In 2019, six months after being placed, the Christmas trees built up enough sand to support Railroad vine, a native dune plant.

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Gulf State Park staff, volunteers young and old and students from Gulf Shores High School worked to place 427 recycled Christmas trees in the dunes in 2021.

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Volunteers help to place recycled Christmas trees in 2021.

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Saddened to see your beautiful, live Christmas tree chucked to the side of the road after the holiday?
You can give it new life as a first defense against hurricanes.
For over 30 years, Gulf State Park has used live Christmas trees as part of the dune restoration program. Volunteers place the trees in the park's seaside dunes. Over the months the sand carried by wind off the Gulf is captured by the trees.
This process helps the dunes to grow and strengthen. The dunes are the first defense, and a natural storm surge barrier.
To donate your Christmas tree to the dune program bring it to the Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion and place it next to the dumpster on the east side of the parking lot. Do not place trees in front of the dumpster. The lot is open from dawn until dusk.
Remove all decorations, lights and man-made items from the tree before it is dropped off. Flocked trees cannot be used.
If you want to help place the trees in the dunes, volunteers are needed on Feb. 22 to move the trees to the beach. Meet at the Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion at 8 a.m. Bring a pair of work gloves. If you have any questions, please call the Nature Center at Gulf State Park at (251) 948-7275.