Chris Kaiser, Autor bei Click A Tree

How mangrove forests create opportunities in the Philippines

Chris Kaiser — Wed, 15 May 2024 11:15:42 +0000

How mangrove forests create opportunities in the Philippines

Get to know Wilson Gastanes

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Mangroves are multi-talented. You are one of the best fighters we have against climate change. But they are so much more. Mangrove forests provide protection from storm surges and erosion, their roots create a safe space for young underwater life and they create opportunities for humans. Just like Wilson Gastanes from the Philippines.

Mangroves are multi-talented. You are one of the best fighters we have against climate change. But they are so much more.

Mangrove forests provide protection from storm surges and erosion, their roots create a safe space for young underwater life and they create opportunities for humans. Just like Wilson Gastanes from the Philippines.

Would you like to learn more about the superpowers of mangrove trees and how you can help change the lives of many people? Then read on.

Wilson and the mangrove

The Philippines is Click A Tree’s newest tree planting location. The planting takes place on the island of Mindanao, the second largest island in the country. This is also where 61-year-old Wilson lives and plants your trees for the oceans.

Want to find out more about our planting project in the Philippines? Then read this article and find out why we are planting trees for the oceans.

It wasn’t so long ago that Wilson became part of our tree planting team. Nevertheless, he has achieved an incredible amount in this short time! We are still amazed at how many trees he has planted.

In 1 ½ years, Wilson has planted 8,000 trees! If the conditions are right – low tide, no seaweed, fewer stones, etc. – he can plant around 500 mangroves a day. Amazing, isn’t it!

Childhood memories of a mangrove pool

There are many reasons why Wilson plants mangroves. More on the various reasons later, but first let’s get to Wilson’s personal mangrove story and how he brought about change after feeling powerless.

Many years ago, Wilson took his friends to his mangrove pool. Just imagine the fun he and his friends had there: swimming competitions, diving for fish or simply enjoying the cool water on a hot day.

But one day, Wilson and his neighbors witnessed businessmen destroying their mangrove pool. They cut down mangroves to create fish and shrimp farms, which is still a big problem today, as the mangroves can no longer grow there because of the chemicals.

Wilson still misses his mangrove pool today. He promised himself that he would plant a new one for his children so that they would have the same great childhood memories as he did.

Would you like to find out more about mangroves and our project in the Philippines? Follow us on Instagram – you’ll find the latest updates on our projects there!

How planting mangroves supports the future of the Philippines

Being a tropical island in Southeast Asia does not only have advantages. The Philippines are strongly affected by the effects of climate change. Sea levels are rising and natural disasters are on the increase.¹

In addition, there are increasing problems with soil erosion, crop quality, landslides and the management of water catchment areas as a result of deforestation.

Time is running out. That is why we must act TODAY. We need to start opening our eyes to the things that are really happening. Wilson doesn’t have the option of not worrying about climate change and the impact on his home and family.

Life for fishing families in the Philippines is hard enough as it is, but when the weather conditions worsen, they are unable to feed their families.

Planting mangroves helps Wilson and others by providing them with a stable income, while the mangrove forests attract more wildlife and marine life.

The superpowers of Wilson’s mangroves

Mangroves as a food source

Once the mangroves have been planted, it doesn’t take long before the first mussels can be seen on the young mangrove stems. Wilson and his colleagues collect them and sell part of their catch at the market and use the rest to cook mussel soup.

As the mangroves grow older, more marine life makes the roots of the mangroves their home. The tangled area creates a safe space for underwater life, including many species of fish, crabs and shrimps.

Mangroves protect people from flooding and erosion, but are also an important source of food for humans and underwater life.

But did you know that mangroves also collect plastic from the sea?

Mangroves in the fight against plastic pollution

Yes, you read that right!

Plastic pollution is a major global problem. And unfortunately, there’s no magic spell to make plastic waste simply disappear when we’re done with it.

Wilson experiences this problem first-hand when he goes to the beach. In many Asian countries, everything really is wrapped in plastic, from your morning coffee to your bread. And most of the plastic will later end up in the sea, as there are no recycling areas. This is also the case in Wilson’s village.

We want to stop plastic pollution in the sea and therefore collect 1 kg of plastic from the sea for every tree planted.

Would you like to hear something else amazing? Wilson told us that they plan to make flower pots from the plastic they collect, which they can then use for tree planting.

How great is that?

Find out more about the superpowers of mangroves here: Mangrove forests – The all-round heroes [7 lebenswichtige Funktionen + 4 einzigartige Mangroven-Fakten]

What difference has planting mangroves made in the Philippines?

