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

Meaghan Weeden | March 29, 2021 | 4 min read
Image Credit: BBC/Polly Alderton, copyright BBC 2019 

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.

woman and child holding seedling

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.

orangutan with baby

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.

colorful small bird and flowers

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.

elephant in forest

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.

Brazil Waterfall
Brazil Biodiversity
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Plant Trees Where They're Needed Most
Brazil Planting Partners
Brazil Landscape
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Brazil Saplings
Brazil Waterfall
Brazil Biodiversity
Brazil Nursery
Plant Trees Where They're Needed Most
Brazil Planting Partners
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Brazil Saplings

Plant Trees Where They're Needed Most

As the need for reforestation is global and ever-changing, we feature where trees are most needed now. This project supports Brazil, a country well-known for its rich ecological diversity. Learn more

With your help, we will:

  • Support the habitats of Brazil's iconic wildlife species
  • Restore forests and improve the connectivity of fragmented forests
  • Provide jobs to community members and smallholder farming families
  • The Atlantic Forest, also known as Mata Atlantica, was once an expansive tropical rainforest ecosystem that covered 130 million hectares in Brazil. Sadly, centuries of deforestation for timber, sugar cane, coffee, cattle ranching, and urban sprawl have led to its decline, and it now occupies only 12% of its original size. But, there is still hope! Our planting efforts work towards restoring this vital ecosystem and its diverse tree species. Our focus is on areas such as western São Paulo State, where the Mooro do Diablo State Park and the Black Lion Tamarin Ecological Station are located, as well as many other forest fragments that are in need of restoration. We are planting trees, protecting the remaining forest, and promoting sustainable practices to preserve this beautiful environment for generations to come!
  • Our partners in Brazil are creating one of Brazil’s most significant reforestation corridors, connecting the Morro do Diablo State Park and the Black Lion Tamarin Ecological station. This will benefit endemic and endangered species, improve the livelihoods of thousands of families, and mitigate harmful edge effects. The project includes restoring significant private lands, promoting the occupation of restored areas by fauna, changing land use practices, improving small farmers' livelihoods, and providing high-quality carbon offsets. The program promotes sustainable agriculture and forest landscape restoration, influenced by policies that affect land use and conservation.
  • A personalized tree certificate (see gallery) to say thanks for your donation. We'll also send you reports about our Brazil project, so you can track the impact your trees are having on the ground!
  • We take great care in selecting species for our planting sites, ensuring that all of them are native to the Atlantic Forest. Our list of approximately 100 species includes rare and endangered species such as the Aspidosperma polyneuron (Endangered), Cariniana legalis (Vulnerable), Cedrela fissilis (Vulnerable), Zeyheria tuberculosa (Vulnerable), and Balfourodendron riedelianum (Near Threatened).


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