Help restore habitats for biodiversity by planting trees where they're needed the most! Plant a Tree!
Help restore habitats for biodiversity by planting trees where they're needed the most! Plant a Tree!
Stay up to date on major announcements, exciting collaborations, and more. Visit our Newsroom
We make it simple for anyone to plant trees, and together we can make an incredible impact. Learn more
Stay up to date on major announcements, exciting collaborations, and more. Visit our Newsroom
We make it simple for anyone to plant trees, and together we can make an incredible impact. Learn more
Become a business partner to improve your company’s sustainability initiatives and make an impact. Learn more
See how your support and leadership can help us fund reforestation efforts across the globe. Learn more
Become a business partner to improve your company’s sustainability initiatives and make an impact. Learn more
See how your support and leadership can help us fund reforestation efforts across the globe. Learn more
Read about stories from the field, interesting facts about trees and get your healthy dose of nature. Visit our blog
Comprised of lesson plans, learning modules, resources, and activities, our T.R.E.E.S. School Program is the perfect addition to your curriculum. Learn more
Read about stories from the field, interesting facts about trees and get your healthy dose of nature. Visit our blog
Comprised of lesson plans, learning modules, resources, and activities, our T.R.E.E.S. School Program is the perfect addition to your curriculum. Learn more
Our fan-favorite Reforestation T-Shirt. Wear it with pride to show your support of reforesting our planet, one tree at a time. Shop now
Give the gift that lasts a lifetime! Choose an image, write your personalized message and select a delivery date to gift a tree. Gift a tree
Our fan-favorite Reforestation T-Shirt. Wear it with pride to show your support of reforesting our planet, one tree at a time. Shop now
Give the gift that lasts a lifetime! Choose an image, write your personalized message and select a delivery date to gift a tree. Gift a tree
Deforestation is a major problem: every minute, we lose about 36 football fields worth of trees. And although the rate of loss has slowed over the last 30 years, according to the recent State of the World's Forests report it hasn’t decreased enough — over 420 million hectares have been destroyed since 1990.
Of that, around 80 million acres were ecologically important primary forests. And another 100 million acres are directly threatened by forest fires, pests, diseases, invasive species, drought, and extreme weather events. Deforestation is also responsible for 13% of our yearly carbon emissions. All of these compounding issues are driven and amplified by climate change.
Yes, it's a lot to take in. But don't be disheartened, be informed!
While reforestation is our reason for being, we recognize that conservation is equally as — if not even more — important. But to protect forests, we first need to understand what’s threatening them.
Look no further than your dinner plate, because industrial agriculture accounts for around 85% of deforestation worldwide. While this can mostly be attributed to meat production (beef in particular), soy and palm oil plantations follow closely behind as causes for deforestation.
But before you shun the tofu, let’s take a closer look: meat producers clear vast swaths of forest to graze their livestock, but beef cows don’t just eat grass — in fact, 80% of all soybeans grown go directly into feed for cattle, poultry, and pigs. And palm oil, an ingredient that’s as ubiquitous as it is destructive, is a major contributor to deforestation in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia.
Around 380,000 hectares of forest are cut every year to meet the incredible global demand for wood and wood products, accounting for around 60% of degradation. Another 25% of forest is degraded for fuelwood and charcoal. From clear cuts to massive logging roads providing access to previously untouched areas, these degraded forests are much more vulnerable to conversion to other land uses like mining, agriculture, and settlement.
Thanks to an ever-increasing demand for minerals, mining in tropical forests is on the rise. And because large-scale mining is an intensive, industrial undertaking, it necessitates the development of massive infrastructure, which only amplifies the degradation.
As the tide of human population growth washes over the land, large swaths of forest get cleared to make way for the expansion of cities and settlements. And with these settlements come even more infrastructure and expansion.
Climate change is a leading cause of deforestation. Extreme weather events like wildfires (which are responsible for an estimated 10% of degradation annually), droughts, and storm surges destroy millions of hectares of forest every year — and their intensity is only increasing with global warming. But the trouble doesn’t stop there: after the last fire has been put out, the gates open wide to accommodate pests, diseases, and invasive species that make themselves at home, decimating whatever remains.
And finally, reforestation plays a vital role in recovering after deforestation and its impacts. While the secondary forests established today will not be able to sequester as much carbon as the primary forests they replace, trees can absorb as much as 1/3 of what’s currently in our atmosphere. And if done correctly, reforestation can also protect biodiversity, stabilize the soil, support the water cycle, and slowly restore the vital ecosystem services that we all depend on. So let's get to it —plant a tree with us 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!
28/09/2023 by Gabrielle Clawson
26/09/2023 by Meaghan Weeden
21/09/2023 by Gabrielle Clawson
31/08/2023 by Meaghan Weeden
18/07/2023 by Meaghan Weeden
11/07/2023 by Meaghan Weeden