We are a proud supporter
of American Forests
Our mission is to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to wilderness, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife. We all rely on forests in order to survive and thrive, given the power they have to filter our air and water, to provide jobs, and more.
But our forests are being degraded and destroyed at a rapid pace and large scale. Keeper Memorials is a very proud supporter of American Forests and will contribute to their goal of planting at least 4 billion trees in the United States and Canada by 2030.
Fighting Climate Change
Planting trees is the best nature-based solution to climate change, given the amount of carbon emissions forests capture.
Promoting Social Equity
Forests purify our air, lower energy bills, and are a source of jobs. All people, including those in under-resourced communities, benefit from planting trees.
Protecting Wildlife
Forests are key to addressing our global biodiversity crisis. They provide habitat for 80 percent of terrestrial-based wildlife.
Purifying Water
Forest soil filters out pollutants. Forest cover slows down erosion and delays the release of water into streams, helping stabilize the quality and quantity of water in the area.
Let Their Tribute Make A Lasting Change
Planting a memorial tree as a tribute to your loved one makes a lasting contribution to our efforts towards reforestation and fighting climate change.
Memorial Trees Project Reach
CANADA
By choosing to plant memorial trees in Canada, you’re helping American Forests’ whitebark pine tree reforestation efforts in British Columbia and Alberta. As climate change makes the region hotter and drier, millions of acres of forests here are succumbing to extreme wildfires, drought and outbreaks of pests and disease.
UNITED STATES
We’re restoring Texas thornscrub forests by planting mesquite, ebony, and hackberry to support biodiversity. Their efforts help protect endangered ocelots, create wildlife corridors, and improve air and water quality—strengthening ecosystems and local communities.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are the trees planted on public or private lands?
American Forests will plant memorial trees in public lands such as national and state forests in the US and national parks in Canada.
Can I choose where my memorial tree is planted?
Yes. American Forests’ program experts have used the latest science and data to identify the highest priority forest lands in need of reforestation. At the present time, memorial trees will be planted in select areas of the Pacific Northwest as well as the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.
When will my tree(s) be planted?
The time from memorial tree order to tree planting depends on a few major factors: tree type, planting location, planting season, and time spent in a tree nursery.
Whitebark pine trees in British Columbia and Alberta, for example, are best planted from late spring to early summer. Our memorial trees live much longer than other memorial trees and they require more time and care in a tree nursery.
So depending on the tree type, location, and time of year, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for your memorial tree(s) to be planted. As soon as American Forests plants your tree(s), we will send you a personal email with GPS coordinates.
Will I receive GPS coordinates of my tree(s)?
Yes. You will receive an e-certificate within two business days after your order as proof and certification of tree planting. After your tree is planted, you will be contacted with additional details such as general tree planting location and GPS coordinates.
What's the lifespan of the trees?
Our memorial trees live for 200-400 years. This is much longer than typical memorial trees. The trees require far more care and there are higher costs, but contributing to North American reforestation efforts and helping to protect plants and wildlife is priceless.
Are the forests protected from corporate logging?
Yes. Thanks to lobbying by groups such as American Forests, the forests are protected from corporate logging.
Since their founding in 1875, American Forests has been the pathfinder for creating healthy forests from coast to coast. In the early 1900s, for example, they rallied forest advocates to champion the creation of the U.S. Forest Service. In 2018, they won a decade-long campaign persuading Congress to provide stable funding for preventing and fighting forest fires.
Can I visit my memorial tree?
Depending on where your tree is planted in a national forest, it might be possible to visit it. For trees planted in government-owned forests, the local rules governing visitation apply.
It is not always possible to visit memorial trees and it is generally discouraged. Keeping the main goal of reforestation and restoration of the ecosystem in mind, the tree planting areas should be kept very natural and undisturbed by humans. Trees often are planted in forests with delicate ecosystems (e.g., they are recovering from an extreme wildfire). Therefore, we recommend not visiting the planting sites while they are in restoration.
Will there be a commemorative plaque installed near my memorial tree?
Unfortunately, this is not possible as the planting sites need to remain as neutral and natural as possible. Adding a plaque to each memorial tree planted would pollute these natural areas.