The Nature Conservancy Announces 2nd Annual OktoberForest

The Nature Conservancy, in partnership with breweries around the country, has announced the second annual Oktoberforest awareness campaign. For all the details, see below:

The Nature Conservancy and dozens of breweries across the nation are extending the Oktoberfest season with the second annual, month-long OktoberForest awareness campaign! The campaign is making beer fans aware of the critical link between the health of America’s forests and beer’s main ingredient—water. 

Partner breweries are on tap from coast to coast—from Delaware’s Dogfish Head Brewery to Deschutes Brewery (Oregon). See the full list at www.OktoberForest.org.

The relevance of America’s forests to breweries is transparent: more than 90 percent of beer is water, and more than 50 percent of America’s water comes from our forests.

America’s forests help improve water supplies in a number of ways.  Forests shade streams, lakes, and snow from evaporation; the forest floor helps filter sediment; and tree roots help hold soil together so it can store water like a sponge.

Recently forests have become threatened by more severe fires, drought, and increased pest damage. The U.S. Forest Service estimates that about half of its forested lands are in need of restoration in order to maintain natural benefits for people, water, and wildlife. 

More than 1,000 American breweries are within 10 miles of a Forest Service watershed; nearly 700 breweries are near a damaged or at-risk watershed.

“As a longtime homebrewer myself, I am thrilled The Nature Conservancy is partnering with breweries on the OktoberForestcampaign,” said The Nature Conservancy’s Chris Topik, Director of Restoring America’s Forests.  “The Nature Conservancy has been working to conserve and restore America’s forests for more than 60 years—we are drinking in the opportunity to help conserve beer’s main ingredient.”

Breweries are participating by:

1. Hosting educational OktoberForest events at breweries;
2. Promoting “Hike/Bike your Beer” outdoor tours that help customers understand how nearby forests provide the water in their beer;
3. Sharing educational coasters, posters, and table toppers;
4. Promoting OktoberForest through social media;
5. Providing customer donations to forest restoration projects. 

You can participate in OktoberForest by visiting www.OktoberForest.org:

1. Watch—view the one-minute video highlighting the connections between healthy forests, water, and beer. 
2. Take the quiz—how much do you know about forests, water, and beer?
3. Check out the map— how healthy are the forests around your favorite brewery?
4. Take the pledge—talk to your friends and favorite breweries about OktoberForest!
5. Post—your favorite forest and brewery photos to Twitter and Instagram at #OktoberForest

Five Forest Facts:

• The United States is home to the world’s oldest, tallest, and most massive trees.
• America’s forests generate more than $13 billion in income for businesses and communities. 
• Our forests provide 1 million square miles of outdoor recreation space for families, campers, hikers, backpackers, hunters, and anglers. 
• The nation’s nine worst fire years have all come since 2000 (cumulative records starting in 1960).  2015 year was our worst fire year with more than 10 million acres burned; 2016 was our most expensive firefighting year. 
• Non-native pests have killed more than 150 million trees since 1990.