35% of its drinking water, and 72% of its open space. What happens in this forest has a very direct impact on the lives every resident of Los Angeles.

11,000 of those acres will not recover on their own without human assistance. Those 11,000 acres were burned too deep in the soil and too wide-spread for natural seed regeneration.

For the next several years, the U.S. Forest Service will oversee the planting of 4,000 (out of those 11,000) acres per year. Those trees will be planted by volunteers and paid contractors. The majority of land in dangerous, steep sloped areas will be planted by paid contractors.

In the spring of 2011 TreePeople and the U.S. Forest Service began enlisting thousands of volunteers to plant thousands of trees a year in 75-acres along major roads including the scenic Angeles Crest Highway – a much used and much loved road. Trees will be small native seedlings, 6-8” tall. TreePeople volunteers will be responsible for planting nearly 70,000 of the seedlings scheduled for the Angeles.