Better Place Forests – Memorial Trees in Protected Forests
Eco-friendly, meaningful alternatives to traditional burial.
For families who want a greener, more meaningful alternative to cemeteries, Better Place Forests provides the chance to create a living legacy. Instead of headstones, loved ones are memorialized by a tree in one of America’s protected forests. Ashes are gently returned to the earth beneath the tree, marked with a custom memorial, while the forest itself is preserved for generations to come.
The Growing Movement Toward Environmental Legacy
Traditional burial practices carry significant environmental costs that many families only discover after funeral arrangements are complete. Casket burials introduce non-biodegradable materials, metal components, and chemical preservatives into soil, while cemetery maintenance requires ongoing water, fertilizers, and fuel for equipment. Even cremation, while requiring less land, consumes substantial energy and releases carbon emissions.
Memorial trees offer fundamentally different approaches. Instead of taking from the earth, families give back through conservation, reforestation, and permanent protection of natural spaces. The tree becomes a living memorial that grows stronger over time, providing habitat for wildlife, cleaning air and water, and contributing to forest ecosystems that will benefit countless future generations.
Why Nature-Based Memorials Resonate During Grief
For many families, the idea of their loved one becoming part of a living forest brings profound comfort that traditional cemeteries cannot provide. There’s something deeply healing about visiting a memorial tree that changes with seasons, shelters birds and wildlife, and participates in the endless cycles of growth and renewal that define natural world beauty.
These memorial forests also create meaningful spaces for reflection and remembrance without the institutional atmosphere of traditional cemeteries. Walking among protected trees, hearing wind through branches, and experiencing the peace of natural environments provides therapeutic benefits that support long-term grief processing and continued connection to those who’ve passed.
Understanding the Environmental Impact of Traditional Burial
The environmental footprint of conventional burial practices has drawn increasing scrutiny from conservation advocates and environmental researchers. Traditional cemeteries require ongoing maintenance that consumes significant resources: water for irrigation, gasoline for mowing equipment, fertilizers and pesticides for lawn maintenance, and land that could otherwise support natural ecosystems or agriculture.
According to the Green Burial Council, conventional burial in the United States each year uses approximately 1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete for vaults, 104,000 tons of steel for caskets, and 800,000 gallons of embalming fluid. These materials persist in soil indefinitely, while the chemicals used in embalming can leach into groundwater over time.
Memorial forests eliminate these environmental costs entirely. Rather than consuming resources to maintain appearance, memorial trees actively improve their environments through carbon sequestration, soil stabilization, wildlife habitat provision, and participation in healthy forest ecosystems. The contrast between resource consumption and resource contribution represents a fundamental philosophical difference in how memorials interact with natural systems.
The Role of Conservation in Modern Memorial Planning
Memorial tree programs serve dual purposes: honoring individual lives while advancing broader conservation goals. Better Place Forests partners with land trusts and conservation organizations to protect forests that might otherwise face development pressure, logging, or habitat fragmentation. Each memorial tree contributes to the permanent protection of acres of surrounding forest, creating wildlife corridors, preserving biodiversity, and maintaining natural landscapes for future generations.
This conservation dimension adds meaning that extends beyond personal remembrance. Families choosing memorial trees create environmental legacies that benefit communities, ecosystems, and countless species sharing forest habitats. For individuals who valued environmental stewardship during life, memorial trees align end-of-life practices with lifetime values in ways traditional burial cannot match.
Comprehensive resources like this guide to navigating grief while making end-of-life decisions help families explore how memorial choices can reflect personal values and provide comfort during difficult times. Understanding the full range of options, including environmentally conscious alternatives, empowers families to make decisions aligned with both practical needs and philosophical perspectives.
Legal and Practical Considerations for Memorial Trees
Memorial tree programs operate under different regulatory frameworks than traditional cemeteries. Most states classify memorial forests as conservation lands rather than cemeteries, though specific regulations vary by jurisdiction. Better Place Forests maintains compliance with all applicable state and local regulations while working to educate lawmakers about green burial alternatives.
Families should understand that memorial tree sites differ from traditional cemetery plots in several important ways. The focus is on forest conservation rather than individual grave maintenance, meaning memorial trees integrate into natural forest settings rather than maintained lawn sections. Visitation policies generally allow families to visit memorial trees during daylight hours, though some forests may have seasonal access restrictions based on weather or wildlife management needs.
Learn about practical ways and how-to’s on planning a memorial service.
The permanence of conservation easements protecting memorial forests provides assurance that these spaces will remain undeveloped indefinitely. Unlike traditional cemeteries that may face financial challenges or ownership changes, memorial forests gain protection through legal mechanisms ensuring long-term conservation regardless of organizational changes or economic conditions.
Memorial Trees Across the U.S.
Better Place Forests has established memorial forests nationwide, including:
- California: Point Arena, Santa Cruz, Yosemite Gateway, Lake Arrowhead
- Southwest: Flagstaff, AZ
- Midwest: Rock River, IL; St. Croix Valley, MN
- Northeast: Berkshires, MA; Litchfield Hills, CT
Families can select the forest that feels most meaningful—whether near home, or in a place of natural beauty.
Personalized, Eco-Friendly Memorials
Every memorial tree includes:
- A custom engraved marker placed at the tree
- The option for individual or companion trees
- Professional guidance in choosing the right tree and location
- Support for scattering ashes during a memorial ceremony
- Ongoing forest conservation and maintenance
This eco-conscious choice provides peace of mind, sustainability, and a serene place for family visits.
Why Families Choose Better Place Forests
- A natural alternative to traditional cemeteries
- Eco-friendly and conservation-focused memorials
- Protected forests preserved for generations
- Custom memorial markers included
- Serene spaces for reflection and family gatherings
Better Place Forests is a non-profit organization
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a legal alternative to traditional burial?
Yes. Memorial tree ceremonies and ash burials are fully legal and coordinated within the protected forest.
Can more than one person be memorialized at the same tree?
Yes. Families can choose companion trees or shared memorial trees for loved ones.
How do family members visit the memorial tree?
Each forest provides access paths, guided visits, and dedicated spaces for reflection at the chosen site.
