American Forests will receive $2.8 million to plant trees in wildfire-damaged areas in California as part of a $10 million settlement between the state of California and ConocoPhillips. The settlement, announced Sept. 11 by state Attorney General Jerry Brown, is designed to offset emissions caused by an expansion of a ConocoPhillips refinery.

The oil giant will donate $7 million to support offset projects in the Bay Area and $200,000 to restore the San Pablo wetlands, in addition to the $2.8 million for tree planting. Brown called the agreement a “groundbreaking step in California’s battle to combat global warming. . .”

“We are delighted to be chosen as the tree-planting partner for this historic agreement,” American Forests Executive Director Deborah Gangloff said. “While fire is a natural cycle for many ecosystems, many states—including California—have suffered from out-of-control fires as a result of years of having those natural processes inhibited.”

Since 2000, American Forests has planted approximately 450,000 trees in California as part of its Wildfire ReLeaf program. Wildfire ReLeaf is part of American Forests’ Global ReLeaf program, which plants native species in damaged ecosystems for $1 a tree.

Conoco’s donation will result in the planting of 2.8 million trees, and the sequestering of a million tons of CO2. Many American corporations are putting resources behind tree planting for the multiple benefits it provides. Rebuilding damaged ecosystems pays off in cleaner air and water, improved wildlife habitat, and sequestered greenhouse gas emissions.

“We look forward to working with our California partners to determine the best locations to plant these trees,” Gangloff added. “By preventing erosion, restoring wildlife habitat and offering places for recreation, these trees will provide a significant boost to attempts to restore ecosystems damaged by out-of-control wildfires.”