Forests are lost at a rate of 27 soccer fields per minute, with unsustainable and illegal agriculture being the main culprit behind deforestation. Such shocking data might make you wonder: can tree planting save the planet?
Naturally, the best solution is to halt deforestation. That said, we can reverse the damage by promoting the restoration of trees. This can drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions, improve soil quality, and revitalize habitats.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the impact of deforestation. Then, we’ll discuss how individuals and businesses can make a difference by getting involved in tree-planting initiatives. Let’s get started!
The Impact of Deforestation on the Environment
Between 2001 and 2015, seven agricultural commodities including cattle and palm oil replaced 71.9 million hectares of forest:
That area of land equates to more than twice the size of Germany. To put that in perspective, the world loses five million hectares of forest each year due to deforestation.
Sure, that sounds bad. But what are the specific effects on the environment?
For starters, forests can capture and store greenhouse gas emissions. This helps prevent climate change by lowering global temperatures.
When trees are cut down, all that carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. While this accelerates global warming, it also contributes to an unhealthier planet.
A by-product of deforestation is soil erosion, which can lead to severe flooding in areas that suffer heavy rain. In fact, deforestation and urbanization played a large role in Haiti’s flooding disasters.
On top of this, forests provide homes for flora and fauna that can’t thrive in any other ecosystem. The loss of habitats poses a great danger to plants and animals worldwide, driving around 50,000 species to extinction every year.
Can Tree Planting Save the Planet?
The mass scale of deforestation removes one of the most significant buffers against climate change.
But what’s the solution?
Well, since the destruction of forests has led us to this place, it makes sense to counter the effects by promoting the restoration of trees. Last year, researchers found that forests could cut approximately one-third of annual emissions if they were allowed to recover.
To help out, you can get involved in tree-planting initiatives. For example, with a TreeLift subscription, you’ll be able to contribute to the planting of 14 trees per month for every employee or customer.
So far, we’ve planted 1,243 trees through our restoration projects across the globe. This has had amazing results on local communities. It has aided the rehabilitation of delicate ecosystems and improved soil health and air quality.
Our initiatives also play a critical role in mitigating global warming.
How Can You Make a Difference?
Many governments have developed deforestation bans and laws. For example, the UK government announced an import ban on forest-risk commodities (like soy, palm oil, cocoa, etc) if they were produced on illegally deforested land.
The problem is that many government solutions are tricky to enforce. Plus, it shouldn’t be the only thing we rely on to mitigate the crisis.
That’s why individuals and private sector businesses must get involved in tree-planting schemes. When you partner with a program like TreeLift, you’ll get first-hand access to an experienced team of experts who will help you contribute to a greener and cleaner planet:
Additionally, you’ll be able to oversee your reforestation practices from the comfort of your home. Once you’ve set up your account, you can easily upgrade/downgrade between plans, and determine exactly how many trees you’d like to plant.
Better yet, you can keep track of your efforts in your own virtual forest, where you’ll see the plantation grow and flourish over time. The customer support team is also available 24/7 if you have any questions.
The Benefits of Tree Planting for Businesses
Signing up for corporate tree-planting schemes is an effective way to bolster your environmental strategy and align your brand with sustainable practices. Environmental responsibility is becoming increasingly important in today’s business world, and it helps you appeal to eco-conscious consumers.
The Conscious Consumer Spending Index is at an all-time high. This shows that customers are concerned about the impact of their buying decisions on the environment:
When you join a program like TreeLift, you’ll gain verified badges and awards to display on your website. This way, visitors can see your contribution to saving the planet and it might prompt them to follow suit.
Not only that, but tree planting is an excellent alternative to leveraging loyalty or referral programs. Instead of doling out points or badges, you can plant a tree when people sign up for an account or place an order on your website.
Such initiatives can give you bargaining power when it comes to attracting or retaining top performers. For eco-conscious professionals, it can be as appealing as perks like gym memberships or staff discounts.
You might also offer volunteer days where employees can get out in the field and plant trees themselves.
Conclusion
So, can tree planting save the planet? The answer is yes. While the most obvious solution to deforestation is to cease these unsustainable (and often illegal) practices, tree-planting initiatives are the next best thing.
By replacing the trees that have been cut down, we can increase the absorption of greenhouse gases which contribute to the rise in global temperatures. We can also restore habitats and improve soil quality, which will help reduce flooding in tropical areas.
The easiest way to get involved is to join tree-planting schemes. With a TreeLift subscription, you can facilitate the planting of 14 trees each month and contribute to our global restoration projects. Better yet, you can track progress through your very own virtual forest. Check out our plans today!
Featured image credit: Unsplash.
