JACKSON, MISS.-- November 03, 2021 -- Molpus Woodlands Group, LLC (Molpus) today announced it is celebrating the planting of over 251 million trees since 1998 as part of its sustainable forest management program. Through its operations Molpus has conserved working forests for public access, promoted sustainable practices, and replanted harvest sites. This program has also helped to conserve vital ecosystems and to mitigate climate change. It’s also important to note that these numbers don’t include about half of the forests Molpus manages, which are composed of hardwood species that regenerate naturally.

“We take great pride in sustainably managing forests and the ecosystems that depend on them. The working forests we manage provide vital environmental benefits like clean air and water and carbon sequestration, as well as providing recreational opportunities and jobs that sustain local economies where we live and work,” said Bob Lyle, President of Molpus.

The sustainable forestry that Molpus practices not only supports biodiversity and local economies but also helps clean the air we breathe and purify the water we drink. The U.S. Forest Service estimates that about two-thirds of our nation’s fresh water comes from forests.

Forests are also on the front lines in mitigating climate change. As trees grow, they absorb carbon. Sustainable forest management requires harvested trees to be replanted or naturally regenerated. These new trees rapidly absorb carbon, and the forest products that are made from the harvested trees store carbon for years to come.

“We benefit future generations by replanting the forests we harvest. We also reconfirm our stewardship of our forest resources by having all of our forests certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Forest Management Standard, with additional certifications in some forests with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC),” said Ruth Cook, Director of Sustainability of Molpus.

Molpus is also actively engaged in nature-based carbon-offset projects that help preserve forests as carbon sinks. Carbon offsets represent the reduction, removal, or avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions. Offsets allow Molpus to earn revenue for the greenhouse gas emission reductions we achieve.

“Working forests are an important part of our nation’s efforts to address climate change. Through our active replanting of forests, we are demonstrating our commitment to the importance of nature-based solutions and healthy forests in climate change mitigation and carbon sequestration,” said Dick Kempka, Vice President, Conservation of Molpus.