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For every atlas purchased on this website, we will match you by planting a tree in its place, thanks to the Arbor Day Foundation.
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The Importance of Maintaining a Footprint
Everybody has a footprint. Like most shoes, they come in a variety of sizes. As a company, we recognize that our industry is directly related to the size of that footprint and are taking strides in keeping it small.
“Take nothing, leave nothing.”
If you’ve explored the outdoors, you’ve probably heard that line before. And we stand by it. That’s the idea behind donating a tree for every atlas you purchase on out website.
2012 Wildfires
This year was one of the most devastating wildfire seasons for our friends in Colorado. The back-to-back Waldo and Hyde Park fires each broke history records, demolishing over 600 homes and consuming over 175 sq miles of trees, structures, and wildlife.Although the fires have been, for the most part, contained, there is now a concern about the many years of flooding in the fire-licked areas, a clear indicator that the condition is far from healed.
Colorado isn’t alone: Idaho, Montana, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, nearly every state in Western America has experienced some form of wildfire tragedy, accumulating hundreds of thousands of square mileage of scorched terrain. Its no wonder over half of our earth’s natural forests have disappeared, most of which having vanished in the past 50 years. With that in mind, we’ve discovered an opportunity to help give back to the forests that have given us so many years of enjoyment. This brings us to the Arbor Day Foundation.
“We inspire people to plant, nuture, and celebrate trees.”
The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit conservation and education organization. Founded in 1972, the centennial of the first Arbor Day observance in the 19th century, the Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with over one million members, supporters, and valued partners.
About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization of one million members, with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org.
Replanting Our Nation’s Forests
From coast to coast, they are more than our national forests. They are national treasures. They thrill us with towering majesty and inspire us with breathtaking beauty. They provide wood for our homes, habitat for wildlife, clean air, and drinking water for millions of us. Our forests are our future.
Record wildfire seasons in recent years have destroyed millions of trees in forests around the country. Many areas have burned so severely that replanting is necessary. Yet much of the U.S. Forest Service budget has been diverted to simply fighting these massive fires, with much less funding left for replanting. The Forest Service has identified a backlog of more than one million acres of America’s national forests that need to be replanted. And each year, with every wildfire, storm, or insect epidemic, the backlog steadily increases.
Through the Replanting Our Nation’s Forests program the Arbor Day Foundation is partnering with national and state foresters to help replant native trees in these forests, providing habitat for wildlife, restoring area watersheds, and returning splendor to our country’s forests.
Why the Arbor Day Foundation
We chose to support the ADF for two reasons. First, we know that every dollar we give to them will plant a tree where it is needed most. Second, coupled by their extensive history of successful reforestation efforts, they support youth education via their Nature Explore program, which connects deep into the centers of childcare programs, elementary schools, and other public places around the country. We at Benchmark Maps firmly believe the future of our earth rests in the hands of our successors, and education is vital in making sure it stays healthy for generations to come. You can learn more about the Arbor Day Foundation and make direct donations by visiting their website. http://www.arborday.org
Going Digital, Going Green
Everything is mobilizing. These days, one person can carry around with them a library of books that would make the Tzar of Russia blush, and on something smaller than a paperback romance novel. Things are changing, and here at Benchmark Maps, we feel it is certainly for the better of our environment. Although paper maps will always have a place in the library of safety minded explorers, we are embracing this digital push. Over the next year, we will be releasing DIGITAL VERSIONS of our Road and Recreation Atlases suitable for the iPhone and iPad. Connect with us on Facebook or Twitter to stay in the loop of each new atlas release.
