Climate change is evident: To counteract this trend, various measures are necessary. One such measure is planting trees. But does this truly help, or could it even be detrimental?
Numerous projects and NGOs now offer to reforest degraded forests and former agricultural lands in exchange for donations.
But is simply planting a few trees truly enough to book your next holiday without a guilty conscience? Or is it primarily just a way to ease your own mind? You'll find all the answers in the following sections and chapters.
Changes in the global climate, commonly known as climate change, are increasingly evident, largely triggered by human activities like deforestation. It's time to implement countermeasures! One potential solution is planting trees – or at least donating to a project that does so. But is it truly that simple? You'll find the answer in this article.
1. Planting Trees for Climate Protection?
One-third of the global land area is covered by trees or forests (in Europe, it's about 40%). These absorb 2.1 billion tons of CO₂ annually and release oxygen in return. That's a significant amount! For instance, 20% of the world's oxygen production comes from the Amazon rainforest alone, which also boasts a considerable size. For now.
Now, let's return to the question of whether planting new trees for climate protection is truly effective. Is it genuinely a sustainable method for climate compensation?
Here are some reasons why reforesting woodland areas is beneficial:
1.1 Compensating for Lost Forest Areas
Areas covered by trees and forests are shrinking every year, as clearly demonstrated by this forest map from Global Forest Watch. Globally, 15 billion trees are still cut down annually. In 2020, 4.2 million hectares of native rainforest were lost: This is equivalent to roughly the size of Switzerland. A single tree absorbs up to 22 kg of CO₂ per year. Consequently, 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions are directly caused by ongoing deforestation.
The latest UN findings do indicate a general slowdown in forest loss compared to recent decades. This is primarily attributed to reduced deforestation in certain countries. However, these measures are not yet sufficient to offset the ongoing loss of global forest areas.
A popular example of tropical rainforest recovery is Costa Rica. Through a combination of strong protection (around 30% of the country is under nature conservation), targeted reforestation, and an economy specializing in sound environmental policies, the forest areas have been able to regenerate over the last 30 years. For instance, in 1987, only 21% of the country's land area was covered by forest. Today, 54% of the area is forested again.
2.2 Science generally agrees:
One of the most well-known – and also most discussed – studies on 'planting trees against climate change' comes from ETH Zurich. This is a data-driven model that calculates the effect of complete reforestation based on the land area potentially suitable for tree growth. Of course, this is purely theoretical, based on the underlying assumptions and input data.
The individual results and statements may still be subject to scientific discussion. However, while the details are being discussed, it is undisputed within the scientific community that planting trees could significantly help reduce human-caused CO₂ emissions. This means that the CO₂ already in the atmosphere could at least partially be captured, helping to offset our impact on the climate.
This short Ted Talk also highlights the positive impact of trees on the global climate:
2.3 Important Additional Benefits of Trees
Beyond capturing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen (which we – and many other living beings – breathe), trees and forests are important for many other reasons:
Air Filters: Trees filter the air with their leaves and needles, removing dust and dirt particles – up to 100 kg per year. These particles are then washed away by rain and fixed in the soil.
Water Filters: The forest floor, made up of tree roots, fungi, and millions of small and microscopic organisms, acts as a filter and buffer system for rainwater. This water is purified, keeping groundwater clean and drinkable. Additionally, excess water can be retained by plant roots, which helps prevent flooding and erosion.
Biodiversity: A variety of animals (as well as fungi and other plants) rely on trees for their livelihood. This can be in the form of nesting sites, food, habitat, and/or shelter.
Shade Providers: A single, well-placed tree can help save up to 25% of the energy used for heating and/or cooling a house.
Wind and Erosion Protection: On steep slopes, trees can prevent landslides, rockfalls, and mudslides, while in flat areas, they contribute to surface and erosion protection. Anyone who has ever been enveloped by a dust cloud from a nearby field while walking in nature during strong winds will certainly understand what we mean.
Recreation and Quality of Life: Vienna, Zurich, and Basel are among the cities with the highest quality of life internationally. What they have in common, among other things, is a high proportion of green spaces and a large number of trees within the city. It's no coincidence that climate and environment are among the most important factors for assessing quality of life according to the Mercer Index.
Reforestation certainly helps to make amends for our past mistakes, so the question should not be whether, but rather to what extent, reforestation is truly beneficial.
Instead of getting lost in philosophical debates, we should define the first concrete and, most importantly, substantial steps towards climate neutrality (and beyond).
We should teach even the youngest among us why it is important to plant trees. Only then can we bring about a widespread shift in thinking in future generations.
