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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
Reforestation gets a lot of attention. From prominent voices calling tree planting “complete nonsense” to articles that misinterpret the science, much of popular discourse risks missing the forest for the trees.
While we have always said that planting trees is not the only — or even the most important — way to combat climate change, it is a powerful Nature-based Solution. When trees are planted in the right place, at the right time, and for the right reasons, they can help address many of the environmental and related social challenges we face today.
The spotlight on reforestation grew considerably after the 2019 Crowther Labs study (which has since been amended) inspired the World Economic Forum’s One Trillion Trees Initiative. While well-intentioned, the study’s abstract erroneously stated that “tree restoration is the most effective solution to climate change to date.”
This triggered an uproar in the scientific community: about the claim itself, and about it's potential effects on climate action. A major concern was that overemphasizing reforestation would distract from other critical actions.
The authors of the study later released an erratum, stating that "They meant that they know of no other current carbon drawdown solution that is quantitatively as large in terms of carbon capture. They did not mean that tree restoration is more important than reducing greenhouse gas emissions or should replace it, nor did they mean that restoring woodlands and forests is more important than conserving the natural ecosystems that currently exist.”
Mass tree plantations, particularly when planted in non-forest ecosystems, are not a “get out of climate change free” card. Every ecosystem type plays a critical role — and forests are not inherently more valuable. Replacing these ecosystems with forests can cause significant damage to biodiversity.
Tree planting also should not be leveraged as an avoidance offset. The climate benefits of reforestation cannot exist in a vacuum. We need, among other things, to significantly limit our emissions of greenhouse gasses and other air pollutants.
In other words: climate action is not a one and done deal. To truly make an impact requires a holistic strategy that includes investment in climate technologies, net zero commitments (and action on those commitments), gender equality, fossil fuel divestment, protection of existing ecosystems (conservation) and much more. The bottom line? While reforestation is important, climate change cannot be solved by planting trees alone.
None of this should take away from the value and importance of properly planned and implemented reforestation projects.
After all, trees are so much more than natural carbon capture “machines.” In a warming world, their myriad benefits — especially for biodiversity (including pollinators), social impact, air and water quality, human health, soil health, urban heat, and the water cycle — should be considered equally as important.
Because this work is not just about combating the effects of climate change. It’s about ensuring we have a livable future on this planet.
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!
01/10/2024 by Gabrielle Clawson
27/09/2024 by Gabrielle Clawson
24/09/2024 by Gabrielle Clawson
11/07/2024 by Meaghan Weeden
09/07/2024 by Meaghan Weeden
04/07/2024 by One Tree Planted