ONE TREE PLANTED
MADE AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES
IN 2023,
ALL THANKS TO YOU!
WE PLANT TREES GLOBAL COMMUNITY, LOCAL IMPACT 5. A Letter From Our CEO
6. A Message From Our Founder 7. A Note From the Board 8. Planting Trees, Growing Forests 9. How We Operate 10. From Donations to Trees in the Ground 11. 2023 Budget Breakdown 15. Impact to Date 16. Celebrating 100 Million Trees
2023 IMPACT 21. A Year in Review 22. Reforesting the Globe 24. North America 25. Latin America 26. Africa 27. Asia & the Pacific 28. Europe 29. TerraFund for AFR100 32. Economic & Social Impacts 34. Biodiversity Benefits 36. Tree Species Planted 38. From Wildfires to Watersheds 39. Forest-Based Solutions
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS 12. Thailand Hilltribes 19. High Andes Polylepis Forest 30. Uganda Albertine Rift 40. England Community Forests 46. Urban Forestry: Delhi Land Revival 47. Urban Forestry: Orlando Schools Project 49. Nazko Wildfire Restoration 56. Dominican Republic 64. Minnesota Restoring Resilient Forests
43. Urban Forestry: 2023 Impact 44. Environmental Justice 45. Urban Forestry Action Fund: International 47. Urban Forestry Action Fund: U.S. 50. Community Forestry Events 51. School T.R.E.E.S. Program 52. Little Tree Hugger Program 53. Tree Ambassadors Program 54. Sports and Sustainability 58. Forest Fest 23
IMPACT ASSESSMENT & MONITORING 62. Global Site Visits 63. Monitoring With Drones
PARTNERSHIPS FOR IMPACT 66. Our Amazing Partners 67. Collaboration is Key
OUR MISSION OUR VALUES WHY TREES
We plant trees around the world to support healthy forests, biodiversity, & local communities.
Simplicity, innovation, and positive impact are at the heart of how we implement quality reforestation projects.
Trees and forests are essential for a healthy planet. They clean our air and water, create habitat for wildlife, and sequester carbon. Global reforestation also creates a wealth of economic and social benefits.
BIODIVERSITY
WATER
AIR
SOCIAL IMPACT HEALTH
CLIMATE
Making it simple for everyone to help the environment by planting trees is at the heart of One Tree Planted’s vision, strategy, and business model. As the recently appointed new President and CEO, I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself and express my enthusiasm for leading this extraordinary organization. I am joining One Tree Planted with nearly three decades of chief executive experience, including overseeing national and international non-profit entities dedicated to animal welfare, the environment, and wildlife habitat protection. This is coupled with education in horticulture and arboriculture at both graduate and undergraduate levels. I am truly delighted to be part of a robust, mission-driven environmental nonprofit that is committed to collaboration, innovation, and scalable implementation. With over 135 million trees planted to date, One Tree Planted has accomplished an incredible milestone in service to worldwide reforestation, biodiversity, and indigenous community development. Thanks to its solid foundation of success and a powerful network of partnerships, the organization is strategically positioned to further solidify its role and scale its impact as one of the key global reforestation leaders. As One Tree Planted embarks on its next growth phase, I am proud to work with our experienced team, enthusiastic Board, and exceptional partners to collectively enhance our recognized environmental impact. Our cooperative and coordinated efforts produce measurable global reach and achievements. As climate change intensifies, the act of planting trees becomes not just a symbol of hope, but rather a powerful, purposeproduced transformative act. I am grateful for your continued partnership, encouragement, and support. I look forward to working together to plant trees, uplift communities, and continue sharing the benefits reforestation has on our world. Sincerely,
HARRY P. LYNCH CEO & President One Tree Planted
MATT HILL Founder & Chief Environmental Ambassador One Tree Planted
Two significant milestones in a row are cause for both celebration and reflection. Last year, we marked having planted 100 million trees around the world since our inception. This year, we are celebrating our 10th anniversary. Invigorated and encouraged by both milestones, the board is taking stock and looking at what it will take for us to assume an even greater role in reforestation over the next decade and beyond. To this end, we have added three new members who together expand the board’s collective experience in governance and organizational development. Harry ‘Hank’ Lynch has joined as the new President and CEO, drawing on a background as both a horticulturist and arborist, as well as leadership roles in several major organizations. Jim Massey is known for integrating sustainability into his successful role in business, leadership, and corporate governance. Hugh Locke has a background in reforestation that includes field experience with smallholders planting millions of trees in Haiti. We are confident that our expanded board, in combination with an outstanding team, exceptional planting partners, and supportive corporate and individual donors, places One Tree Planted in a unique position for the next ten years. Together, we will work hard to play a pivotal role in driving a mass reforestation movement that helps to accelerate climate action on this planet we call home.
MATT HILL, MBA, MSC. FOUNDER
MARK CAPOMBASSIS, BA.
HUGH LOCKE, BS.
