Restoration Underway in Tahoe National Forest
With help from Forest Foundation and Western States Endurance Run
Donn Zea, President of The Forest Foundation and a veteran Western States runner, loads a high school student's bag with seedlings. 
Forester Tim Collins of Sierra Pacific Industries demonstrates the proper method for planting a tree.The Western States Endurance Run (WSER), one of the oldest and most challenging trail events in the world, recently teamed up with The Forest Foundation in an effort to restore trail conditions in the Duncan Canyon area, a section of the 16,171 acres destroyed in the Tahoe National Forest by the Star Fire in 2001.
Among the volunteers who planted 4,300 tree seedlings in June were local endurance athletes; 20 Placer County area high school students; and two Sierra Pacific Industries' foresters from the area who lent their expertise on how to plant trees.
Volunteers head off to plant 4,300 tree seedlings in the Duncan Canyon trail area of the Tahoe National Forest to help preserve the trail, and begin to restore the forest in the surrounding area.
Donn Zea, left, President of The Forest Foundation and Mark Falcone, Western States Board member and runner. Listening attentively to his father is Harry, age 8.The seedlings were donated by the Washington DC-based American Forests whose Global ReLeaf program provides grants for local reforestation efforts.
The Foundation has partnered the past four years with Western States on ongoing year-round projects to improve the world famous trail and the surrounding forest.
"We are pleased to expand our long-standing relationship with The Forest Foundation and to play a part in restoring a forest devastated by wildfire," said Greg Soderlund, Race Director of WSER. "The two groups believe this is a great way to not only enhance the trail, but enhance the environment."
Placer High School students learn how to plant a tree from Forester Rob Fecko of Sierra Pacific Industries. Also pictured, far right, is Shaney Emerson, Forest Foundation Education Director.
Colfax High School students, left to right, Katriana Kerschner, Delilah Harold, Erica Heikila, and Tommy Johnson."The Forest Foundation promotes sustainable forestry and reforestation is the center piece of that effort," said Donn Zea, President of The Forest Foundation. To help preserve the trail, and just as importantly, begin to restore the forest in the surrounding area, The Forest Foundation donated $5,000 this year and has contributed similar amounts in previous years during its partnership with the Western States Endurance Run.
Nearly all of the 100 miles from Squaw Valley to Auburn has benefited from the hard work of the trail team's endurance runners, volunteers and equestrian riders.Nearly all of the 100 miles from Squaw Valley to Auburn has benefited from the hard work of the trail team's endurance runners and equestrian riders.
Duncan Canyon area of trail destroyed by the 2001 Star Fire is being restored thanks to The Forest Foundation and Western States Endurance Run.Specifically, volunteers moved thousands of fallen trees off the trail, cleared brush, bolstered and supported the surrounding hillsides, and created water bars to protect water quality.
The result has been a huge success, which will not only benefit the endurance athletes participating in this year's race, but make Duncan Canyon and other sections of the trail places where hikers, sightseers and other trail enthusiasts can enjoy their recreational pursuits.
Colfax High School's Alex Hopkins and Katie Sander.The Foundation's educational mission is helping outdoor enthusiasts understand that by actively managing our forests, we can help ensure the trails, campsites and lakes they escape to are accessible. Unfortunately, unsafe trail conditions have caused endurance runs like the Angeles Crest 100, San Diego 100, Leona Divide 50 and Tahoe Rim 50 to be cancelled in the past due to fire threats or may be in the future.
Trail team volunteers help ensure that outdoor enthusiasts have safe, accessible trails."While much attention is given to the Western Endurance race itself, we're working year-round to ensure that the runners and other outdoor enthusiasts have safe, accessible trails, said the Foundation's Donn Zea. "We are proud to expand our partnership with the Western States Endurance Run in this effort to benefit a forest in need of restoration," he said.
To sign up to replant in 2009 and be part of the WSER trail team, visit: www.ws100.com
Video: Restoring Forests in California After Wildfire
In this video, Forest Foundation President Donn Zea talks about replanting efforts by students from Placer County, California, and the importance of replanting and restoring our forests.
Forests are more than just producers of the greenest building product, wood. In fact, forests play a key role in absorbing harmful greenhouse gases. In this video, Shaney Emerson education director for The Forest Foundation, explains the importance of our forests and applauds the work of young people helping to replant a forest.