One Tree Planted Awarded a Restoration Grant from Bezos Earth Fund
Meaghan Weeden | December 6, 2021 | 3 min read
One Tree Planted Receives a Bezos Earth Fund Grant in the Restoring Lost Ground Category
We’re thrilled to share that One Tree Planted has received a $15 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund to support our work together with the World Resources Institute and AFR100 to restore landscapes across the African Continent.
For every $1 million invested into this initiative, it's estimated that we can empower 5 African enterprises and community organizations, restore 1,400 hectares of land (equivalent to 1,000 soccer fields), create 650 jobs, plant 1 million trees, and deliver $9-12 million dollars in benefits to local populations. These benefits include poverty reduction, improved health and nutrition, women's empowerment, wildlife protection, environmental services and more!
Why plant trees in africa?
With the world's 2nd largest tropical forest (the rainforest of the Congo Basin, which is home to 60% of African biodiversity) Africa holds a whopping 17% of global forest cover. Unfortunately, Africa's prolific, ecologically rich forests are at risk from deforestation that's 4X the global average rate. Not only does this threaten the livelihoods of local communities across the continent, it affects the planet as a whole.
AFR100, the African Forest Landscape Restoration initiative, is a country-led effort to bring 100 million hectares of land in Africa into restoration by 2030. It aims to accelerate restoration to enhance food security, increase climate change resilience and mitigation, and combat rural poverty. So far, 32 countries across Africa have signed up, along with local communities, national governments, public and private sector partners, and international development programs.
What is the Bezos Earth fund?
Launched in 2020, the Bezos Earth Fund is a $10 billion commitment to fund scientists, activists, NGOs, and private-sector entities that are taking critical action to combat the climate crisis, preserve and protect the natural world, and support climate justice.
We’re proud to be included among the recipients in this round of grants, which is squarely focused on conserving land and sea, restoring degraded land, and advancing climate justice. We are thankful to the Bezos Earth Fund for this opportunity to plant trees and restore land across Africa!
Caught up in the excitement? Join us in supporting AFR100 — plant a tree in Africa today!
