Medicine Bow and Routt National Forests

The Medicine Bow and Routt National Forests have been the focus of active reforestation efforts to recover from wildfire and insect-related disturbances. These projects aim to reestablish native forest cover, restore ecosystem health, and improve long-term landscape resilience across affected areas in Colorado and Wyoming.

In 2025, two large-scale planting efforts were implemented. The FY25 Green Ridge Planting project resulted in the planting of 112,578 native tree seedlings to restore forest structure in high-priority zones. That same year, the Big Red Fire Reforestation project introduced 92,600 trees to fire-impacted areas, supporting post-fire regeneration and habitat restoration.

In 2023, the Badger Creek Planting project added 159,248 seedlings across lands affected by the 2018 Badger Creek Fire. The project focused on accelerating reforestation, stabilizing soils, and promoting habitat recovery in the burned landscape.

In 2022, the Hell Canyon Planting project addressed the aftermath of a severe mountain pine beetle outbreak. A total of 94,000 lodgepole pine seedlings were planted across 207 acres, targeting the areas with the highest tree mortality to restore forest composition and ecological function.

Together, these projects represent a continued commitment to restoring forest ecosystems across the Medicine Bow and Routt National Forests through strategic, science-based replanting efforts that support biodiversity, watershed protection, and long-term forest health.