Trees for the Future Pledges One Billion Trees by 2030
Sustainable Agroforestry Nonprofit Celebrates 32 Years, Looks to Next Decade
SILVER SPRING, MD (August 17, 2021) – Agroforestry education nonprofit Trees for the Future (TREES) celebrates 32 years of impact this week. The veteran agroforestry organization has planted more than 220 million trees and is working to reach one billion trees with smallholder farmers by 2030.
“The impact we’ve had on people and the planet in the last 32 years is made possible by the committed individuals, businesses, and foundations who support TREES and the farmers we serve, thank you all,” says TREES Executive Director John Leary.
TREES’ 32nd anniversary is Wednesday, August 18th. Since its founding more than three decades ago, the organization has planted more than 220 million trees in rural farming communities, training thousands of farmers and helping more than 150,000 people. Local TREES staff train farmers in regenerative agroforestry systems called Forest Gardens, which helps farmers repair degraded land and grow more food to eat and sell.
“Decades of experience have taught us what works and what doesn’t. Farming families are successfully lifting themselves out of hunger and poverty through the Forest Garden Approach,” Leary says, “all while restoring their land and protecting the environment.”
The organization is on track to plant 50 million trees in 2021 and will continue scaling up over the next decade through their training program, collaborative partnerships, and through their growing network of farmers and agroforestry experts to reach their one-billion-tree goal.
The team will host a live anniversary celebration on YouTube on Wednesday, August 18th at 12:00 EST. Tune in to learn more about where they’ve been, where they are now, and where they’re going.