A tree-planting pledge has become an almost universal sign of a company's commitment to the environment. widespread project failure, unintended negative consequences and lack of accountability. More than 100 of his companies in 148 countries have committed to join the World Economic Forum's Trillion Tree campaign. and, recent research We found that 98% of Fortune 500 companies in France, Switzerland and the UK have participated in tree-planting projects over the past 20 years.
Companies cite carbon offsets, remediation, sustainable sourcing, communications and marketing, and team building as key drivers of this trend.and 90% of Americans support planting trees, this is a win-win issue for businesses and politicians looking to gain support from key stakeholders. But is it the right strategy to solve the biodiversity and climate crisis? The evidence suggests no. Here's why:
Preserving forests should be prioritized over planting new forests
Tree-planting programs often lead to biodiversity loss and move us away from a more naturally rich world.Mexico's Sowing Life Campaign Destroyed more than 180,000 acres of forest The first year was sluggish due to a perverted incentive structure.China's „Grain for Green“ program reduced the country's virgin forest area by 6.6% As a result of planting single species plantations. And projects around the world have destroyed non-forest ecosystems (grasslands, shrublands, peatlands) through afforestation, the act of planting trees in areas where no forests exist.
Despite all campaigns and commitments, forests continue to disappear globally at an unprecedented rate. Even if we could plant enough trees to keep up with current rates of deforestation, the characteristics that make forests long-term carbon sinks and hubs of biodiversity (large trees, mature ecosystems, soil accumulation) can take centuries to reproduce.
![Graph showing tree cover loss by world region (from World Resources Institute)](https://www.greenbiz.com/sites/default/files/2024-03/Tree%20cover%20loss%20map_WRI.jpg)
![Graph showing tree cover loss by world region (from World Resources Institute)](https://www.greenbiz.com/sites/default/files/2024-03/Tree%20cover%20loss%20map_WRI.jpg)
Preventing further destruction of ecosystems is the most effective, immediate and low-cost approach to enhancing forest carbon sequestration and supporting terrestrial biodiversity. Rather than promising to plant trees, companies should commit to doing so. Trustworthy deforestation policy And we're investing in forest protection beyond our supply chain.
Without sustainable management, forest protection will fail
In the forest left untouched, 82% is degraded by human activities. This includes forests that are already protected. The impacts of degradation include increased land claims and violations of territorial rights, deterioration of health and food security, changes in microclimate and water availability, loss of biodiversity, and collapse of local economies.Degraded forests fail Maximizing the potential of carbon storage.
Protection alone is not enough. Protected forests remain exposed to rising temperatures, changing water availability, increased frequency and intensity of wildfires, and new pathogens and introduced species.
Resilient forests require sustainable management. In many forest areas, that means addressing the sociopolitical factors that drive deforestation and degradation in the first place. Tree-planting programs are often promoted as providing economic benefits to local communities, including smallholder farmers. However, they fail in this respect if the trees planted are not maintained, the land is used for activities other than restoration, or the land is cleared.
One of the most effective ways to support long-term forest resilience is to ensure the rights of rural and indigenous communities to make land management decisions. Forests managed by indigenous peoples protect most of the planet's remaining biodiversity. sequester more carbon than anything outside of indigenous lands. In addition to advocating for stronger land tenure laws in sourcing areas, companies should establish clear, free, prior and informed consent policies before commencing activities in indigenous-owned forests. there is.
Forests are not the best place to plant trees
Planting trees is not the same as protecting or restoring forests. However, there are some cases where tree planting can be an important tool to achieve the desired results.
Perhaps the most important use case is in cities, especially communities that have historically been underserved by local government. Achieving tree equity in cities has countless benefits, including improving air and water quality, combating extreme temperatures, and improving quality of life.A good example of this is: America's Forest Pledge The goal is to plant and protect 1.2 million trees in cities across the United States.
This initiative goes beyond planting trees and establishes a model of community management. The project includes developing urban nurseries that provide affordable tree stock, hosting learning labs for local stakeholders, breeding low-maintenance, disease- and pest-resistant specimens, and This includes establishing career paths for urban forestry communities and developing innovative funding mechanisms for urban forestry. Corporate finance partners include Bank of America, Timberland & Footlocker, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and Salesforce.