The Dixie Fire Canopy Project will celebrate Arbor Day with a fundraiser on April 26th at The Spot in Greenville , CA. Guests can choose from a variety of types of trees to plant to help the burn scar resulting from the Dixie Fire that destroyed over one million acres and destroying the town of Greenville and Canyon Dam.
“The Canopy Project was started in September 2023 after the devastating Dixie Fire to help with the reforestation of the land,” says founder Michaela Trammell. “Since we started, we have planted approximately 655 trees and 380 shrubs but our work still remains to return the natural beauty of our forests in Plumas County.”
The Canopy Project has been successful in receiving monies for this huge endeavor from a variety of resources. Their goal the first year was to raise $50,000, which was more than met bringing in $297,000 from grants and from Workforce Alliance that paid for three crew members and two administrators to run the non-profit. They also partnered with the Almanor Foundation funding support platform so management of fundraising was less time consuming. “We were pleased to have been able to garner those funds but tree-planting is not an inexpensive endeavor thus we are always seeking funding opportunities and donations,” she explains.
The long-term goal of the Canopy Project is not limited to just reforestation of the burn scar. Their long-term plan is to receive capitol grants to purchase property for a nursery that would provide trees and shrubs available for planting at no cost to individuals or businesses in the process of rebuilding. The second goal with the property would be to have a community garden of herbs, vegetables and fruit trees. The final piece would be to operate a for-profit nursery to support the economic rebuild of the community, which is essential to bring Greenville back to a viable community. There is an exception for those living within the burn scar who are rebuilding they will receive at no cost four trees and two shrubs.
