Making it easier for people to work with and in nature is at the very heart of what we do at STIHL and part of our commitment to socially responsible environmental stewardship. The Hearts of STIHL program is an extension of that commitment. Inspired by the staff of America’s State Parks, Hearts of STIHL seeks to support programs which prioritize responsible forest management practices, sustainability, recovery, conservation, and environmental education programs. The mission of Hearts of STIHL is to help those people and programs that are caring for the national treasures that are our America’s State Parks and preserve them for the enjoyment of all Americans, current and future.

Annually, the Hearts of STIHL program will provide a $20,000 grant to a park in each of the nation’s six regions for a total of $120,000. These regions include Northwest, North Central, Central, Southwest, Northeast, and Southeast.

The grant will be managed by the America’s State Parks Foundation, and parks can apply for funds to help projects related to sustainability, recovery, conservation, or environmental education programs.

At STIHL Inc., we believe that as a leader in the outdoor power equipment industry, it is our duty to set the example in sustainability and continue to invest time, energy and resources in innovative technologies, programs and partnerships as part of our ongoing commitment to socially responsible environmental stewardship. It is one reason why we continue to expand our line of fuel-efficient gas-powered and battery-powered outdoor power equipment while using environmentally responsible production practices wherever possible. Ultimately, we believe that The Road to Green is Orange.

STIHL Inc. has prioritized sustainability throughout our practices, including reducing our hazardous waste stream, reducing electricity consumption, reducing our overall landfill waste through conservation and recycling programs, and the development of “green roofs” at several of our facilities which are designed to limit storm water runoff, reduce interior temperature through organic absorption of sunlight, improve sound insulation, and add clean oxygen back to the environment. The Administration Building, completed in October 2019, features the largest privately funded green roof in the state of Virginia with 56,000 sedum plants creating a living ‘roof,’ which reduces energy consumption by cooling the building in the summer and retaining heat in the winter months. It also provides sound insulation.

STIHL Inc. recently announced the winners of the 2023 Hearts of STIHL program, an initiative to care for the environment through the preservation of our nation’s state parks. The 2023 Hearts of STIHL winners, representing the nation’s six state park regions, have each been awarded a $20,000 grant to help fund sustainability, recovery, conservation, or environmental education programs.

Northeast
Delaware Seashore State Park – Delaware
Shoreline and management program for nature preserve and historic cultural site

Southeast
Tishomingo State Park – Mississippi
Renovation and enhancement of nature education center; trail maintenance and forestry management

Central
Prairie State Park – Missouri
Invasive tree species removal and native tree planting program

North Central
Twin Falls Resort State Park – West Virginia
Expansion of conservation education program; establishment of wildlife habitat fishing pond

Northwest
McCroskey State Park – Idaho
Planting of 20,000 trees on 60 acres of forest; re-seeding of six acres of native Palouse prairie habitat

Southwest
Ridgway State Park – Colorado
Park modifications and improvements to become International Darks Sky Place (IDSP) certified; purchase of telescope public IDSP programs

In response to the devastating effects of wildfires in 2020, STIHL Inc. was proud to support recovery efforts in two Pacific Northwest state parks with the planting of 2,021 trees in 2021. STIHL collaborated with state parks in California and Oregon to help restore these natural treasures.

The project broke ground on June 7, 2021 with the planting of trees in Collier Memorial State Park in Chiloquin, Oregon and Lake Oroville State Recreation Area in Oroville, California. The second phase of the project took place in the fall of 2021. The project was a true partnership and included men and women of the Oregon and California State Parks; hazardous tree felling and training by professional arborist and STIHL Inc. spokesperson Mark Chisholm; Director of Conservation for the MeatEater group Ryan Callaghan; as well as Chuck Leavell, musical director for the Rolling Stones, award-winning tree farmer, conservationist, and producer of the PBS television program, “America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell.”