Planting 100,000 Trees in Association with BBC Earth’s Eco Season

Planting 100,000 Trees in Association with BBC Earth’s Eco Season

We're thrilled to share that One Tree Planted will be planting 100K trees throughout Asia, Europe, and South Africa in association with BBC Earth's Eco Season. Eight countries will receive 12,500 trees each, including the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Denmark, Scotland, Iceland, and South Africa.

BBC Earth is a factual channel available in these regions and celebrates nature, science, space and the human race, bringing you closer to the sheer wonder of this amazing planet we call home. Their Eco Season is a special collection of programs, with Sir David Attenborough, that celebrates the beauty of the world we live in while also showing how our actions are threatening it. And from the facts on the extinction crisis to a closer look at how meat consumption is harming the planet, viewers will surely come away with a new perspective on our place in a rapidly changing planet.

An award winning broadcaster, writer, and naturalist, Sir David Attenborough has inspired millions to connect with and care about nature. Through his work, he has brought environmental issues to the forefront with programs like the 9-part Life series, The Blue Planet, State of the Planet, Are We Changing Planet Earth, and Climate Change: The Facts, as well as Blue Planet II and the 8-Part Our Planet Series. His recent 5-part natural history series, A Perfect Planet, was an instant hit and at 94 years old, he continues to teach and inspire viewers all over the world.

Sir David Attenborough has warned that a failure to act on climate change could lead to “the collapse of our societies.” And the verdict is clear: now, more than ever, it’s important to connect inspiration with action. We’re proud to plant trees in support of his message and legacy in areas where they will benefit biodiversity and humanity for generations to come.

Image Credit: Brian Leith Productions/Peter Lown © Brian Leith Productions 2020

Here are the regions where the trees will be planted, each with their own unique benefits:

Philippines

In the Philippines, we’re supporting local communities in restoring the forest ecosystems that have experienced significant deforestation by planting a mix of native hardwoods and clumping (non-spreading) bamboo. Our efforts are centered on habitat restoration for endangered species, safeguarding community watersheds, and sustainable development through agroforestry and tree planting. Bamboo is able to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, while also helping to restore the water cycle, stabilize eroding soils, create sustainable livelihoods, and more.

Vietnam

In Vietnam’s Xuan Lien Nature Reserve, One Tree Planted is working with local villagers to recover forests that have been degraded by logging, farming, and firewood collection. This will be accomplished by planting indigenous and multi-purpose tree species and will protect watersheds, control erosion, store carbon, improve air quality, and reduce the risk of landslides. It will also benefit endangered species like bears, gibbons, turtles, orchids, and more.

Image Credit: Brian Leith Productions/Bjorn Vaughn. © Brian Leith Productions 2019

Sri Lanka

This restoration project focuses on planting mangrove seedlings in a lagoon that was previously damaged and degraded during civil conflict. Planting trees here will benefit marine biodiversity that depends on mangrove ecosystems, help buffer against storms and rising sea level and benefit the local community. In this area, mangroves provide habitat and breeding grounds for Demersal fish species, shrimp, and several birds. They also sequester carbon and protect the livelihoods of local fishermen and fisherwomen and local cottage industries connected to the fishery.

Thailand

This project is designed to support ongoing efforts by Earthworm Foundation’s Rurality program by helping local smallholder rubber farms incorporate agroforestry trees into their rubber plantations. This will decrease dependency on rubber farming by diversifying their livelihoods, improve the resilience of their farms, restore degraded habitat on plantations and within riparian zones, improve food security, increase biodiversity, and more.

Image Credit: Brian Leith Productions/George Woodcock © Brian Leith Productions 2020

Scotland

Centuries ago, much of Scotland’s native forests were cleared for agriculture, leading to habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss, declining soil health, and more. One Tree Planted is working with our awesome partner to restore Talla & Gameshope, the wild heart of Scotland. Planting trees here will have significant biodiversity benefits for a range of plants, animals, invertebrates and birds like the black grouse, spotted flycatcher, bull finch, and kingfisher. It will also restore a riparian corridor, which will improve soil stability, reduce the risk of landslides, and maintain water quality.

Denmark

Our reforestation project in Denmark will establish multi-functional woodland on marginal farmland in western Jutland that will be protected in perpetuity by the Danish Forest Act. The new forests will absorb carbon, protect biodiversity, preserve groundwater, and fix nitrogen to reduce wetland eutrophication (when a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients, causing an algae bloom and suffocating aquatic life). By creating a conservation area for many species of bird, mammal, and insect, including the threatened hazel dormouse, nature and biodiversity will benefit for generations to come.

Image Credit: Brian Leith Productions/George Woodcock © Brian Leith Productions 2019 

South Africa

Urban farmers in South Africa’s Western Cape struggle with heavy winds (from 60-160 kmph). Planting indigenous trees around their farms will provide a sustainable and cost-effective windbreak. It will also improve security, create food and medicine, increase biodiversity, create green spaces, provide jobs to local communities, reduce flooding, sequester carbon, and more.

Iceland

While Iceland used to have up to 40% forest cover centuries ago, deforestation has reduced this to just 5% today. This 170 hectare area will involve planting trees on the lower, south-facing slopes on the farm “Dragon's Nest" (named after its former owner). The area is degraded former grazing land with low-growing and largely non-continuous vegetation, and a lot of ecological potential to become a forest once again. In time, this degraded and eroded land (the majority of the area) will develop more vigorous vegetation, stabilizing soils and providing habitat for biodiversity once again.

You can also learn more about the One Tree Planted Collaboration with BBC Earth and more about BBC Earth Eco Season.