Planting mangroves means protecting families and their homes. They are an important source of food. And planting mangroves means creating opportunities.

Wilson and his tree-planting colleagues plant trees to give their children a better life. By planting mangroves, they can ensure that their children’s future is stable enough without having to move elsewhere to find work.

For Wilson, it is important that his children feel safe and that they know they can lead a life without difficulties.

Wilson’s dream

“I hope that more people understand the important role that mangroves play for the sea, the land, the environment, but also for our livelihoods.

Help us to change people’s lives

Changing lives doesn’t have to be difficult. You don’t have to add it to your to-do list or leave your house. You can help change people’s lives by planting mangroves with just a few keystrokes.

Help us realize Wilson’s dream and plant mangrove trees now.

Stay connected and follow us on Instagram for the latest inspiring stories, all about trees and a special surprise for Mangrove Day.

Sources

¹ http://www.klimaretter.info/serie/das-meer-steigt/23482-philippinen-alleingelassen-im-klimawandel

Der Beitrag How mangrove forests create opportunities in the Philippines erschien zuerst auf Click A Tree.

Earth Day 2023: When, where and how to celebrate it

Chris Kaiser — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 15:29:40 +0000

Earth Day – Earth Day

When, where and how to celebrate it

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Would you like to know what Earth Day is and how you can celebrate it? Fantastic! Here in our ultimate guide, we’ve put together everything you need to know about Earth Day.

What is Earth Day?

Also known as “Earth Day”, Earth Day is an occasion to celebrate our planet.

It is a small reminder that we all live on the same planet. And that we need to pay attention to him – more on this below.

In short:

When we celebrate the earth, we also celebrate life. And we all love life in some way, don’t we?

Now you know what Earth Day is. Do you already know when it is?

When is Earth Day?

Earth Day is celebrated in Germany and 174 other countries every year on April 22.

Each year, the celebration has a specific theme. The aim of the campaign is to create a greater awareness of nature and promote appreciation for the environment.

The smartest scientists on our planet say that now is our last chance to save our planet. It’s definitely time to act!

Earth Day – a brief history

Did you know that the first Earth Day in 1970 was celebrated by over 20 million people?

The first mention of dedicating one day a year to our planet was at a UNESCO conference in San Francisco in 1969.

A month later, the idea was adopted by US Senator Gaylord Nelson and activist Denis Hayes, and became known as “Earth Day”. Denis Hayes turned out to be a marketing and PR genius, and developed the idea into something much bigger than anyone could have imagined.

Activist Denis Hayes

Earth Day 1970 became the biggest one-day protest in the history of mankind!

But that was not all: in 1990 Hayes made the day international and organized events in 141 countries around the world!

In 2020, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day was celebrated by over 100 million people.

Earth Day is the most widely celebrated secular holiday in the world today.

Earth Day in Germany

Of course we also celebrate Earth Day here in Germany!

Every year, Earth Day in Germany has a special leitmotif for a wide range of activities relating to environmental and climate protection. It’s meant to be an inspiration for people to try out sustainable hacks and make lasting changes in their lives.

The international motto for Earth Day 2024 is:

“Planet vs Plastic”

And the German motto for Earth Day is:

“Water makes life possible”

Earth Day offers us a great opportunity to question how we currently live and how we can reduce our impact on the environment.

Earth Day fun facts

Now you know the story of Earth Day, here are some facts:

1. the naming of the Earth Day

Originally, the plan was to call the Earth Day “Environmental Teach-In”. Understandably, this did not stick and so Hayes looked for a more suitable name.

Denis Hayes had a coffee with Julien Koenig, the man behind Volkswagen’s “Think Small” campaign (the campaign for the Volkswagen Beetle, which is one of the most successful advertising campaigns). In a joint brainstorming session, they looked for catchy brand names for an environmental awareness day.

The story is that Koenig had four ideas: “Ecology Day”, “Environment Day”, “Earth Day” and “E Day”.

“Earth Day” was his personal recommendation because it rhymes with “birthday” and April 22 is Koenig’s birthday.

So that’s how Earth Day came about.

2. the date for Earth Day

John McConnell, who had the original idea for Earth Day, suggested March 21. March 21 is the day of the equinox, the astronomical beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere.

But Gaylord Nelson and Denis Hayes opted for the April 22. And they were much, much better at marketing and PR. That is the only reason why Earth Day on April 22 and not on March 21.

Did Julien Koenig also have a hand in this? After all, April 22 was also his birthday. A great way to leave a legacy.

