A seedling slightly taller than a pencil rests against an ash-covered ground.

Behind it stand the blackened trunks of a recently burned section of the Boise National Forest.

Within a moment, the planted roots of that seedling will disappear into the soil. 

Before a single tree is planted after a wildfire, foresters have already spent months determining where reforestation is needed, which species belong on the landscape and which seed sources are best suited for each location. Boise National Forest silviculture technician Maddy Schwarzbach demonstrates proper tree planting techniques, part of the science and planning behind restoring the next generation of forests. (Forest Service video by Michael McCool)

Long after the charred trees surrounding it have fallen and returned to the forest floor, that tiny Douglas-fir or ponderosa pine may stand more than 100 feet above this mountainside. It may still be here 300 years from now, sheltering wildlife, shading streams and producing the seeds for the forest that follows.

The work that made this moment possible began long before anyone picked up a planting tool.

For Madeline “Maddy” Schwarzbach, a silviculture technician on the Boise National Forest, reforestation begins almost as soon as the fire is over.

“There’s a lot of critical coordination that goes into a planting project like this and it really starts from the very beginning, right after the fire is put out.”

The first conversations are not about digging holes but asking questions.

Can the forest recover on its own? Which parts of the burn are too far from living trees to naturally reseed themselves? What species grew here before the fire? Which seed sources are best suited to this elevation?

Those questions become the blueprint for every seedling that follows because restoring these damaged landscapes helps support stronger communities. 

Knowing when nature needs a hand 

Not every burned landscape requires replanting.

Many forests regenerate naturally as seeds spread from nearby surviving trees. Others burn so intensely that natural regeneration is unlikely, so forest managers lend nature a hand by planting new trees to help restore the forest.

Schwarzbach says identifying those places is one of the first steps after a wildfire. 

“We look at some of the hottest spots in the fire that are not close to a nearby green tree. So, we can assume then that it’s going to be really difficult for this area to reforest on its own. And so, because of that, we come in and reforest it through planting.”

Once a site has been selected, the planning continues.

“What were the trees, the species, and the density? What was it like before the fire? What are our goals? Do we want to put those exact species back, like they were before?”

The answers help shape not only the next forest, but how resilient and productive it will become in the decades ahead.

Every seed has a story

To the casual observer, one Douglas-fir seedling may look just like another.

Schwarzbach says foresters see something different.

“The Forest Service nurseries have a bunch of different types of seeds, even from just one species. So, within a species, you can have different types of trees, all based on genetics.”

When selecting seed sources for planting, it is necessary to choose materials that are genetically adapted to the local environment. Those genetic differences become especially important on landscapes like the Boise National Forest, where elevation changes rapidly across the mountains.

“We have specific genetics within each species that say, this source of tree would grow best at this elevation, and this one would grow best at this elevation. So that really determines what trees I’m asking my nursery to provide for me to replant this area.”

Those decisions are increasingly informed by Forest Service Research and Development science. Recent Forest Service-led research highlights the importance of matching seed sources to local conditions while also accounting for the uncertainty that comes with changing environmental conditions over a tree’s lifetime. For forests like the Boise, where seedlings planting today may still be growing a century from now, selecting the right genetics is one way that managers help ensure future forests remain healthy and productive. 

For this project, Schwarzbach selected Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine. Douglas-fir seedlings arrive with a small soil plug surrounding their roots, giving them an early advantage after planting. Bare-root ponderosa pine seedlings are dipped in a water gel solution that helps retain moisture until they are placed in the ground.

Preparing a place to grow 

Months of planning eventually lead to the task of planting.

Schwarzbach demonstrates it in less than a minute.

“So, when planting these trees, the first thing that we do is we grab our hodad and we scrape away the duff soil, the top layer of the soil.”

The goal is to give every seedling its own small advantage.

“And this gives the trees a nice little bed and no competition around it to grow on.”

The hole is dug. The seedling is placed at the proper depth. The soil is pressed firmly around its roots. One tree is taking root.

Restoring a forest one hillside at a time 

Planting one tree is straightforward.

Planting hundreds of thousands requires a team.

The Forest Service works with specialized private planting companies while Forest Service personnel inspect the work to ensure every tree is planted according to contract specifications.

“So, these hard-working people that you see planting these trees out here are part of a private company that is part of this contract,” said Schwarzbach. 

During this project, planting crews are expected to place roughly 24,000 seedlings into the ground each day. By the end of the effort, approximately 385,000 new trees will begin growing across portions of the Boise National Forest affected by the 2024 wildfire season. 

Thinking beyond today 

Unlike many projects, the benefits of reforestation cannot be measured immediately after the work is finished.

Crews will return next year to measure seedling survival, then again in the years that follow.

For Schwarzbach, however, success is measured over an even longer timeline.

“A successful planting operation to me won’t be known until we are years down the line,” she said. “Ultimately to me, this is not going to be successful until I see these trees thriving in the decades to come.”

Standing among burned trees and newly planted seedlings, she already sees the landscape differently.

“When I see these trees being planted, it’s exciting because it’s fascinating to see the whole cycle of death and rebirth. It may take a long time, but it will happen. And to be a part of a project like this is just, it’s super exciting,” she said.