WILDFIRE RELEAF.

Residents of Montana, Idaho, and other states who lost their homes and property are rebuilding their lives after the summer wildfires that scorched more than 6.5 million acres in the western and south-central United States.

NOW AMERICAN FORESTS is working to restore and regenerate those forest areas devastated by the catastrophic wildfires. At a news conference held this autumn, AMERICAN FORESTS outlined details of Wildfire ReLeaf, a major new tree-planting initiative to regenerate and restore forest areas, repair riparian zones, create species habitat, and provide clean air and water and recreational opportunities. AMERICAN FORESTS will plant 4,000 trees to help restore damaged urban and rural ecosystems. Los Alamos, New Mexico, will be the first community to receive trees (see page 8).

Wildfire ReLeaf is garnering support from corporations, legislators, and communities across the country. New Mexico Representative Tom Udall (D-NM) praised the program.

"I am very impressed... with the partnership merged among AMERICAN FORESTS, Tree New Mexico, and Eddie Bauer," Udall said.

In a statement, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) also praised the program, saying she could think of "no better way" to celebrate AMERICAN FORESTS' 125th anniversary than by launching Wildfire ReLeaf.

"Many communities need help, and AMERICAN FORESTS' efforts will go a long way to complement the millions of dollars for forest recovery provided by the federal and state governments," Murray said.

Murray praised specialty retailer Eddie Bauer, which is donating up to $1 million through its Add-a-dollar, Plant-a-tree campaign. That program allows customers to add $1 to any retail purchase to plant a tree with AMERICAN FORESTS. At the event Eddie Bauer officials presented AMERICAN FORESTS with $500,000 toward its $1 million goal. Individuals interested in supporting Wildfire ReLeaf are encouraged to participate at a local Eddie Bauer store, through www.americanforests.org, or by calling 800/873-5323.

Wildfire ReLeaf will provide funding to public and private organizations for tree-planting projects. Applications can be obtained by calling Karen Fedor at 202/955-4500, ext. 224. The deadline for applications is January 17, 2001.

AMERICAN FORESTS already plans to plant nearly 300,000 trees in 2001 in a number of areas scorched by wildfire. The organization will plant conifers on 400 acres of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada burned by a mid-1990s fire. The thousands of seedlings will stop erosion and restore the area's aesthetic splendor.

And in California 94,000 trees will he planted on 350 acres of the Tahoe National Forest near Nevada City to repair ecosystems burned during the Pendola fire. More than 13,000 acres were burned when high winds downed a power line in October 1999. The fire spread, quickly consuming several homes and numerous outbuildings. The Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and sugar pine planted in this area will help regenerate an ecosystem inhabited by wildlife, including bald eagles.