Restoring California Forests For a Healthier Future
Wildfires are reshaping landscapes across the West, leaving lasting impacts on forests, wildlife, and communities. To help restore some of the areas hardest hit, Life Time Foundation partnered with American Forests to support the recovery of California's Rim Fire scar.
Through a $300,000 grant, we are helping restore approximately 300 acres of forest by planting more than 100,000 climate-resilient trees. More than a decade after the Rim Fire burned over 250,000 acres of California's Sierra Nevada, many areas still lack the natural seed sources needed for forests to regenerate on their own.
These new trees will help capture carbon, improve water and soil health, support native wildlife habitat, and create healthier, more resilient ecosystems for future generations.
"Tackling the issue of destructive wildfires involves more than just fire response or suppression," says Ben Rushakoff, Senior Director of Reforestation Partnerships and Innovation at American Forests. "It's about actively managing landscapes, creating fire-resilient and fire-ready communities, and restoring landscapes post-fire."
This project reflects the Life Time Foundation's commitment to science-based environmental restoration and our belief that investing in forests today helps create a healthier planet for generations to come.