With forests under threat, Wisconsin keeps planting
Trees are vital for life, providing oxygen, cleaning the air by absorbing carbon dioxide, and fighting climate change. They combat urban heat islands by reducing temperatures by providing shade
While acres of forest are under threat by the federal government in Northern Wisconsin and elsewhere, the state planted nearly 12 million trees in 2025. In addition, more than 7,800 acres of forestland were conserved. These figures were reported in the recently released Wisconsin’s Trillion Trees Pledge 2025 Annual Report in advance of Arbor Day on April 24.
On Earth Day in 2021, Governor Evers signed an executive order pledging to plant 75 million trees by 2030. In 2024, he increased the goal to 100 million. As part of Wisconsin’s Trillion Trees Pledge, the total number of trees planted since 2021 is over 54 million, well on the way to achieving the goals of Evers’ executive orders. Almost 68 percent of the forest conservation goal has also been achieved.
“I’m incredibly proud that, together with students, public and private organizations, and state agencies, we’ve planted more than 54 million trees in urban and rural communities across the state since 2021, and we’re not slowing down in 2026,” said Gov. Evers in a press release.
Gov. Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), highlighted a new partnership between Edvest 529, Wisconsin’s college savings plan. Edvest 529 gave away thousands of free trees to kids and families throughout Wisconsin through their partnerships with more than two dozen schools and libraries.
DFI Secretary Wendy K. Baumann said, “Just as a tree grows stronger over time with care and attention, an Edvest 529 college savings account is designed to grow through long‑term investing and the power of compounding, helping families prepare for future education expenses, including college tuition or trade school.”
Trees are vital to life, providing oxygen, cleaning the air by absorbing carbon dioxide, and helping fight climate change. They combat urban heat islands by reducing temperatures through providing shade. Additionally, trees conserve energy, reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and provide habitat for biodiversity.
Federal government threatening systems
Nearly 70,000 acres of land in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Northern Wisconsin are at risk if the federal government rescinds the 2001 Roadless Rule. The Roadless Rule was implemented by the United States Forest Service (USFS) in 2001, designating several forests and grasslands within the National Forest System as “inventoried roadless areas,” imposing limits on logging and the construction of new roads within the protected areas.
Governor Evers sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins expressing his concerns. The governor urged the Trump Administration to follow Wisconsin’s proud conservation history by reversing course on rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule and instead properly engaging Tribal Nations in relevant decision-making and prioritizing the protection of essential natural resources.
“Wisconsin’s forest industry is an important sector that I have been proud to support here in Wisconsin. At the same time, protecting vulnerable and valuable public lands must also be a priority. As such, I urge USDA to abandon this unnecessary rescission, improve Tribal consultation policies, and re-focus its efforts on providing real support to American farmers and foresters,” said Evers.
