Everything you need to know about the trillion trees movement

The moment I step into a forest I feel an immediate sense of calm. The rush of the world is quieted, the air is cooler and sweeter, and as my eyes adjust, I can sense that this is a living, breathing place. The forest and what it provides is something to be protected and cherished.

Yet, our world is warming at an alarming rate and these places of peace and calm are disappearing faster than ever. These ecosystems are at risk of a changing climate and immense human-caused landscape alteration. There were around 6 trillion trees before the onset of the agricultural revolution 12,000 years ago. Now, only half remain. When we lose these forests, we’re not just losing places of calm and comfort – we’re losing the broad diversity of life they house, the human health and livelihoods they provide, and the climate resilience they give the entire world.

Despite these tangible benefits and the tireless work of conservation efforts, the simple fact is that we continue to lose another 15 billion trees every year. It’s a direct assault on our planet and will be a self-inflicted, terminal wound on humanity if we allow it to progress much further. We cannot afford to lose what forests provide.

However, we finally have light on the horizon. There has been a growing energy and momentum of those of us who recognize the power of trees, what they provide, and the responsibility we owe each other to make sure they don’t disappear. This chorus of voices – in frustration, anger, and sadness – about the status quo are being heard. But amongst these a new one has emerged – hope. And it’s in this vision that the trillion trees movement has coalesced.

The roots of the modern reforestation movement can be traced back to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement she created. By mobilizing a grass-roots effort to plant millions of trees in Kenya, she showed that growing trees was about more than just conservation – healthy forests contribute to livelihoods, food security, and equity for all.

Now, we’re seeing massive government-led contributions like Canada’s two billion tree commitment and Pakistan’s 10 billion tree tsunami with immense ambition. We’re seeing individuals feel empowered, ecopreneurs inventing new ways to save forests and citizen groups like the Girl Scouts planting in their local areas. And importantly, we’re seeing the private sector start to mobilize and put their resources towards the future of forest landscapes.

Yet while trees are an integral solution to so many of the Earth’s current ailments, they’ve yet to be embraced to their full potential. So why not? Without proper guidance it can feel like there are a lot of barriers to getting started: fear of getting involved and doing the wrong thing, worries about the costs of implementation, and a lack of knowledge on best practices. With all this uncertainty and information out there, where do people go for answers?

That's exactly why we're here to help.

1t.org is the World Economic Forum’s Trillion Tree Platform, and we’re here to help the global movement to conserve, restore and grow 1 trillion trees by 2030. And importantly, no matter who you are – businesses, governments, or individuals – we’re here to help you get involved in making the world a greener place.

Are you a business wanting to get involved in the restoration movement? We support the growing momentum around nature-based solutions, to mobilize the global restoration community and to empower corporations that want to play a part. Companies can collaborate through the 1t.org Corporate Alliance to drive impact by committing to leadership, action, integrity, transparency and learning. The alliance allows companies to jointly tackle common challenges and connects companies with 1t.org’s community of innovators, partners and regional chapters. The community shares best practices, promotes responsible forestry practices, and scales solutions to have global impact. Importantly, we strongly encourage all corporations that have set a Paris Agreement-aligned emissions reduction target to get in touch and submit a pledge.

Are you a government or regional group wanting to make daring reforestation commitments? We support the world’s boldest initiatives for forest conservation, restoration and reforestation. Currently, we work in North America through our 1t.org US Chapter, the Sahel with Africa’s Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative, facilitate collaborations for a sustainable bioeconomy in the Amazon Basin, and engage with Young Global Leaders and Global Shapers communities in India. And that’s not all – we are continually expanding the regions where we work. We do this by bringing together stakeholder groups, spotlighting restoration innovations, and inspiring private sector commitments.

And last but not least, we want to empower you as an individual to change this world for the better. Do you have an idea that will reshape how we regreen the planet? Together with UpLink, we are looking for ecopreneurs who bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to conserve our forests and restore our landscapes. We spotlight promising solutions and help you scale your ideas through our Trillion Trees Challenges and Accelerator Programmes. Are you an employee who wants to see your company get involved and submit a pledge? We can provide you with all the resources and information you need to put in your boss’ hands to get your business involved. Or are you looking to give money to the tree movement? While we don’t take donations, we do have a recommended list of implementing partners where you can choose exactly where your generous donation will go to help.

We at 1t.org are here to serve you. Your voices, your actions, and your dedication inspire us all, and we want to make sure you have the resources you need to transform this world for the better. Get in touch, and join the movement.

UpLink, the World Economic Forum’s early-stage innovation initiative, is enabling and accelerating the purpose-driven entrepreneurs that are essential for a net-zero, nature-positive, and equitable future. To find out more and join the UpLink community, click here.