Lincoln, Nebraska — The Arbor Day Foundation has planted almost 7 million trees in areas of the United States hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, passing the two-thirds mark of the 10-million-tree pledge it announced in October 2024, according to an announcement from the Foundation on 9 October 2026.
The planting covers communities and forestlands across six states — Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida — less than two years into what was launched as a five-year commitment to restore tree cover after the two storms.
Two-thirds milestone reached
As the two-year anniversaries of Helene’s landfall on 26 September 2024 and Milton’s on 9 October 2024 arrive this autumn, the Foundation says it has delivered nearly 70 percent of its pledge. The two hurricanes made landfall within about two weeks of each other and tore through forests and neighbourhoods across the southeastern United States.
Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, said the result shows what coordinated action can achieve when resources reach the right local partners on the ground. He added that when the Foundation makes a commitment to communities or forestlands after a disaster, it follows through alongside its partners.
The 10-million-tree pledge
The Foundation announced the 10-million-tree commitment in October 2024, days after the two storms. Rather than rushing to replant, it phased the work to match land conditions, planting seasons and community needs, working with local planting partners to decide when each landscape was ready for restoration.
The organisation said it uses data, mapping assessments and information from local planting partners to determine where and when trees can establish successfully, focusing on areas where newly planted trees have the best chance of survival.
What comes next
The Foundation said it will continue organising financial and operational support from its corporate partners, members and individual supporters to restore landscapes across the six affected states and reach the full 10-million-tree target.
The effort is one of the largest single hurricane-recovery tree-planting drives in the organisation’s history. The Arbor Day Foundation, which has operated for more than 50 years, says it has planted more than half a billion trees with partners during that time. See more on the plantation theme on Watan News climate plantation coverage.
Key facts
- Almost 7 million trees planted of the 10 million pledged — nearly 70 percent of the target.
- Announced October 2024 as a five-year commitment after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
- Six states covered: Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
- Approach: phased planting with local partners, guided by land readiness, data and mapping assessments.
- Next step: continued work toward the full 10-million-tree target with corporate and individual supporters.
In short, a major US reforestation milestone has arrived ahead of schedule: the Arbor Day Foundation’s hurricane-recovery planting has crossed the two-thirds mark, with communities and forestlands across six states getting their tree cover back.
