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HEARTWOOD is a regional network that protects forests and supports community activism in the eastern United States through education, advocacy, and citizen empowerment.

HEARTWOOD was founded in 1991, when concerned citizens from several midwestern states met and agreed to work together to protect the heartland hardwood forest.

This region was once blanketed with a majestic hardwood forest containing more than 70 species of hardwood trees. Unfortunately, much of this forest has been cleared and what remains is mostly isolated fragments of public land that nonetheless play a critical role in providing habitat for wildlife, purifying the air and water, moderating global climate change, and offering places of beauty and enjoyment. .

Today, our efforts remain rooted in the heart of the central hardwood region, with an emphasis on our “core states” of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri. Over time, Heartwood has branched out to serve areas of need throughout an 18-state region, giving special attention to the “at risk” national forests in Michigan, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, West Virginia, and Virginia.


Make a donation to Heartwood to support our work in 2012.

We are facing an exciting, dynamic and critical year, with huge challenges and important opportunities.

Our forests, clean water, clean air, and even the stability of our planet’s climate are all threatened by destructive forest practices such as biomass incineration, natural gas hydrofracking, mountain top removal coal mining, and the mismanagement of our National Forests due to poor regulations and improper oversight. Yet, there are many positive shifts happening worldwide as people become increasingly aware of the interconnectedness that exists among us all and the systems that support life. Heartwood has continued to support projects that encourage local sustainability while also continuing to stand strong against practices that destroy local economies and ecosytems.

During 2011, Heartwood stood up against mountaintop removal with the Alliance for Appalachia, the Mountaintop Removal Roadshow and Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards; was involved in stopping biomass incinerator projects from moving forward with Concerned Citizens of Perryville, Missouri and Concerned Citizens of Scott County, Indiana; helped the Clinch Coalition in Virginia and the Allegheny Defense Project in Pennsylvania to prevent destructive logging projects; became involved with the Eight Rivers Council in Pocahontas County West Virginia and the Buckeye Forest Council in Ohio to stop oil and gas leasing and hydrofracking in our National Forests; is working on no-logging, no-burning forest restoration initiatives in Kentucky and Tennessee; is working to improve forest protection in Virginia through participation in forest planning; and is a constant presence in influencing new nation-wide National Forest planning regulations.

Heartwood is the only organization that ties all of these issues and areas together, providing critically important strategic and financial support to the individuals and grassroots groups who are working to protect our forests and the places that we all love.

Heartwood is continuing our Minigrant Program in 2012 to put our energy and focus on the spots where they are needed the most, as well as continuing to keep you informed and involved through Action Alerts and Heartbeat.

Heartwood will also be hosting 3 events this year, so mark your calendars:

Heartwood now boasts a 20+ year history of battles waged and victories won on behalf of our forests. We must continue this important work, and we need your financial support. Please make an end-of-the-year donation to Heartwood to energize our work for 2012. You may send us a check or go to www.heartwood.org/support and make your donation online. Together, we are people helping people protect the places they love.

For the forests,
Ernie Reed, Heartwood Council Chair

P.S. Consider giving the gift of the forests for the holidays: a gift membership to Heartwood for a friend or loved one!

To send a donation, just click on the donation button below. If you are sending a gift membership, the recipient of your gift membership will receive an acknowledgement from Heartwood and a Coal Country Music CD in time for Winter Celebration!