2. Is One Tree Planted a Reputable Organization?
One Tree Planted operates as a non-profit (NGO) and has been recognized by independent sources as a highly effective organization. Here are a few examples of their labels and awards:
Rated “give with confidence” by Charity Navigator
Ranked first among the best tree-planting organizations by Impactful Ninja
Awarded the highest transparency label, the “Platinum Seal of Transparency” by GuideStar
More information about One Tree Planted is available here.
We at onlineKarma, the Basel-based online marketing and SEO agency, donate to have trees planted in our name. We have chosen to collaborate with the One Tree Planted organization.
Transparent and Independently Recognized
One Tree Planted is a non-profit organization founded by Matt Hill in 2014. The organization's goal is to simplify tree planting for individuals and businesses. With your donation, you can easily contribute to climate protection with just a few clicks.
The supported projects are spread across the globe and are carried out in collaboration with local communities and experts. This approach creates a multi-faceted positive impact for nature, people, and wildlife. Reforestation helps to:
regenerate forests after fires and floods,
create socially responsible jobs,
and restore biodiversity.
Many of these projects have overlapping goals, creating a combination of benefits that collectively contributes to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
For a reforestation project to be successful and meaningful in the long term, it must adopt a holistic approach. This should also include involving the local population in the project.
3. Is Eden Reforestation Projects a Reputable Organization?
Eden Reforestation Projects is a reputable and trustworthy organization dedicated to global reforestation efforts.
The benefits of their work are diverse and sustainable:
Combats biodiversity loss: By planting new trees, Eden creates habitats for numerous animal and plant species, significantly contributing to the preservation of biodiversity.
Helps the climate by capturing carbon dioxide: Trees are natural carbon sinks. Through their projects, Eden Reforestation Projects actively contributes to reducing CO₂ in the atmosphere, thereby helping to combat climate change.
Creates regular income and helps alleviate poverty: Eden Reforestation Projects provides employment opportunities for local communities, which improves economic situations and contributes to poverty reduction.
Prevents water damage and erosion: Reforestation projects stabilize the soil, improve water retention, and reduce the risk of floods and erosion.
Eden Reforestation Projects is a non-profit NGO that meets the highest quality standards and consistently receives high ratings from external charity evaluators.
It currently holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid and a three-star rating from Charity Navigator.
For more details about this commitment, please visit Review Forest.
Additional information on onlineKarma's sustainability projects can be found here. 🌱
Lemurs depend on Madagascar's forests, and by planting trees, their habitat is protected and expanded. More information can be found on our ReviewForest page.
4. Tree Donations: Choosing the Right Organization
To contribute to climate compensation as an individual or a company, donating to a tree-planting project is certainly a meaningful option. However, for this good deed to have a long-term effect, there are several important points to consider when selecting a project:
Reforestation projects, CO₂ offset providers, even chocolate manufacturers and airlines now offer to plant trees to save the climate and ease your conscience after booking your second long-haul flight this year. However, it is crucial that these are not just a form of token gesture, but serious initiatives. Therefore, you should pay particular attention to the factors of transparency and quality of compensation. Quality seals can help in assessing the trustworthiness of a project.
Examples of recognized and trustworthy labels include: Gold Standard or Verified Carbon Standard.
Inform yourself well about which specific projects the initiative you choose supports. Is a long-term approach being pursued, or are trees simply being planted indiscriminately to present something to supporters for their money?
Not every tree species is suitable for every location! Similarly, not every mix of tree species can be beneficial for the regeneration of a forest at a particular site (keyword: mixed forests, not monocultures). The chosen initiative should definitely offer transparency about the projects and the use of donations.
Example: One Tree Planted project “Plant Trees for Biodiversity” with the specific goal of promoting biodiversity in various countries.
A long-term approach also includes involving the local population, including the establishment of social projects. A tree must continue to be cared for after planting to grow. This responsibility must be taken on by someone locally, who must prioritize the meaningfulness of care over the short-term benefit of felling. Likewise, the purpose of a reforestation project is lost if, in return for reforesting one plot of land, another (usually larger) plot is cleared. This process is known as the “Leakage Effect”.
Example: One Tree Planted project in Rwanda, where farmers are supported and guided by women's cooperatives to re-cultivate their land and simultaneously improve their quality of life.
Now you know that planting trees is important for a variety of reasons. After all, we want to live on a healthy planet, as it is our home.
Nevertheless, it is true: Only a combination of protecting existing ecosystems, meaningful reforestation, and sustainable changes in our consumption habits can slow down climate change in the long term (interesting footprint calculator). Anyone looking to offset a portion of their carbon footprint by planting trees should definitely research the transparency and quality of the chosen projects beforehand.