At the start of 2023, we pledged to donate $1 to replant a tree for every member who signed up for paperless communications with Mutual Assurance.
Thanks to your commitment to helping us reduce mailing, printing, and paper costs, we were able to donate $1000 to the National Forest Foundation's Sapling Program. Through partnerships with businesses across the county, the Sapling Program has planted more than 1,000,000 trees in the National Forests in Virginia.
Recent Fires
Virginians living in western parts of the state have long known the potential for wildfires affecting their homes and properties. Not since 2016 have Virginia's National Forests, the George Washington, Jefferson, and Monongahela, seen as much wildfire activity.
Wildfires in Virginia have consumed nearly three times the number of acres this fall than the last six years combined. The Department of Forestry has worked to control and put out 137 wildfires which have consumed 13,902 acres as of Thanksgiving.
The Matts Creek Fire in the Jefferson National Forest falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service and isn't included in the 137/13,902 figures above. This fire, the largest in Virginia by far, has scorched 11,016 acres and is 33% contained as of last week.
Combined, more than 27,000 acres in Virginia have been burned by wildfires as of December 1, 2023.
Virginia's Reforestation
Trees on public land that are burned or lost to disease, are replanted by the National Forest Foundation at a rate of 5 million per year nationwide.
Wildfires destroy wildlife habitats, impair watersheds, stress drinking water sources, degrade recreational spots, and compromise the ability of our forests to absorb and store carbon. For reference, in a single year, a typical tree can absorb and hold up to 11 pounds of carbon dioxide. Over 100 years, this equates to one half-ton per tree.
With Virginia's record 2023 wildfire year, The NFF will coordinate with the Virginia Forest Service to select high-priority reforestation projects, planting only native, ecologically appropriate tree species, according to Ray A. Foote, NFF executive vice president.
Wes Swaffar, director of partnerships and reforestation states, "We're inspired by the sustainability leadership of so many companies and small businesses that are demonstrating that our forests, and their future, matter."
Mutual Assurance is proud to partner with the NFF to protect Virginia's National Forests.
Sources: National Forest Foundation, WRIC, FireWeatherAvalance.org,