Trees; they’re an essential cog in the machine of mother earth and one that’s eroding fast enough to raise valid concerns. Deforestation, or the intentional clearing of of land isn’t a fresh-faced idea, concept or practice; in fact, it’s been going on for thousands of years. However, only in more recent years has the severity of deforestation escalated to the point that in some cases, some regions are beyond redemption – forcing residents and inhabitants to adopt specialised filtration technology similar to that produced by Cambridge Mask in order to have access to air quality. Of course, it would be unfair to only fuel a narrative of hopelessness and despair, as that would be untrue. Enter One Tree Planted, a 501 charity or non-profit organisation with a lot more than just great environmental aspirations.

Reforestation done wrong...

If ever there was a disservice done in the name of good intentions, it would be the slew of reforestation programs gone wrong. Over the years governments from around the world and non-profits alike have attempted to address their environmental issues through reforestation programs, often with varying degrees of success and in some cases, complete failure. The intentions are noble, although in some cases misguided, with many of the above-mentioned institutions seeing the process of reforestation as a blanket solution to addressing the ever-burgeoning issue of climate change; sort of a like a “one shoe fits all solution.” Failure can often be attributed to a number of reasons, key amongst which would be a lack of oversight and insight. In other words, the reforestation program is only monitored for a short amount of time and the program itself fails to take into account essential players such as the local inhabitants, how the trees aid them in terms of their livelihood, and where the trees are planted. For instance, if the trees planted don’t fit in with the ecosystem, then locals who would typically benefit by way of firewood and fodder for their livestock don’t get the benefits of a reforestation program. In addition, trees planted willy nilly, and it does happen, often end up with their seedlings in the stomachs of animals, especially if the grounds were previously used for grazing. So, what is quite apparent is that a reforestation program done right is one that takes into account and attends to multiple factors in order to achieve its goals.

 

How One Tree Planted is doing reforestation right!

One Tree Plant is ahead of the game. What becomes immediately obvious is that this non-profit organisation has scrutinised what has gone before, taken it all on board, and is now garnering tremendous success. To illustrate purely by numbers, in 2015 they planted 50 000 trees. In 2016 that number had doubled and by 2018 a staggering 1.3 million trees has been planted. In what can only be described as a dramatic ongoing upward trajectory, One Tree Planted has achieved phenomenal numbers. In 2020 alone the organisation planted 10 million trees and as it currently stands, a total of 40 million trees have been planted in more than 43 countries. But these are just the peripherals, the cursory glance, the overall view. The question that then naturally arises is, how has One Tree Plant managed to achieve such numbers and in the process established itself as one of the big global players in the world of environmental betterment and solutions?

It’s not just about the trees

One could be forgiven for thinking that reforestation is nothing more than planting a gazillion trees in the hopes of lowering carbon emissions and looking good. The truth of the matter is that the process is quite intricate, and success is only achieved when all bases are covered. One Tree Planted has a global reach that extends to North and South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Pacific. The ideology is quite clear: covering the planet, which itself is incredibly intricate, extends to how they operate. From selecting the right range of species in order to coincide with the biodiversity of the area to the involvement of local communities, One Tree Planted makes sure that all the right and relevant parties are involved, and this includes upwards of 7 000 volunteers! By way of a trickle-down process, One Tree Planted takes donations, pools those donations, send the funds to various growing partners after which various teams then proceed to plant the seeds during the rainy seasons. The growth process is carefully monitored, and the outcomes are reported on.

But why trees?

Quite simply put, trees are major players when it comes to regulating our environment. Like the Cambridge Mask Pro – both valve and non valve – trees filter the air we breathe, ensuring not just our longevity, but that of every single breathing species on this planet. In fact, quite recently Cambridge Mask forged a partnership with One Tree Planted, in the process joining a list of some of the biggest names in commercial industry – Facebook, Reebok, HP, Ford, DHL, L'Oréal – to name but some. What does it all mean? It means that the values of Cambridge Mask are aligned with those of One Tree Planted. It means that each time a mask gets sold, a tree gets planted. One Tree Planted is as dedicated to reforesting areas decimated by wildfires as Cambridge Mask is to providing protection to those affected by wildfires. The synergy is undeniable – two companies whose main concern is making sure we all breathe clean air – one by way of superior mask technology, and the other by way of the oldest filtration unit there is – the tree.

In addition to their ability act as nature’s filtration units, trees serve as water barriers, capturing rainfall to curtail potential floods and landslides through their leaves and their vast root networks which serve as filters to weed out pollutants while letting the water slowly seep into the soil. Then of course there’s the biodiversity element. Trees are themselves ecosystems to a multitude of plant, fungi and species. One could go as far as saying that a single tree could serve as a microcosm for the planet. Trees feed us physically, mentally and economically. They bare fruits for us to eat while providing scenery and an environment that feeds the soul. Lastly but not finally, trees provide economic opportunities, and this translates into social upliftment. Is it any wonder then that the race is on to grow a trillion trees?