‍The Location

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📍 Northern Michigan, United States

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Michigan’s nearly 4 million acres of state forest lands are vital to the region’s environment and economy. These forests provide clean air and water, support a strong forest products industry, and offer spaces to hunt, fish, hike, camp, and explore.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) takes an active, science-based approach to forest management. This includes tree planting and harvesting, prescribed burns to reduce wildfire risk, habitat restoration, and the control of invasive pests. These strategies ensure Michigan’s forests remain healthy and productive for generations to come.

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The Problem‍

To sustain the health of Michigan’s forests, a balance must be struck between timber harvesting, wildfire prevention, carbon storage, and biodiversity. Without careful management, these forests are vulnerable to invasive species, changing climate conditions, and long-term degradation.

Wildlife habitat loss, carbon release, and economic instability in rural communities can all result from poorly managed lands or inaction. That’s why planned reforestation and forest regeneration are critical—not just to offset carbon, but to support both the ecological and economic vitality of the region.

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The Solution‍

Your contributions enable the planting of native species including red pine (the primary species), white pine, white spruce, northern white cedar, and northern red oak across managed forests in Michigan’s northern Lower and Upper Peninsulas.

Red pine stands are grown and managed for approximately 80 years before a final harvest. After harvesting, products like lumber and utility poles are produced—storing carbon for decades to centuries—and new trees are planted to begin the cycle again. These native species also provide food and shelter for local wildlife. All seedlings are planted by hand, and annual site maps are made available to project partners.

This active management supports carbon sequestration, healthy ecosystems, and the logging economies that sustain many rural Michigan communities.

Partners – Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Forest Resources Division

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What is Reforestation?‍

Reforestation is the process of planting trees in areas where forests have been cut down or degraded. In Michigan, this process is carefully managed to ensure long-term forest health, biodiversity, and economic benefit.

Through reforestation, we can improve soil stability, protect water resources, provide critical wildlife habitat, and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Products made from harvested trees (like timber or utility poles) also store carbon, making reforestation a long-term climate solution.

In Michigan, reforestation is tightly linked to forest certification standards and science-based forest planning, ensuring that reforested areas are both productive and ecologically responsible.

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The Impact‍

A single red pine grown over 80 years can sequester between 2.2 and 3.7 metric tons of CO2. Per acre, this equates to between 440 and 740 metric tons (1,936 to 3,256 lbs) of CO2 sequestered by final harvest.

This project also supports wildlife—including species that rely on pine nuts, spruce cones, and acorns—as well as rural jobs and sustainable local economies.

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Verification Partner‍

The Michigan DNR-FRD conducts regeneration surveys at the end of the first and third growing seasons. These audits show a seedling mortality rate of under 10%, confirming an exceptionally high success rate. Additionally, wood products grown on DNR-managed lands are certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

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Planting Timeline‍

Seedlings are planted between mid-April and mid-May, maximizing survival. No more than one year will pass between funding and planting.

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Sustainable Development Goals Supported‍

🌍 Climate Action
🌲 Life on Land

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How You Can Help‍

Ecodrive enables you to seamlessly integrate sustainability into your business operations.

Our technology makes it easy to tie everyday actions—like sales, reviews, emails sent, or meetings booked—to real-world projects like Michigan’s reforestation. That means you’re growing your business and supporting climate resilience at the same time.

Ecodrive connects directly with your Shopify, Amazon, or other e-commerce platform and gives you access to marketing toolkits and a live verification dashboard—so your customers and stakeholders can see your impact.

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