For 145 years, American Forests has provided non-partisan leadership for forests across America, from cities to wilderness. Now more than ever, we need trees and forests for their important contributions to protect biodiversity, provide clean air and water, and help in the broader effort to slow climate change. The growth of a global movement seeking to conserve, restore, and grow 1 trillion trees by 2030 has provided new energy to these efforts from companies, non-profits, civil society and governments at all levels.

This visionary goal of 1 trillion trees has been unifying, drawing bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress for legislation like the REPLANT Act, and engaging people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives all across America to take actions such as planting trees. We believe that this momentum will remain in place regardless of the results of the upcoming U.S. elections, because America has consistently shown itself to be “One Nation Under Trees.”

To help facilitate non-partisan and inclusive public-private collaboration, we were proud to help the World Economic Forum launch the U.S. Chapter of 1t.org in late August with strong participation from diverse public and private partners. This includes U.S. Government representation on the 1t.org U.S. Chapter Stakeholder Council from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and USAID.

Today’s Executive Order on Establishing the One Trillion Trees Interagency Council issued by the White House can help facilitate coordinated federal engagement and support for the trillion trees movement. The Executive Order charges departments and agencies across the U.S. Government with identifying and pursuing actions that will more effectively conserve, restore and grow trees and forests toward the trillion tree goal.

We encourage bipartisan support to continue for the trillion trees movement from all parts of the U.S. Government. Our forests are essential to our future and can provide new jobs and business opportunities across our country. The U.S. Government will have an important role to play in capturing this full potential.