Planting Trees for Social and Environmental Impact

Another month, another reforestation update brought to you by Kyleigh and Nicole! It's hard to believe that we're already three months into 2021, and that it's been roughly a year since many COVID-19 lockdowns went into effect around the world. We're so grateful to people like you who make it possible for us to continue to grow and plant more trees than ever. And that said, we have some fantastic projects to cover this month, and we're so excited to share them with you.

From Brazil and California to Vietnam and Malawi, tune in for some fresh-from-the-forest updates that will surely leave you feeling inspired and uplifted!

Here's Our February 2021 Reforestation Update!

Want to Learn More About the Projects We Featured This Month?

In Brazil's Araguaia Valley region, which forms the transition between the Amazon rainforest and the Cerrado Savanna, we're currently planting 50,000 native trees. The trees planted here will rebuild the forest that used to exist before it was converted into pastureland. Some species will bring economic revenue, like baru (Dipteryx alata), jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril), inga (Inga edulis) and pequi (Caryocar brasiliense), but all will boost natural regeneration and guarantee a fast recovery.

Keep an eye out for some cool content coming from this planting site, as Alaine, our Brazil-based Forestry Expert and South American Project Manager, traveled to the site so she could see for herself the incredible work being done there!

In California's Plumas National Forest, work continues on our multi-year Moonlight Fire Restoration project to restore 12,703 acres of forest near the Mount Hough Ranger district that were burned in the 2007 wildfire. During this fire, 65,000 acres of the forest were burned, with 37,000 acres burned at stand-replacing high severity. This converted forests that once were filled with long-lived conifers to shrublands dominated by montane chaparral species. This year, over 200,000 trees will be planted across 903 acres to promote continued biodiversity and habitat restoration, erosion control, and carbon sequestration for climate stabilization.

In Vietnam's Xuan Lien Nature Reserve, we recently began planting 19,600 native trees to create an ecological recovery zone and community forest buffer zone. These areas were degraded by landslides in the rainy season, firewood collection, livestock grazing, and illegal logging. This project supports several key impact areas, but most notably will recover degraded habitat and provide extensive ecological benefits like creating habitat for biodiversity, protecting air and land, and reducing landslides in the region.

And finally, this month's deep dive features an impressive and inspiring project that demonstrates how planting trees can empower communities, promote gender equality, and reforest land. Along with our awesome partner, we're planting 100,000 trees in Mzimba, Malawi. This planting is coming to an end this month, but its impacts will last for generations to come.

In 2005, there were miles of continuous mature forest in this area, but today those forests are almost completely gone. 99% of local households are cooking with charcoal or firewood, and the tobacco industry has gobbled up much of the remainder. With the land stripped bare, women are forced to travel long and unsafe distances to get water, firewood, and food for their families. 

To address this, our partner will work with the local community to restore indigenous forest and fruit trees, install water wells and pumps, and teach the women how to build fuel efficient clay brick stoves to save firewood and improve their lives. Planting in combination with sustainable development goals tackles the roots of deforestation by taking pressure off mature trees and helping local women. In fact, wells for zoe requires that all tree planting activities involve women. And they have employed 62% women in all tree planting related activities! 

Thanks for tuning in to our update, we'll see you next month! Miss us already? Check out the One Tree Planted Youtube channel for more awesome videos. And don't forget, we have plenty of other awesome tree planting projects like these. Support reforestation today!