Reforestation Policies and Government Initiatives around the world

written by: Srividhya Vasanth

People worldwide are increasingly taking reforestation seriously, recognizing its promising benefits, such as reversing climate change and boosting food plantations. Each country employs different strategies and practices for tree planting, influenced by factors such as geographic region, sector (private or public), and funding levels.

Global Reforestation Efforts

Non-Profit Organizations

Non-profit organizations typically set donation rates equal to the cost of planting one tree. They partner with brands and other organizations to create programs such as “plant 5 trees for every notebook sold.” The non-profits then send the collected money to tree-planting projects.

The Trillion Tree Project

Launched by the World Economic Forum in 2016, this project aims to plant one trillion trees worldwide. So far, they have planted trees in over 60 countries, totaling around 3.6 billion trees to date.

Country-Specific Initiatives

Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Green Initiative, launched in 2021, aims to plant 10 million trees to combat desertification.

Australia

Reforest Now, an Australian non-profit organization, focuses on restoring endangered forests within Australia.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia set a new record by planting 353 million trees in a single day as part of their ambitious campaign to plant 4 billion trees by October. This effort aims to restore the country's forest cover, which has decreased from 30% in the 19th century to just 4% today.

India

India ranks second after Ethiopia in reforestation efforts, with over 220 million trees planted in a single day by more than a million people in Uttar Pradesh. This marks a significant increase from their previous major plantation drive, where 66 million saplings were planted.

China

China is mobilizing a tree-planting army, assigning 60,000 soldiers to reforest 32,400 acres of land, an area roughly the size of Ireland. This represents just 2% of the world’s largest army. If global conflicts decreased, more soldiers could combat deforestation and help mend our climate by planting millions of trees.

Africa

Africa is creating a "Great Green Wall" of trees, three times the size of the Great Barrier Reef. This ambitious natural regeneration project aims to restore life to the arid borders of the Sahara. Bordering countries are collaborating to restore their forests and the environment.

Policies in the United States

The Climate Stewardship Act

This legislation by the United States Congress aims to combat climate change through various environmental initiatives, including large-scale tree planting. The act advocates for planting billions of trees across the country over the next few decades and aims to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It also provides resources for restoring wetlands, grasslands, and other natural ecosystems that absorb and store carbon.

The REPLANT (Repairing Existing Public Land by Adding Necessary Trees) Act

This legislation aims to address reforestation on National Forest System Lands affected by pests, disease, and other disturbances. The REPLANT Act provides benefits such as improving water quality, increasing wildlife habitat, and creating employment opportunities.

The Rural Forests Market Act

This act aims to generate additional income for private forest owners of small-scale and family-owned forests. It provides financial incentives for forest owners to participate in carbon markets and accelerate forest restoration.

The Importance of Tree Survival

Initiatives that plant trees for publicity often focus on the number of trees planted rather than their survival. However, the true measure of success is how many trees survive for more than ten years and the profound impact they have on the ecosystem, wildlife, water, and living organisms in general.