What Does DU Have to Do With… Reforestation?

Ever looked at old farmland and thought, “You know what this needs? More wildlife”? That’s the big idea behind Ducks Unlimited’s Flyway Forests Program—a win-win for landowners, wildlife, and the planet. DU National Carbon Program Lead, Lauren Alleman along with DU biologists Madie McFarland and Jonathan Panter, are working with landowners across parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Missouri to turn former crop fields back into thriving hardwood forests.

Here’s how it works: If you’ve got 75 or more acres ready for a glow-up, DU will plant native trees at no cost to you, handle all the monitoring, and even pay you $4,002 per acre over 20 years or $3,443 per acre over 40 years, depending on whether you elect to place your land in a permanent conservation easement or in a 40-year term contract. You keep the deed, DU does the heavy lifting, and together we’re aiming to plant 4.4 million trees (10,000 acres!)  by 2030. That’s not just good news for ducks—it’s a climate win too, pulling 1.8 million tonnes of CO₂ out of the atmosphere while creating prime habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.

Why hardwood forests? They’re nature’s multitaskers—providing food and shelter for countless species, improving water quality, and reducing flooding. Plus, they’re beautiful. Imagine your land transformed into a lush forest that benefits generations to come—all while earning you income and supporting conservation.

It’s basically getting paid to let nature do what it does best. Your land. Our trees. A future for wildlife. So, if you’ve ever dreamed of turning your fields into forests, now’s your chance to make it happen—with DU as your partner every step of the way.