Rockler to Help Fund Planting of More Than 16,000 Trees for Earth Day

Rockler Woodworking and Hardware is continuing its Earth Day partnership with the Hardwood Forestry Fund (HFF) by contributing proceeds to help fund the planting of 16,600 seedlings in two separate tree planting projects for 2013. The first is the Riverdale School Forest located in southwestern Wisconsin and the second is the Raystown Army Corp of Engineers Project in the Raystown Lake region of Pennsylvania. The ongoing partnership between the two organizations helps sustain and renew hardwood forests throughout the United States.

“Our partnership with the Hardwood Forestry Fund helps secure the future of our hardwood forests,” said Scott Ekman, VP of marketing at Rockler. “We’re excited that our efforts will help new generations enjoy the natural beauty as well as the many practical uses that hardwood trees provide throughout their life cycle.”

The Riverdale School Forest is located in southwest Wisconsin. It is one of numerous school forests recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as a demonstration forest. Demonstration forests are used to demonstrate good forest management to school children and the general public. The Hardwood Forestry Fund with the help of Rockler will plant 10,000 seedlings in the area.

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers with the help of the Hardwood Forestry Fund and Rockler will be re-planting forest stands in the Raystown Lake region of Pennsylvania. A total of 6,600 seedlings will be planted. Raystown Lake is a high use recreation area which receives more than 25,000 visitors per year. The primary benefits of this project will be assisting natural regeneration of the forest, creating wildlife food and cover, and providing an educational tool for recreation users and educational tour groups.

A not-for-profit, educational organization, the Hardwood Forestry Fund targets planting and management of commercially valuable hardwoods, including black cherry, black walnut, red oak, hard maple, hickory, ash and others. All trees planted by the Hardwood Forestry Fund are included in a management plan, harvest and regeneration schedule.