Two things about Daneson seem at odds. On the one hand, we identify with life outdoors and the good things it brings. On the other hand, birch trees are harvested to make our toothpicks. Granted, every business has a conflict of this sort if you dig deep enough. However, for Daneson, our connection to the forest is unambiguous.
Embracing the idea of putting back more than we take is a good thing. The way birch forests grow creates an opportunity to plant many times–100 times more, to be exact—back into forests. In addition, we prioritize planting non-commercial species in conservation easements.
It's better to sleep well than to eat well.
Our Plan — 1:100 For every one tree milled into toothpicks, we're planting one hundred in its place. We've worked with our good friends at Plant-It 2020 since 2011 until September 2025. Moving forward, we will be working with One Tree Planted.
How Do We Compare? Each year in the United States, the logging industry is estimated to harvest 900 million trees and replant approximately 2.5 billion trees. This ratio equates to a reforesting ratio of just over two and a half trees for every one tree harvested. That's 1:2 versus Daneson's 1:100.
In planting 100 trees for every individual tree we harvest, we are committing to a reforestation ratio that exceeds the logging industry's by nearly40 times.
What is One Tree Planted? One Tree Planted is a nonprofit dedicated to global reforestation. Their mission is to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees. Since 2014, they have worked with partners in North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific to restore forests, create habitat for biodiversity, and support communities.
What Sets One Tree Planted Apart? One Tree Planted takes a more comprehensive approach to reforestation. Tree planting is only one part of the work - real impact also requires careful site preparation, ongoing monitoring, transparent reporting, and support for local communities. By reflecting the true costs of successful reforestation, their projects ensure long-term environmental and social benefits.
1% of revenue was allocated to reforestation.
North American riparian zones and wilderness areas lost to 20th-century logging.
90% of efforts were focused on replanting US West Coast forests devistated by recent fires.
5% was directed towards Nepal to replenish forests destroyed by earthquakes.
The remaining 5% was directed at Madagascar's mangrove estuaries and northwest coastal areas.
Replenishing US forests denuded by fire in 2017. In particular, California, Washington, and Montana.
Reforestation projects in Mexico and Costa Rica.
Primarily replenishing US forests damaged by beetles, fire, and drought. In particular, California, Florida, Georgia, New York, Ohio, and Washington State.
Secondary areas of focus are in Madagascar, Nepal, Mexico, England, Africa, and Latin America.
Our efforts remain strong in Madagascar, Nepal, and Mexico, and we have been putting even more focus on the USA than we did in 2019.
Our efforts continue to remain strong in Latin America and mainland Africa. We are also focusing on riparian zones and wilderness areas across various US states.
The primary focus was on regions within the interior of Nepal, the northwest coast of Madagascar, and various regions within the US, with particular emphasis on Florida, Tennessee, Colorado, Vermont, and New York. Western Canada, Mexico and Kenya were also a focus.
Plant-It 2020 is focused on California due to increased rainfall. They are also reforesting more locations where forests were denuded by beetles, such as Colorado. They continue to plant trees in Madagascar, but are focusing more on interior lands near the coast. In Nepal, there is a greater focus on reforesting land so that future earthquakes will not do as much damage.
Canada: Increased focus on replenishing burn areas and watershed zones. USA: Focus was towards California along with replenishing damage caused by beetles and raising groundwater. Latin America: Reforestation focued on reducing landslides. Africa: Reducing hunger and creating sustainable forests. Europe: Reforesting burned areas along with replenishing forests lost to storms.
Canada: Reforest areas damaged by fire, flood, or beetles. USA: Reforest burn areas in California. Mexico: Help save the endangered Monarch Butterfly. Africa: Food, reforestation, and habitat repair. Nepal: Food and stopping landslides.
Give more than you take. It's that simple.
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