One Tree Planted & IDEAS For Us Partner for 30 Projects across 10 Countries

Meaghan Weeden | June 25, 2021 | 3 min read
*all images from IDEAS for Us

Reforestation and Community Restoration Around the World

We're thrilled to share that we've partnered with grassroots nonprofit IDEAS for Us to support over 30 projects across 10 countries over the next several months. The projects are a combination of targeted eco-actions in Florida and tree planting, garden installation and shoreline restoration events in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. The initiative will kick off on June 26th in Orlando, FL, where volunteers will plant fruit trees at a community garden. 

From IDEAS for Us Chief Branch Manager Kristin Anderson:
"IDEAS For Us is honored to be partnering with One Tree Planted in creating boots on the ground eco action projects internationally! These projects range from reforestation events to community garden installations and so many more that will work to inspire individuals while improving ecological and human health around the world. We are proud to be working with One Tree Planted to equip communities to implement long term climate solutions globally."

Here are a few project highlights:

IDEAS for us schoolchildren garden

Expanding School Gardens in Rwanda 

On August 14th and 17th, 60 volunteers will plant 1200 plants and 40 trees to install 4 school gardens at 3 primary schools and 1 high school in rural areas of Rwanda's Northern and Southern provinces. The vegetables planted will include carrots, tomatoes, beans and peas, and the fruits will include avocados, pineapple and passionfruit. This combination of fruit trees and vegetables will improve the nutrition and wellbeing of the students — and by filling their bellies with nutritious food, the gardens will also improve their concentration in school. In addition, students will be educated on sustainable farming practices, gaining job skills and learning how to grow their own food.

The ecological benefits will include increased habitat for biodiversity, including wildlife and insects + food for pollinators, which in turn will increase crop growth over time.

IDEAS for us uganda community

Replanting Royal Hill in Kasese, Uganda

On August 20th, 20 volunteers will plant 700 trees to restore 0.4 ha of land on Royal Hill in Kasese, Uganda. Royal Hill is severely degraded, with significant soil erosion and water run-off that pollutes nearby water sources and destroys infrastructure. This has driven the silting of nearby Lake George and pollution the Nyamwamba river, which provides drinking water to the residents of Nyamwamba division of Kasese Municipality.

The native tree species to be planted are Albizia and Markhamia lutea, both of which are rich in nitrogen fixing bacteria, grow canopies that protect other plants from direct sunlight, provide habitat for savanna birds, provide local medicines and more. Over time, as the new trees grow and the hill is restored, fish stocks in lake George will increase, soil erosion will decrease, water quality will improve, high ambient temperatures will be reduced, wildlife habitat will be restored, and the local economy will be stimulated by ecotourism.

IDEAS for us florida riparian restoration

Shoreline Restoration with native plant plantings in Orlando, Florida

On July 17th, 20 volunteers will plant 1500 shoreline plants and 10-20 trees at Lake Jessup, an at-risk ecosystem with pollution and frequent algal blooms. Tree species planted will include native free floating aquatic plants like duck potato, arrowhead, cordgrass, aquatic milkweed and pickleweed. They'll also plant Bald Head cypress trees to increase the ecosystem interaction. 
 
Aquatic plants help slow the flow of toxic runoff caused by impermeable cement, reduce shoreline erosion, create riparian buffers that release the water at flow rates and frequencies similar to natural conditions, filter freshwater back into the ecosystem, and more. Lake Jessup also serves as a retention pond (basins that catch runoff from areas in higher elevations). Restoring the riparian buffer zone around it will reduce the impact on downstream stormwater systems and serve the surrounding community by protecting their freshwater supply.

IDEAS for us planting tree

About IDEAS for Us

IDEAS For Us (IDEAS) is an Orlando-based 501(c)(3) grassroots non-profit organization and accredited NGO of the United Nations. IDEAS creates global environmental solutions through local action. Their mission is to develop ideas, fund action, and scale solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Their vision is to contribute to a future where humanity thrives in harmony with nature and in peace with one another. Learn more at ideasforus.org

About One Tree Planted

One Tree Planted is a 501(c)(3) non-profit on a mission to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees. Their projects span the globe and are done in partnership with local communities and knowledgeable experts to create an impact for nature, people, and wildlife. Reforestation helps to rebuild forests after forest fires and floods, provide jobs for social impact, and restore biodiversity. Many projects have overlapping objectives, creating a combination of benefits that contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals

Longleaf Pine Main Image
Longleaf Pine Restoration
Longleaf Pine Tree Planter
Plant Trees Where They're Needed Most
Longleaf Pine Landscape
Longleaf Pine Planting
Longleaf Pine Main Image
Longleaf Pine Restoration
Longleaf Pine Tree Planter
Plant Trees Where They're Needed Most
Longleaf Pine Landscape
Longleaf Pine Planting

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 is currently supporting Longleaf Pine Restoration. Learn more

With your help, we will:

  • Protect wildlife habitat and increase biodiversity
  • Restore essential watersheds for soil stability and erosion control
  • Sequester carbon in the biomass of the forests through climate stability
  • Longleaf pine forests are among the most biodiverse in North America and provide habitat for numerous threatened and endangered species. Longleaf pine forests are well-adapted to a warming climate as longleaf pine is a resilient species that is fire-dependent, drought-tolerant, and long-lived. Reforestation of longleaf pine ecosystems- to increase, maintain, and enhance the species- has been identified as a priority area within America's Longleaf Range Wide Conservation Plan. 🌲
  • Our longleaf pine reforestation project will restore habitats, control soil erosion, and sequester carbon in an effort to stabilize the climate in the area. Not only will wildlife benefit from the clean air and water provided by the planted trees, but the surrounding community will, too. This project will work with a variety of landowners whose responsible forest management and stewardship will only further increase the benefits for species residing on the lands. Some of the most notable species that will benefit from habitat restoration include gopher tortoises, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and eastern indigo snakes
  • A personalized tree certificate (see gallery) to say thanks for your donation. We'll also send you updates about our Longleaf Pine Restoration project, so you can track the impact your trees are having on the ground!
  • We always plant a mix of diverse, native species from local nurseries. This project is working to replenish longleaf forests, so the native species grown in the nurseries will mainly be longleaf pine, but also include shortleaf pine and loblolly pine.

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