SITE IS PREPARED
TREES ARE GROWN
TREES ARE PLANTED
TREES ARE MAINTAINED & MONITORED
PHASE 1
PHASE 2
PHASE 3
PHASE 4
Land prep & weeding
Saplings nurtured in nursery
Transport & planting
Impact reports & operations
BUDGET
TOTAL SPENT
% OF TOTAL
Tree Planting
$60,439,281
83.2%
Operations
$12,197,692
16.8%
Staff
$10,158,333
83%
Marketing
$327,517
3%
Travel
$757,970
6%
Office
$365,728
3%
Technology
$378,854
3%
Professional Fees
$209,290
2%
Total
72,636,973
100%
THAILAND HILLTRIBES 878,500 TREES TO BE PLANTED
In a remote region near the border of Myanmar, tucked away in northern Thailand's rugged hill country, live a group of marginalized ethnic minorities. Commonly referred to as the hilltribes, many are refugees of civil strife in Myanmar and have been in Thailand for generations — but often aren't recognized as citizens. This multi-year project works to empower over 1,000 members of the hill tribe communities by planting trees, educating local farmers on the benefits of agroforestry, and promoting watershed restoration. Through the planting of 878,500 trees in this multi-phase project, our planting partner’s approach to watershed restoration engages local communities and results in environmental regeneration, economic empowerment, and spiritual renewal. The trees are being planted on common and private lands in partnership with local authorities to improve food security, enhance livelihoods, and boost biodiversity.
NATURE IS NOT A PLACE TO VISIT, IT IS HOME. –GARY SNYDER
THE TRUE MEANING OF LIFE IS TO PLANT TREES, UNDER WHOSE SHADE YOU DO NOT EXPECT TO SIT. — NELSON HENDERSON
HIGH ANDES POLYLEPIS FOREST 1,200,000 TREES PLANTED IN 2023
High above the Amazon basin, shrouded in mist and nestled amongst the slopes of the longest mountain chain in the world live a community of gnarled, majestic trees: the High Andes Polylepis forest. Teeming with life and adapted to harsh alpine conditions, these forests are threaded tightly with the indigenous communities who have called this mountain range home for generations. One Tree Planted is partnered with Global Forest Generation to support Accion Andina, the first multi-country, large-scale, grassroots initiative to restore the high altitude native forests of South America's high Andes. This phase of the project planted 1,200,000 Polylepis trees. Each tree will help restore wetlands, safeguard existing forest, and protect critical Amazon headwaters. Working with local and indigenous communities, trees were planted on designated lands to expand existing forests, or to seed new ones in historically deforested areas.
CANADA 5,817,903
UNITED STATES 12,289,007
MEXICO 3,537,830
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 850,000
HONDURAS 619,593
NICARAGUA 35,000
PANAMA
COSTA RICA 120,000
COLUMBIA 2,060
PERU 1,644,311
ARGENTINA 27,985
BRAZIL 2,242,748
KENYA 310,000
NIGERIA 4,000
755,600 TANZANIA 10,000
CHINA 100,000
PHILIPPINES 715,000
INDIA 972,254
INDONESIA 1,105,634
2,242,346
NEW ZEALAND 424,273
ICELAND 60,000
SCOTLAND 179,950
IRELAND 208,000
ENGLAND 1,622,574
BELGIUM 117,252
ARMENIA 400,000
PORTUGAL 487,500
ITALY 9,633
SPAIN 286,350
GUINEA
KENYA 573,176
BENIN
ETHIOPIA
223,810
1,298,871 1,344,295
136,500
TANZANIA 430,966
13,547
CÔTE D’IVOIRE 83,679
GHANA 1,031,977
UGANDA ALBERTINE RIFT 755,600 TREES PLANTED IN 2023
The Albertine Rift, stretching across east-central Africa, is home to tropical weather and high biodiversity, making the region a critical part of African biodiversity and climate. With our partner, the Jane Goodall Institute, this project planted 755,000 trees across the Budongo-Bugoma Corridor in the Albertine Rift region of Western Uganda. The planted trees will enhance biodiversity by providing habitat for chimpanzees while also regulating climate conditions.
LEARN CHARACTER FROM TREES, VALUES FROM ROOTS, AND CHANGE FROM LEAVES. — TASNEERN HARNEED
Restored important recovery habitat for the endangered Hawaiian Hoary Bat
Restored vital nesting grounds for the eastern migratory Monarch
Restored critical habitat and buffer zone for the Critically Endangered Sumatran orangutan
Restored habitat for the threatened and endangered Red-cockaded woodpecker in Texas
Restored critical habitat for the Giant brazilian otter
Restored upstream watershed, securing vital food source for the Endangered Southern resident orca in the Pacific Northwest
Restored habitat in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, home to Scarlet macaws, Spider monkeys, and Jaguars
Eastern White Pine
Elm
Incense Cedar
Polylepis spp.
Common Alder
Wild Cherry
Birch
Douglas Fir
Northern Red Oak
ENGLAND COMMUNITY FORESTS 1,218,612 TREES PLANTED IN 2023
In England, our partner, The Community Forest Trust, is working with England’s Community Forests to restore community forests across England’s countryside. Green and recreational spaces are important to community health and resilience, and this project focused on protecting and enhancing these spaces by planting trees. Most of England’s Community Forests are scattered across large cities and towns. These forests are home to many important species and provide benefits to local communities. By planting trees, climate resilience was improved through natural flood management, habitat for wildlife was restored, and many local community members were able to participate in the restoration of their community forest.
