Texas Wildfire Restoration—Hope and Healing Brings Life Back

The 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire devastated 32,400 acres in Texas, but restoration efforts, with support from the Arbor Day Foundation and partners, have reintroduced over 4 million loblolly pines to revive the Lost Pines Forest and Bastrop State Park.

June 5, 2020

A man in yellow hard hat and blue FedEx t-shirt walks with a young boy in a forest.

The Bastrop County Complex Fire quickly spread across drought-stricken central Texas in September of 2011.

By the time flames were finally extinguished, approximately 95% of Bastrop State Park and 32,400 acres of the Lost Pines Forest ecosystem had been severely damaged. Over 1,600 homes were destroyed. It was the single most destructive fire in Texas’ history.

Group of volunteers watch woman demonstrate planting a tree.

Restoration efforts at Bastrop State Park spanned five years. The fire-ravaged forest is now repopulated with majestic loblolly pine, on its way to restoring it to its original state as one of the most beautiful, unique landscapes in the world. Plans to replant more than 4 million new loblolly pine trees on public and private lands were fulfilled in Bastrop by 2016. Residents and tourists alike are now able to enjoy this unique landscape once more.

Three individuals wearing purple shirts and hard hats are standing together in a grassy field.

A diverse group of individuals wearing purple shirts and yellow helmets, engaged walking through a forested area.

Three individuals in purple shirts stand together, each holding a shovel and a bucket, ready for planting trees.

Two women in purple shirts stand beside fallen trees.

A group of people in purple shirts gathered around a stack of yellow buckets, getting ready to plant trees.

Two men carrying boxes of pine trees, standing in a sunny field surrounded by greenery.

A group of people wearing purple and red shirts stands together in a sunny field.

Partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation, FedEx played a major role in recovery efforts. Community Tree Recovery is an Arbor Day Foundation initiative that is nationally sponsored by FedEx. The Lost Pines Forest Recovery campaign is in partnership with the Lost Pines Recovery Team, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and Texas A&M Forest Service.