Memorial Forests:
forever-protected in nature
Memorial Forests transform how we remember. Instead of tombstones in cemeteries, your loved one’s ashes become part of a forest ecosystem—protected forever through conservation.
What is a Memorial Forest?
Protected forests
for memorials
Memorial Forests are permanently protected forests that offer a natural alternative to traditional cemeteries.
Cremated ashes are returned to the earth at the base of a private Memorial Tree or within a dedicated Spreading Grove, shared groves where ashes are spread among the trees.
A choice that honors both life and nature
Permanent Protection
Every Memorial Forest is legally conserved and can never be developed.
A Place to Return
Unlike scattering ashes, you have a marked, recorded location to visit in perpetuity.
Living Memorials
Your memorial grows and evolves with the seasons, reflecting the cycle of life.
No Maintenance Costs
Nature cares for your memorial—no upkeep fees or ongoing expenses.
Environmental Sustainability
Protect a thriving ecosystem while creating a meaningful memorial.
Personalized Memorials
Create ceremonies and markers that reflect your family’s values.
How Memorial Forests work
Memorial Forests offer diverse ways to create lasting tributes from dedicated Memorial Trees to shared Spreading Groves.
Your options include:
Memorial Trees
Scatter ashes at a dedicated tree, shared with family and pets.
Spreading Groves
Scatter ashes within a dedicated grove in a shared forest area.
Where to find Memorial Forests
9 Memorial Forests across America
Each location offers the same promise: permanent protection, professional stewardship, and a natural sanctuary where families can return for generations.
West Coast
Southwest & Midwest
Northeast
How Memorial Forests
compare to other options
Memorial Forests honor life differently than traditional burial, natural burial and green burial while offering practical advantages. They create something traditional memorials don’t: a living place that changes and grows with the seasons.
| Memorial Forests | Traditional Cemeteries | Holding Ashes | Scattering Ashes | Green Burial or Natural Burial | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Private tree or shared grove in protected forest | Cemetery plot | Home storage | Dispersed in nature (if permitted) | Natural burial ground |
| Honors | Multiple people & pets at one tree | Individual plot | No | No individual designation | Individual plot |
| Legal Status | All permissions included | Permitted with purchase | Not applicable | Often illegal without permits | Permitted at certified sites (limited) |
| Setting | Living, growing memorial | Maintained grounds | Kept at home | Limited legal sites | Natural landscape |
| Marker | Personalized marker | Tombstone | None | No individual designation | None |
| Visits | Perpetual access rights | Fixed cemetery hours | Not applicable | Nothing to return to | Site-dependent |
| Maintenance | Self-sustaining ecosystem | Required perpetual upkeep | None | None | Site-dependent stewardship |
| Feeling | Alive, growing, changing | Static, formal | Waiting, temporary | Released but uncertain | Returned but unmarked |
Articles & Tools
The resources you need, when you need them most
Trusted by thousands of families
Thousands of families trust us for compassionate cremations services and nature-connected memorials without funeral home pressure.
“After draining experiences with funeral homes, this is the alternative we needed—I never felt rushed or pressured. The Memorial Forest was uplifting—nothing like a cemetery.”
Winslow S. I Yosemite Gateway Memorial Forest, CA
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions?
What is a Memorial Forest?
A Memorial Forest is a protected natural area designed as an alternative to a traditional cemetery where cremated ashes are returned to the earth at the base of a chosen, established tree or in dedicated groves.
Better Place Forests, a company pioneering this concept, provides a secure place for families to honor loved ones with a personalized memorial ceremony and memorial marker, while also supporting forest conservation and reforestation efforts.
How are Memorial Forests protected?
Through our partnership with Better Place Forests, every forest is legally protected. Each family is granted an irrevocable license giving them the perpetual right to access their Memorial Tree or Spreading Grove and legally spread ashes.
To reinforce these irrevocable rights, they record a license or easement with local governments. Our goal is to ensure that any potential future owner would be legally obligated to honor customers’ rights to access the forest and spread ashes. Professional forest stewards maintain trails and ecosystem health, funded by a perpetual conservation fund.
How is this different from scattering ashes?
Traditional scattering offers no permanent location and is often illegal in parks and public lands. Memorial Forests provide an exact, GPS-recorded spot that’s legally yours to visit forever, with all permissions handled and memorial markers allowed.
How is this different from a cemetery?
Cemeteries feature manicured lawns, uniform tombstones, and require ongoing landscaping. Memorial Forests are natural, wild spaces where your memorial becomes part of the living, protected forest.
Is this the same as green burial?
No. Green burial involves full-body burial without embalming, typically in biodegradable caskets. Memorial Forests specifically use cremation, with ashes scattered to nourish the forest ecosystem within conservation-protected land.
Can pets be included?
Yes. Beloved family pets (and loved ones) maybe included at your Memorial Tree with a pet spreading and pet tribute ceremony.
Can I visit a Memorial Forest?
Absolutely. Your family receives perpetual access rights to visit anytime. We encourage exploring the Memorial Forest before choosing—schedule a guided tour or virtual visit to experience the peace and beauty firsthand.
Can you plant a tree in memory with Everis?
With Everis, you can spread ashes in a dedicated Spreading Grove within a protected forest, or choose a specific Memorial Tree for a more personal tribute.
Does Everis offer spreading ashes in national forest locations?
West Coast
- Point Arena Memorial Forest, CA
- Santa Cruz Memorial Forest, CA
- Yosemite Gateway Memorial Forest, CA
- Lake Arrowhead Memorial Forest, CA
Southwest & Midwest
Northeast
Where can you spread human ashes?
Yes. With Everis, you can spread human ashes in a dedicated Spreading Grove within a protected forest. Or choose a dedicated Memorial Tree for both people and pets.
Does Everis have actual burial sites in national forests?
No. Everis offers ash spreading in its Spreading Grove and at Memorial Trees in its nine protected forest locations throughout the US.
Still have questions?
Ready to learn more?
From planning ahead to support after a
loss, we’ll share the resources you need.