In the face of challenging social, political, economic and environmental realities, 2022 was a year that required resilience and innovation in the reforestation space. Through it all, One Tree Planted persevered and focused on what we do best: planting trees! Together with our incredible network of global planting partners (463 and growing!), we planted 52,793,657 trees through 327 impactful projects in 74 countries around the world! We're so proud to continue our journey of incredible growth every year by planting over 2x the trees we did in 2021. That said, it's the individual stories, the years long partnerships that, when the days are long and the obstacles many, warm our hearts and strengthen our resolve to continue our work planting trees and growing forests around the world.
From the simple action of planting trees grows complex, long-lasting benefits that reverberate across entire landscapes, creating profound and long-lasting benefits for nature and communities. As these 52,793,657 trees grow into maturity, they'll restore ecosystems that have been degraded by human and climate change impacts, support and heal communities with lasting social and economic benefits, protect endangered species, capture an estimated 10,000,000 tons of carbon over the next 20 years, and more.
With over 44,000,000 trees already committed to be planted in 2023, we're so excited to continue to grow our strategic global partnerships, expand our programs, and eventually hit the incredible milestone of 100,000,000 trees planted since our humble beginnings in 2014. But first, let's dig in and celebrate all that we accomplished together in 2022!
Planting trees is the ultimate act of hope, but the fate of ecosystems and the communities they support are, of course, intertwined. The people, communities and families around the world who are involved in our planting projects experience incredible — and often, life-changing — positive impacts. In addition to improving their "green infrastructure" and protecting resources like clean water and fertile soils, many of our projects help with jobs, training, and supporting families with improved income and nutrition.
In 2022, we worked with 271 planting partners through 327 projects in 74 countries. Through these projects, 50,582 farming families were supported, 26,254 women were involved, and 2,438 jobs were created. Combining environmental and social outcomes not only helps those in need, but also helps to ensure that the trees we plant will not be harvested for timber or cleared for agricultural production in the future.
In North America, our projects restore forests after wildfires, repair damage caused by a history of industry and resource extraction, support endangered species like the Southern Resident Orca of the Pacific Northwest, green up urban areas for environmental justice, and more. This year, a total of 14,900,584 trees were planted in Canada and the United States.
In Latin America, many of our projects focus on rebuilding forests and restoring land so the benefits of healthy tropical forests can be felt around the world. Our partners work with communities impacted by deforestation, training them in sustainable forest management practices and agricultural techniques like sustainable agroforestry.
A total of 11,552,169 trees were planted through projects in the Andes, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru.
In Africa, our projects rebuild wildlife habitat, restore soil and critical watersheds, and improve the lives communities who rely on forests for their livelihoods. Our planting partners promote sustainable agroforestry and educate farmers on the benefits of improved forestry practices, working to provide communities with sustainable sources of food, fuelwood, and income. In 2022, 3,190,262 trees were planted through projects in Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
In Asia, our projects focus on rebuilding the habitat of critically endangered species like orangutans, tigers, and over 1,700 species of birds. In addition to their awesome biodiversity benefits, these projects create restoration jobs and provide sustainable, long-term income for local communities.
In the Pacific, our projects focus on restoring forests following the destruction wrought by the Black Summer and other bushfires, rejuvenating critical habitat for wildlife like koalas and cockatoos, and safeguarding community watersheds through the restoration of indigenous tree species.
This year, 13,751,242 trees were planted through projects spanning the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, and Papua.
In Europe, our projects aim to re-establish historic woodlands, improve water and soil quality, and create habitat for wildlife in areas that were forested long ago.This year, we planted 3,665,044 trees through impactful projects in Armenia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the UK, France, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Switzerland.
Managed by the World Resources Institute, One Tree Planted, and Realize Impact, Terrafund for AFR100 is the first concrete investment into the second phase of AFR100. Funders include Bezos Earth Fund, Facebook, Good Energies Foundation, Lyda Hill Philanthropies, DOEN Foundation, AKO Foundation, GiveOne, and Caterpillar Foundation.
From planting trees to growing economic security — which makes it possible to send kids to school, build homes, and strengthen communities — TerraFund for AFR100's projects are creating profound, intergenerational ripple effects that will transform Africa forever.Terrafund for AFR100 is a powerful consortium that allows us to make an incredible impact by working with a diversity of partners, in regions that we would not otherwise be able to.
This year, the Terrafund for AFR100 projects that we manage planted 5,370,239 trees in Benin, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Each region faces unique challenges and opportunities, but what holds true no matter where you go is that when done correctly, reforestation changes lives for the better. From restoring ecosystems that have been ravaged by wildfires (and wouldn't be able to regenerate on their own), to stabilizing riparian areas and protecting watersheds that provide drinking water for millions, our projects have long-lasting impacts around the globe.
We hope you're as inspired as we are by all that we accomplished together in 2022. Ready to begin making an impact for forests in 2023? Plant a tree today!
Meaghan works to share our story far and wide, manages our blog calendar, coordinates with the team on projects + campaigns, and ensures our brand voice is reflected across channels. With a background in communications and an education in environmental conservation, she is passionate about leveraging her creativity to help the environment!
06/05/2024 by One Tree Planted
01/05/2024 by One Tree Planted
01/04/2024 by One Tree Planted
27/01/2023 by Meaghan Weeden
17/01/2023 by Meaghan Weeden
The Grove is more than just a monthly giving program: it's a vibrant community of individuals who are dedicated to reforestation and environmental restoration on a global scale.
As a member of The Grove, you affirm your commitment to restoring forests, nurturing biodiversity, and fostering positive global change.