Many trees are needed, many approaches can be useful
This aims to plant a trillion trees, a development and continuation of the activities of the earlier Billion Tree Campaign, instigated by Wangari Maathai, who founded the Green Belt Movement in Africa in 1977.
History of Billion of Trees —
The Green Belt Movement began planting trees in Africa in 1977, eventually more than 30 million trees. The Billion Tree Campaign was launched in 2006 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a response to the challenges of climate change, as well as to a wider array of sustainability challenges from water supply to biodiversity loss, and achieved the initial target of planting a billion trees in 2007.
In 2008, the campaign’s objective was raised to 7 billion trees – surpassed three months before its target of the climate change conference that was held in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009.
Felix Finkbeiner addressed the United Nations in a speech to open the International Year of Forests 2011, saying: “It is now time that we work together. We combine our forces, old and young, rich and poor; and together, we can plant a trillion trees. We can start the Trillion Tree Campaign.”
In December 2011, after more than 12 billion trees had been planted, UNEP formally handed management of the program to the youth-led not-for-profit Plant-for-the-Planet Foundation (an organisation that had been participating in the Billion Tree Campaign since 2007), based in Tutzing, Germany. Momentum has since continued, with 40,000 young ambassadors spreading the message in over 100 countries.
By 2020 the Plant-for-the-Planet app had been released under an open-source license, and allowed users to register planted trees or to plant trees by donating to different tree-planting organizations around the world. The foundation does not take any commissions for donations made through the campaign.
One Trillion Tree Initiative —
In 2015 there were about 3 trillion trees and later it was also estimated that planting 1.2 trillion more trees would counteract 10 years of anthropogenic CO2 emissions.
The 2020 World Economic Forum, held in Davos, announced the creation of the One Trillion Tree Initiative platform for governments, businesses, and civil society to provide support to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2020-2030), led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. (FAO). Forum participant Donald Trump, president of the United States, announced that the government of the U.S. would commit to the initiative.
As of 4 February 2020, 13.6 billion trees have been planted.
“It’s the little things citizens do. That’s what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees.” – Wangari Maathai
Principles of One Trillion Trees —
>> Cutting fossil fuel emissions is more important
>> Conserve existing ecosystems worldwide
>> Socially and ecologically responsible restoration
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Notice the platform web site: 1t.org
1t.org exists to connect, empower and mobilize a global reforestation community of millions, unleashing their potential to act at an unprecedented scale and speed, to ensure the conservation and restoration of one trillion trees within this decade.
1t.org is a World Economic Forum initiative, designed to support the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. (FAO). 1t.org offers a platform for leading governments, businesses, civil society and ecopreneurs committed to serving the global trillion trees community.
Our mission: To serve and empower the reforestation community. To unlock the conditions needed to re-green our planet. To break down the barriers preventing conservation and restoration at scale. To connect the people that want to help with the people that can help them. To play our part in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and assist others in doing the same. And, to understand that time is not on our side and if we want to heal the planet, we must make every day count. Thus, 1t.org is a platform for the trillion tree community.
What is the role of trees and forests for meeting global climate goals?
Nature based solutions (NBS) are an important part of solving the global climate crisis, but they are not a silver bullet.
According to the 2019 IPCC Special Report, better land management can contribute to tackling climate change, including through so called nature-based solutions (NBS) that lock up carbon in the world’s forests, grasslands and wetlands. Latest science suggests that NBS can provide up to one-third of the emissions reductions required by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement targets.
The IPCC is however equally clear on NBS not being a silver bullet and that emission reductions from all sectors is essential for meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement. Indeed, to be effective climate solutions, NBS such as forest restoration, forest conservation, reforestation or natural regeneration need to be part of a broader strategy to protect nature and tackle climate change.
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Sorry, I’m calling bullshit on this. From whence comes the number one trillion?
Yeah it sounds good, in English but is it a rounding of a number derived from an exercise like this: we want to sequester xxxxx tons of carbon per year. The average mature tree sequesters X tons annually, therefore we need–oh, let’s say a trillion trees, that has a nice ring. Then it’s presented as though it’s just a matter of PAYING for someone to plant these trees–thus this scheme can be used as offsets, wherein polluters in the Global North can (theoretically) pay someone in the Global South to plant these trees, or to kick indigenous people out of forests to theoretically protect existing forests, (REDD+) while not cutting their emissions. But we need to cut the emissions of the big polluters in the global North, and the only way to do that is to cut emissions in the global North.
The key question is WHERE are these trillion trees to be planted?
Actually, trees plant themselves–they don’t need human intervention (the intervention we need is to somehow stop humans from cutting down existing forests). It would be pointless to plant trees in the Antarctic, even though there is plenty of empty land there. Trees will only grow where it’s not too hot, not too cold, not too wet and not too dry. The places that are appropriate for forests already have forests–unless humans have removed them, either for the timber or to use the cleared land for agriculture or living space.
We certainly aren’t going to be needing LESS agricultural space, especially since some of the other Nature Based Solutions involve fermenting or burning crops for fuel. Nor are we going to need less living space. We could do with a transition that involves much less highway and parking space, but it’s questionable whether the emissions from jackhammering up all that concrete would outweigh the advantage gained by planting trees in the space afterward.
Sure, there are some spaces to plant more trees, like lawns in suburbia. But a trillion? I doubt it.
The problem with all the schemes to deal with climate change coming out of IPPC and similar organizations, is that they start with the bedrock principle of this civilization: we can only do what will make rich people richer. Real solutions involve reducing the wealth of the wealthy and the power of the powerful so they are NOT PRACTICAL. In other words–solving this problem (not only climate change but plummeting biodiversity) is not compatible with capitalism.
Open Letter About American Forests, August 4, 2020
Today will go down in history as one of the most monumental days in forest conservation.
The Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law. This federal legislation will, for the first time ever, guarantee full access to the $900 million per year that was promised to the Land and Water Conservation Fund when it was created more than 50 years ago. That means twice as much forest conservation each year — leading to more public forests for people in the United States to enjoy and more private forests permanently conserved for future generations.
Thank you to everyone who made this win possible, expressions on social media and financial support. Appreciation also goes to Congressional leaders for this legislation.
All of the policy wins since American Forests was created 146 years ago have grown from that type of commitment. Like legislation that led to the creation of the U.S. Forest Service in 1905 and subsequent legislation to expand our national forest system to the eastern states in 1911. And, more recently, in 2018, legislation that provides long-term funding for the Forest Service to more fully address our growing threats from wildfire.
We are just getting started! Read our latest story to learn more:
https://www.americanforests.org/af-news/great-american-outdoors-act-signed-into-law/
Let’s keep the momentum going! America loves its forests, and Congress is ready to act. We hope you stay with us for the ride.
Jad Daley, President and CEO
American Forests, 1220 L Street NW,
Suite 750, Washington, DC 20005
Though forests burn, trees retake farmland globally as agroforestry advances
Analysis by Patrick Worms, Mongabay Series on 10 August 2020
Though forests burn, trees retake farmland globally as agroforestry advances. Agroforestry is an ancient agricultural technique being rediscovered all over the world as limitations of the globe’s highly industrialized agriculture become obvious. Agroforestry is the intentional combination of woody perennials like trees and shrubs with crops and also livestock to create a resilient “food ecosystem” that benefits farmers, biodiversity and the climate.
https://news.mongabay.com/2020/08/though-forests-burn-agroforestry-advances-as-trees-retake-farmland-globally/