Ultimately, it’s all about marketing. Even when it comes to saving our planet.

3. day of the earth vs. day of the tree

As the name suggests, we celebrate trees on Arbor Day. In Germany, it falls on April 25.

Although the first Arbor Day was celebrated worldwide in 1594 – and is therefore hundreds of years older than Earth Day – Earth Day became much better known.

As I said, marketing is a decisive factor…

The three most popular Earth songs

To celebrate Earth Day appropriately, we need to familiarize ourselves with the best Earth songs out there.

There are hundreds, perhaps even thousands. To save you time, we have selected the top 3 Earth songs for you.

Tell us in the comments what your favorite song is!

Michael Jackson – Earth Song

Probably the most popular earth song in the world comes from pop music legend Michael Jackson.

You probably know the song, but have you ever seen the video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAi3VTSdTxU

Lil Dicky’s Earth Song

Somehow, Earth Song producers aren’t exactly creative when it comes to choosing a name for their song.

Here’s Lil Dicky’s Earth Song – co-written with over 30 other super-famous artists, including Ed Sheeran (the koala), Ariana Grande (the zebra), Justin Bieber (the baboon), Snoop Dogg (as Marijuana) and Kevin Hart (as Kanye West).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvuN_WvF1to

Louis Armstrong – What a wonderful world

The all-time classic from 1967. (Before Earth Day was invented. Possibly one of the reasons why it is not called “Earth Day Song”).

Turn up the speakers and sing along!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqhCQZaH4Vs

Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments. With these catchy tunes, we can now get involved in the coolest Earth Day activities.

The 14 coolest activities for Earth Day

Now you know all about Earth Day. Are you ready to celebrate?

Here are the coolest activities for Earth Day.

Invite all your friends. Of course, it’s better to celebrate together!

Celebrate Earth Day at home: 9 indoor activities

The most obvious way to celebrate Earth Day is to go out and enjoy Mother Nature.

But if for some reason you’d rather stay at home, here are the coolest activities you can do indoors on Earth Day. (Bonus: you don’t have to wear pants here either…)

1. listen to the Earth Songs (and sing along).

We have collected the top 3 Earth Songs in the world for a reason.

Turn up your speakers and sing along!

Then invite a few friends over for a little Earth Day party.

2. find your favorite green book

Looking for something quieter? Read a green book and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of nature.

We’re not talking about dry textbooks! How about a gripping novel?

Let yourself be enchanted by multiple award-winning page turners. “The Song of the Crayfish” by Delia Owens and “The Roots of Life” by Richard Powers are perfect if you want to spend a cozy Earth Day at home.

And no list of fascinating green books would be complete without “The Secret Life of Trees” by Peter Wohlleben – a must for every nature lover!

3. plant a tree for a person you really like

Make a difference!

Plant a tree for our earth. You can also dedicate it to someone you really like.

It is our actions today that will determine our planet tomorrow…

Planting trees

4. the lungs of the earth – 15 amazing forest facts

Without forests, we would have ceased to exist a long time ago. They are the green lungs of the earth and home to many living creatures.

There are so many things we can learn from forests and trees. These facts about the forest ecosystem are guaranteed to fascinate you.

5. change your background to a nature image

Many people react to things they see.

This way you can remind yourself every single day how wonderful our planet is. Every time you unlock your cell phone or start your laptop, you can admire the beauty of the earth.

The most memorable photos are the ones you take yourself.

Of course, you can also do this from the comfort of your own home by searching the web – or be inspired by Maja’s tree gallery. Maja is a long-time supporter of Click A Tree and loves photographing trees.

6. look out of the window

The beauty of the earth is all around us. Take a moment to enjoy the view from your window. Who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to do something great.

7. start an earth painting competition with friends

When was the last time you painted a picture of Mother Earth?

Now is the best time! Start an Earth painting competition with your friends. Who can paint the funniest, most beautiful or most detailed picture of our planet?

Take your best pictures and share them with us on Instagram!

8. Netflix & Chill

Some days you don’t want to leave the sofa. We get it.

And sometimes these days are April 22. That’s okay too.

But there’s something you can do even if you’re in the mood for Netflix & Chill – you can watch a breathtaking documentary about our sensational planet.

It will totally change the way you think about the earth. And then you’ll want to plant a huge amount of trees!

Here is our favorite selection:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkaxUblCGz0&t=4s

9th Earth Day cooking evening with friends

Since we’ve just mentioned movies, the next thing we’re thinking about is food.

Organize a cosy cooking session with a few friends.

