Learn How Tree Organizations Are Making a Difference
Learning Objectives
After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:
- Summarize how Salesforce and other partners are coming together to address climate change.
- Describe the work of leading tree organizations focused on preserving and restoring forest ecosystems.
Tree Organizations For the Win!
There is significant momentum and action happening globally around reforestation. Many initiatives and organizations are working to conserve and restore forests at scale. In this unit you’ll learn about several organizations that are making a difference. (Learn more about each of these organizations in the Resources section at the end of this unit.)
1t.org
In January 2020, the World Economic Forum and partners, including Salesforce, launched 1t.org. The 1t.org initiative is an unprecedented, multi-stakeholder effort to support the growth, restoration, and conservation of one trillion trees around the world.
1t.org is a unifying platform that connects the reforestation community, mobilizes political will and resources, and provides a pathway for anyone who wants to join the reforestation movement—because every tree counts. Of course, trees alone cannot solve climate change. But as a nature-based solution, forests play a powerful role in addressing the effects of climate change. Mass-scale restoration of natural resources also delivers important biodiversity, livelihood, and sustainable development benefits. 1t.org is leading the way to achieve these goals in concert with other efforts to reduce emissions.
The aim of 1t.org is to be a leading platform that joins together governments, businesses, civil society, and ecopreneurs in restoring and reforesting our planet.Supporting 1t.org is a natural evolution in Salesforce’s long-standing commitment to reforestation and other nature-based solutions. Over the years, Salesforce has been honored to support and partner with global organizations that are leading efforts to reforest our world. The following are organizations that Salesforce partners with around reforestation.
Plant-for-the-Planet
It all started in 2007 with a 9-year-old student from Germany named Felix Finkbeiner who was inspired by Wangari Maathai’s Billion Tree Campaign in Africa. In 2011 at the UN, Felix was the first who called the world to plant a Trillion Trees.
Since then a range of studies and the IPCC have shown the need for large scale global forest restoration. Plant-for-the-Planet confirmed the call to action for the world to plant a Trillion Trees in their #StoptalkingStartplanting campaign. Over the years, Plant-for-the-Planet spearheaded that vision, as well as a free, easy-to-use, open-source tool giving everyone easy access to plant and donate trees all over the world.
Plant-for-the-Planet was enthusiastic when 1t.org adopted their vision of the Trillion Trees. By joining forces Plant-for-the-Planet exemplifies its global initiative by collaborating with like-minded ambassadors to deliver its mission of helping the next generation stand up for their future. Through the Plant-for-the-Planet platform, tree planting organizations of all sizes are able to collect donations. And Plant-for-the-Planet has their own projects where they have already planted millions of trees. Planting trees on a large scale also creates jobs and economic prosperity, especially if they are planted in countries where there is extreme poverty.
American Forests
American Forests is on a mission to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to wilderness, that delivers essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife. American Forests advances its mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building.
American Forests has worked longer than any national nonprofit conservation organization in the US to protect and restore the country’s forests. Since its founding in 1875, American Forests has been the pathfinder for key forest conservation legislation in the US through advocacy and policy work. American Forests’ work ranges from building coalitions in priority cities and landscapes with key local stakeholders to planting, protecting and maintaining ecosystems to educating U.S. Congressional leaders about new policies and programs that could help reforest America.
One Tree Planted
Founded in 2014, One Tree Planted is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees. In less than a decade, they’ve planted over 40,000,000 trees. Their projects span the globe and are done in partnership with local communities and knowledgeable experts to create an impact on nature, people, and wildlife. Reforestation helps to rebuild forests after fires and floods, provide jobs for social impact, and restore biodiversity.
From growing their mapping & monitoring program to expanding tree nursery capacity, creating a robust urban forestry program for tree equity and environmental justice, supporting country-led restoration initiatives such as AFR100, growing their impact in Europe, and scaling quality reforestation projects for diverse ecological & social objectives, they’re committed to sustainable growth. And by focusing on collaborative sustainability from the ground up, they hope to make a lasting and positive difference for the planet.
Reaching New Levels of Collaboration
To deliver the unprecedented, timely environmental action that is needed, it will take new levels of collaboration among global organizations like these, alongside businesses, governments, and individuals. That’s exactly why Salesforce supported the creation of the 1t.org platform to join global leaders.
In the next unit, you learn what steps Salesforce is taking to promote trees as part of nature-based solutions and a broader response to the challenge of climate change.