Earlier this year, the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles became the second-most destructive wildfire in Southern California history. The persistent blaze, exacerbated by severe winds and drought conditions, received extensive media coverage and brought national attention to the wildland-urban interface.
Whether they’re in the areas surrounding L.A. or the forested landscapes, destructive wildfires are increasing in frequency and severity, impacting entire communities and ecosystems. (Learn More: “The Ecological Consequences of Wildfires.”)
Just over a decade ago, and just a few hours’ drive from L.A., the Rim Fire tore through California’s Sierra Nevada, burning more than 250,000 acres — a footprint nearly the size of L.A. — leaving behind a barren landscape. Today, vast stretches of the area still lack trees, seed sources, and shade. The Rim Fire scar remains a stark reminder that destructive wildfires don’t just destroy forests; they disrupt ecosystems, accelerate climate change, and impact generations of people, plants, and animals.
Photo courtesy of American Forests.
This Earth Month, the Life Time Foundation is investing in healing that landscape and securing our planet’s future through a $300,000 grant to American Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the United States that’s dedicated to conserving and restoring healthy ecosystems. The funds will support the planting of more than 100,000 climate-resilient trees within the Rim Fire scar, expanding on Life Time’s mission to create healthier communities and a healthier planet.
“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.”
Holistic Restoration, Grounded in Science
Destructive wildfires in the western United States have become more intense and frequent. When it was actively burning in 2013, the Rim Fire was the third-largest wildfire in California history; now, it ranks as the 12th.
“Trees start with seed, and in areas with super severe wildfire that burn so hot that all the trees die and the soil is also scorched, there’s no natural seed source for the next forest to grow. So, these areas take a very long time to recover, if at all,” says Rushakoff. “The long-term repercussions are not just whether trees are there or not. It’s also losing all the benefits associated with a healthy forest.”
Through the grant, the Life Time Foundation is helping to restore roughly 300 acres of forest. These new trees will play a critical role in capturing carbon dioxide, improving water quality, stabilizing soil health to prevent flooding and erosion, and providing a vital habitat for native wildlife. The grant will also support American Forests’ holistic approach in its climate-smart forest restoration.
“When we say ‘holistic,’ we’re referring to the whole process: all the behind-the-scenes action that goes into planting a tree in the right place at the right time,” Rushakoff says. For example, a good microsite for a tree planting in the Rim Fire scar could be in the shade of a downed log, where that sapling will be protected from the afternoon sun and heat, and retain more moisture in a summer drought.
“The Life Time Foundation is working with American Forests through every step of the process of the critical reforestation pipeline interventions, from the super unglamorous planning and permitting processes all the way through selecting and collecting seed,” he adds.
A Strategic Partnership for Planet Health
The Life Time Foundation introduced its Healthy Planet initiative in 2023 to support tree planting and habitat protection across North America. Last year, the Life Time Foundation provided a $1 million grant to American Forests to support the restoration of the threatened whitebark pine species in the western United States. The Rim Fire grant deepens that partnership and reflects a long-term commitment to environmental healing.
(Learn more: “Why Trees Matter So Much — for the Health of People and the Planet.”)
“We recognize that the environmental challenges we face today require solutions on a really large scale,” says Sarah Emola, executive director of the Life Time Foundation and ESG programs for Life Time. “That’s why our partnership with American Forests is so important — as a corporation, we have strong environmental conservation values, and they are the experts in this space.”
In collaboration with public, private, and Tribal partners, American Forests employs science-informed methods to restore landscapes that will thrive in future climates. This includes recognizing the role of beneficial fire — a critically important ecological process that has been practiced by Indigenous communities for thousands of years and effectively promotes forest health through low-intensity fire. These prescribed, low-intensity fires help create landscapes that are more resilient to hotter, fast-moving fires.
Taking a landscape-scale approach, American Forests and partners work together to reforest areas that burned too intensely to regenerate naturally, as well as conserve standing forests through forest health treatments.
“American Forests takes a systematic approach, versus just going out and planting trees,” says Valeria La Rosa, foundation program director for the Life Time Foundation. “That thoughtful approach to reforestation and healing the planet through planting trees is a reason why we continue to partner with them. We’re passionate about this work because we look at planting trees as planting hope. We’re looking beyond ourselves and even our own lifetimes. We may not see the trees we plant today, but our children and grandchildren hopefully will.”
The two organizations both believe that the more they can work together and leverage each other’s resources, the bigger impact they can make. “We are always thrilled to partner with value-aligned companies where our missions to restore ecosystems and promote healthy forests and communities are shared,” says Rushakoff. “Life Time really cares about these things.” (Learn more: “Look to the Trees.”)
6 Things You Can Do to Support Reforestation
There are plenty of ways to be a part of the reforestation movement — even without leaving your home.
“We all have the power to take action in the interest of our planet as well as to advocate for local, state, and federal policies that support healthy trees, healthy forests, and healthy communities in our cities and landscapes,” says Rushakoff. Here are several simple ways to get involved.
1. Donate to the cause.
If you’d like to contribute to the Life Time Foundation’s and American Forests’ reforestation efforts in the Rim Fire scar, you can donate here. All operational costs are covered by Life Time, so 100 percent of every dollar donated directly supports the reforestation efforts.
2. Check your “Tree Equity Score.”
American Forests offers a mapping tool that shows how tree canopy intersects with income, race, health, and more in every U.S. neighborhood. Use the resource to learn about your community and advocate for expanded tree coverage if needed.
3. Learn about native plants in your area.
Rushakoff shares that engaging more intentionally with your surroundings can take you far when it comes to supporting your local landscape. “I think everyone would benefit from learning about a few native plants in the area where you live,” he says. “And not just learning their names but learning their ecological history and cultural importance to Indigenous people.”
He also stresses being aware of how you’re interacting with and leaving your landscapes, such as practicing “leave no trace” and taking precautions to extinguish campfires thoroughly.
4. Explore the Reforestation Hub.
American Forests’ Reforestation Hub, an online mapping tool, can help you identify lower-cost and more feasible reforestation opportunities that may interest you. It breaks down data across private and public ownership, states and counties, and land features to help you plant the right trees in the right place.
5. Stay informed about climate change.
Tackling reforestation goes beyond planting trees: It includes staying informed on the topic of climate change to help you make thoughtful choices and advocate for sustainable practices where possible. You can find a variety of stories on sustainability from Experience Life.
6. Volunteer for the cause.
Many organizations, including the Life Time Foundation, offer opportunities to support environmentally friendly practices across communities. In honor of Earth Month in April, the Life Time Foundation is offering many volunteer activations to help you get out in your community with other local residents. Learn more and see available volunteer locations here.
