The Appalachian Mountains that make West Virginia rugged and beautiful owe much of their splendor to the red spruce. Old-growth red spruce forests once covered Cheat Mountain in seemingly limitless numbers. These trees can live up to four hundred years and provide essential life support to unique wildlife, such as salamanders, flying squirrels, and golden eagles. The Appalachian red spruce forest ecosystems are also particularly effective at filtering stream water that flows throughout the mountain range. Between 1880 and 1940 nearly the entire red spruce population within these forests went through a series of clear cuts and devastating wildfires reducing coverage from 1.5 million to roughly 30,000 acres. In an attempt at restoration, non-native invasive species were planted including a type of grass that quickly became a compacted sod, choking out all other vegetation preventing the normal process of reforestation from occurring and disrupting an ecosystem that relied on biodiversity. Without intervention, the ecosystems in interrupted areas could not achieve full recovery, even though they are on federally protected land. Compacted soil must be broken in order to bring the ecosystem back to balance, which makes restoration a much more difficult process than it might be elsewhere.

As the nation’s oldest national conservation nonprofit, our planting partner American Forests working in conjunction with strategic partners like the U.S. Forest Service brings critical expertise to restoration projects like those on Cheat Mountain. They’re celebrating 143 years of forest-enthusiasm this fall, and have planted more than 50 million trees since 1990. This year American Forests has planted 75,000 trees in the Mower Tract of the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, making a significant jump-start in the restoration process for this embattled ecosystem. We are proud to support their work and look forward to continuing reforestation efforts around the country and around the world.

When most people think of protecting endangered species, it’s rarely trees that come to mind, but keystone tree species like the critically endangered whitebark pine are incredibly important to the health of forest ecosystems in the Northern Rockies and the Cascades providing essential food and habitat for the feathered and furry. Whitebark pine grow at the treeline at super-high altitudes where the summers are blazing hot and dry, and the winters are frigid. Rich in fats and protein, the seeds of the whitebark pinecone are one of the most nutritious foods available to wildlife and feed more than 100 different animals species. The seeds are an especially important component of the grizzly bear diet providing a food source far from human populations, keeping both bears and humans safe.

Whitebark pine seeds are largely distributed by the Clark’s nutcracker in open meadows where they are the first to germinate and grow into trees after a wildfire. Crucial to forest restoration, whitebark pine provide the shade and moisture that allows less hardy trees to survive the harsh mountain climate. While the vast majority of whitebark pine exist on federally protected land this tree species is dying off at an alarming rate. Blister rust, an aggressive viral disease imported from Europe in 1909, and an exploding population of mountain pine beetles are choking out entire stands of trees. In many places, the mortality rate exceeds 95 percent.

At Favorite World Press, we know that it is the combined efforts of concerned citizens and organizations that will determine the future of some of the world’s most precious and endangered species. Supporting climate-smart restoration of threatened trees like the whitebark pine also helps to ensure the health and survival of all the animals that depend on them—like the grizzly bear. That’s why we are partnering with American Forests to help accelerate the pace and scale of forest restoration across the United States.

Earth Month is the perfect time to support the healthy, resilient forests that impact so many aspects of life—providing the air we breathe, filtering the water we drink and sheltering the wildlife we love. Favorite World Press has made a commitment to our partner American Forests to plant one tree for every print or e-book sold from the new series, Frankie and Peaches, Tales of Total Kindness. Just one tree can have a huge impact on our environment, absorbing 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and filtering as much as 36,500 gallons of drinking water every year. And just two trees provide your daily oxygen.

Every tree we plant is also an integral part of the forest ecosystems that help to support wildlife. Just one square kilometer of forest may be home to more than 1,000 species. In the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas alone, there are 500 different species of birds, 300 different butterflies, 900 types of beetles, and 1,200 different species of plants. It is also the home of the endangered ocelot, a magnificent animal whose population is sadly estimated to be down to 50 in the United States. Healthy forests are vital to the survival of many threatened and endangered species of flora and fauna.

The benefits of healthy, thriving forests are immense, yet forests across the globe are in danger, and the vital resources they provide are being compromised. Bark beetles and blister rust are decimating stands of pines across the West; population expansion and agriculture have diminished old-growth forests in the eastern U.S. to the point of rarity—a mere 1 percent remain. Some of the worst wildfires in history have swept through landscapes from the drought-afflicted Sierra Nevada to the mountains of Appalachia. Since 2001, global forest cover has been decreased by almost 600 million acres, threatening critical habitats for endangered wildlife the world over. Now more than ever, it is necessary for everyone to contribute what they can, wherever they can, and we’re happy to get you and your little ones started.

This is why we support American Forests, the nation’s oldest national conservation organization, and their efforts to restore and protect forests. They have planted more than 50 million trees since 1990, in all 50 states and nearly 50 countries. They understand and promote our beliefs that we are not separate from nature and that it is our responsibility to take care of the planet. We know that our investment in American Forests will go a long way towards ensuring a better future for everything that lives on Earth.