HE THAT PLANTS TREES, LOVES OTHERS BESIDES HIMSELF. — THOMAS FULLER
UNITED KINGDOM
CANADA
GERMANY
IRELAND UNITED STATES
HUNGARY SPAIN
ITALY ISRAEL
MEXICO
NEPAL PAKISTAN
BANGLADESH INDIA
NIGERIA COLOMBIA
UGANDA DRC
BRAZIL
THAILAND MALAYSIA INDONESIA
TANZANIA
AUSTRALIA ARGENTINA
DELHI LAND REVIVAL 8,787 TREES PLANTED IN 2023
This urban forestry project in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi NCR, transformed a former landfill site into a biodiverse urban forest patch. The planted trees will directly impact the surrounding under-resourced communities, who have been extremely vulnerable to waste pollution as a result of the landfill. In an effort to restore the site, over 8,500 native trees were planted using the Miyawaki method of reforestation. This method is utilized to efficiently regenerate degraded soils, mimicking natural succession through the use of a biodiverse selection of native tree species. With only 14% of the city designated as green cover, this project will actively develop the natural resources needed to establish a healthier, more resilient environment for the community in Ghaziabad. This new urban forest patch will make significant impacts in purifying the air, restoring the soil, reducing urban heat, and creating new opportunities for youth and community engagement with nature — which may not otherwise have been accessible.
ORLANDO SCHOOLS PROJECT 132 TREES PLANTED IN 2023
IN NATURE, NOTHING IS PERFECT AND EVERYTHING IS PERFECT. TREES CAN BE CONTORTED, BENT IN WEIRD WAYS, AND THEY’RE STILL BEAUTIFUL. –ALICE WALKER
NAZKO WILDFIRE RESTORATION 1,160,000 TREES PLANTED IN 2023
The objective of the British Columbia 2023 - Nazko Wildfire Restoration project was to reforest areas that were impacted by a large, severe wildfire that occurred in 2017. A variety of conifer species, as well as one deciduous species, were planted in areas that were not found to be regenerating naturally. By replanting in this area, we are able to increase biodiversity by including native species that are not as well adapted to coming back after a wildfire, such as hybrid spruce and Douglas fir. Replanting also ensures that all the benefits forests provide will return to the landscape much faster than if left to natural processes. These benefits include the provision of food sources, fuel, and medicinal plants; atmospheric carbon sequestration; regulation of the hydrological cycle; and wildlife habitat. At least 40 other species associated with coniferous forests will benefit benefit from this project, including black and grizzly bears, moose, mule deer, cougars, grey wolves, snowshoe hares, sandhill cranes, and bald eagles.
VOLUNTEERS ENGAGED
13,000+
TOTAL TREES PLANTED
46,000+
TOTAL COMMUNITY FORESTRY EVENTS
162
TEACHING REFORESTATION, ENVIRONMENTAL ENGAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 800,000 TREES PLANTED IN 2023
With pristine beaches, evergreen forests, and fertile valleys, the Dominican Republic contains the most diverse topography in the Caribbean. This project helped revitalize deforested land and empowered communities to plant trees and care for their local environment by restoring watersheds. Through this project, 800,000 trees were planted on hillsides to prevent erosion, decrease pollution, and increase the resilience of crops to weather events. Our planting partner empowered volunteers with education as they learned to plant trees in forested areas and on smallholder farms. As part of the holistic Plant With Purpose approach, partnering farmers were nearly twice as likely to plant native species, have higher crop yields, and benefit from improved economic stability. As local subsistence pressures decrease, competition for resources ease, and communities unite to improve and conserve the environment in their subwatershed.
TOGETHER WE CAN PRESERVE THE FOREST, SECURING THIS IMMENSE TREASURE FOR THE FUTURE OF ALL OUR CHILDREN. — CHICO MENDES
MINNESOTA: RESTORING RESILIENT FORESTS 1,000,000 TREES PLANTED IN 2023 Over time, Northern Minnesota’s forests have become increasingly simplified due to past management practices, reduction in natural disturbances, and increased herbivory from deer. Because of this, forests here have fewer and shorter-lived tree species. This project has been working to restore important tree species while expanding the ranges of climate-adapted species. The aim of this project was to improve habitats across landscapes — including the headwaters of important watersheds, riparian forests along lake shores and trout streams, and degraded forests along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Our planting partner utilizes a scientific process to improve resilience by bringing in new tree species that will better withstand climate change impacts. With this project, 1 million trees were planted across Northern Minnesota.
IF WE LOSE THE FORESTS, WE LOSE OUR ONLY TEACHERS. — BILL MOLLISON
UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE
GLOBAL FOREST GENERATION
GRUPO DE ESTUDOS DE ORDENAMENTO DO TERRITÓRIO E AMBIENTE
KULA PROJECT
TO BE WITHOUT TREES WOULD, IN THE MOST LITERAL WAY, MEAN TO BE WITHOUT OUR ROOTS. — RICHARD MABEY