ReForest Colorado

While reestablishing housing is always a priority following a natural disaster, rebuilding a feeling of community is equally vital to recovery. Tree planting is one means to help communities to restore valuable green infrastructure and recreate welcoming community gathering spaces.

In 2002, historic drought helped fuel the 137,760-acre Hayman fire, which at the time was the most destructive fire on record. To help reforest areas devastated by the Hayman and other fires that year, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Colorado State Forest Service and Shell Oil Company pooled funds to help replant trees in wildfire-affected areas.

Today, the initial ReForest Program continues and funds are available for Colorado communities that are working to recover from natural disasters, including wildfires, storms, floods, drought and insect/disease epidemics. All contributions to the Reforest Colorado fund go directly to affected communities for new trees and planting-related expenses. Funds are managed under the direction of the Colorado Tree Coalition Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, school districts, community and neighborhood organizations, and private nonprofit groups that can provide a 100% funding match in the form of private/public monetary and/or in-kind contributions. Need Help Recovering From a Disaster in Your Own Community? Please reach out to Colorado Tree Coalition at coloradotreecoalition@gmail.com.

Reforest Grant funded project, Waldo Canyon.

ReForest Colorado grants are made possible by the support and funding of partners including Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Mortuary, BKI Woodworks, Peaks N Pines Brewing Company, and individual donors and members of the Colorado Tree Coalition.

ReForest Funded Projects

  • Marshall Fire Tree Giveaway

    ReForest Colorado Funds, allowed CTC to provide more than $12,150 in emergency funds to plant trees in communities that were affected by the December 2022 Marshall Fire. To date, the Marshall Fire is Colorado's most destructive fire in history and resulted in the death of two people and burned nearly 1,100 homes. In addition to the loss of homes, communities affected by the fire lost thousands of trees.

    In partnership with Marshall Together, a community group that was formed after the tragedy, CTC helped facilitate the distribution of more than 100 trees to community members affected by the fire. A year after the fire, this free tree distribution project has played a significant role in greening this community and uniting neighborhoods in bringing beauty back to this scorched landscape.

  • Highlands Ranch Tornado Dry Creek Park Replanting

    in June of 2023, a tornado touched down along West 470 in Douglas County. The tornado traveled more than 8 miles and resulted in the loss of more than 800 trees and many hundreds more were damaged in the storm, primarily in the Highlands Ranch area. To support the recovery of this community, CTC’s ReForest Colorado grant helped fund the planting of 50 trees in Big Dry Creek Park on Arbor Day. The trees were planted by volunteers with Boy Scouts Troop 870 and the Centennial Water and Sanitation District. More plantings in other parts of the Highlands Ranch Metro District are planned for later this year, which is part of a 7-year recovery plan.

  • Ordway Fire Victims Tree Replacement Project

    When you think of wildfires in Colorado, you do not typically think of communities along the eastern plains. In April of 2008, windy, dry conditions lead to a small brush fire to spreading to 6,500 acres; damaging or destroying at least 20 homes and buildings in Crowley County. Two fire fighters were tragically lost while responding to the fire when a bridge collapsed. A year after the fire, 70 volunteers from across the state helped to plant 150 new trees in the fire-damaged prairie.