It’s Earth Day – decide to cook vegetarian or vegan food. The production and consumption of meat has a drastic effect on our planet. (They fall under these 5 causes of deforestation).

You can find many delicious options all over the internet. How about one of these 40 sensational vegan recipes?

(Do you have a favorite recipe of your own? Share it in the comments below – we’d love to try it!)

4 outdoor activities for Earth Day

The weather is nice and you feel like going out?

Fantastic. Now, of course, you can go ahead and plant your own trees.

But if that’s not your thing, here are some more great activities you can do outside on Earth Day this year.

1. get a tree or earth tattoo

Show your love for Mother Earth with a fantastic tattoo of the Earth!

Since we’re mainly focusing on trees here, we’ve put together a collection of the finest tree tattoos (including their meanings) for you.

But if you’re looking for something a little more global, your favorite tattoo artist is sure to have great ideas too.

2. do an Earth Day dance (preferably with friends)

Really? You’ve never heard of the official Earth Day dance?

To be honest: neither do we.

So now is the time to invent one! Think of an acrobatic / mind-blowing / fun dance that honors our planet. Maybe it will even be the next TikTok sensation.

Then dance it all Earth Night long…

Don’t forget to record a video. Then post it and tag us on Instagram. We’ll be on the lookout for #earthdaydance and #clickatree.

Some things are much more fun when you do them together. Share these Earth Day activities with your friends and spend a fantastic day together.

3. plant your own tree

As mentioned above, planting a tree is always a great option – especially on Earth Day.

Check that your garden has enough space and call your local nursery and ask which tree species is best for you.

Otherwise, you can also take part in a community event – there are so many. (If not – organize one.)

It’s a lot of fun – and you always meet inspiring people.

4. help clean up your neighborhood

Beach and city clean-ups are the big new trend in outdoor activities. You’ll be doing something meaningful that’s good for the planet, meeting new people and staying fit at the same time.

And hey: all these benefits won’t cost you a penny! What’s not to like?

If you want to go one step further, you can also try “plogging”. This is a Swedish neologism of “jogging” and “plocka up” (collecting garbage).

In this activity, you jog along your favorite route and collect garbage in a small garbage bag. The a) helps Mother Earth and b) improves your workout by engaging your whole body.

To learn more about plogging and other amazing things, read our truly meaningful New Year’s resolutions. (Which you can really start at any time of year).

5. build an insect hotel

The last unique Earth Day activity you can do outside is to build an insect hotel. (Then call it “The Click A Tree Air-Bee-and-Bee”. Haha.)

As you know, insects are vital to our planet, including for the production of the food we all love.

Build them a brand new home. This can also be made entirely from used materials.

Here is a short video explaining how to build an insect hotel properly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8J-lPepikg

Fantastic. There are lots of things you can do on Earth Day, don’t you think?

If we missed your favorite Earth Day activity – post it in the comments below!

(Free) trees for Earth Day

We promised you (free) tree offers for Earth Day, and here they are.

Some of these offers are free, others are not – you can choose which ones you like best.

Ultimately, when done right, planting trees supports 16 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations!

Planting trees is therefore holistically the most sustainable thing you can do on Earth Day.

Here are our 4 favorite options:

1. #freetrees4you

Starting April 1, you can open one of the 26 virtual doors of the Arbor Day calendar to see which name gets to plant a free tree.

People with this chosen first name can then plant their free tree via Click A Tree’s Universal Impact Platform. The platform allows you to track the positive effects of your tree*.

Even if your name wasn’t chosen for this Arbor Day campaign, you can still help reforest the planet by forwarding the Arbor Day calendar to a person with that name.

Helping the earth to heal is a task for us all. That’s why Click A Tree has launched the #freetree4you campaign.

To be the first to find out which names get to plant free trees, follow our Instagram page.

2nd free tree for Earth Day

Go for a walk in the forest and collect some tree seeds. These trees are already growing in your area and are therefore already adapted to the local conditions.

Plant them in your garden, your neighborhood or the nearest community forest.

2. support the local economy

Contact your local nursery. They know which tree is best for your area – and how to care for it so that it grows into a large, healthy tree.

3. a global tree for Earth Day

Plant your Earth Day tree right here, right now. What’s stopping you?

Trees are one of the most sustainable gifts. So if you don’t plant the tree for yourself, you can always dedicate it to someone special.

Plant a tree

Pro tip: The nice thing is that it’s not a question of either – or. You can follow all 3 suggestions and plant as many trees as you like for Earth Day. Mother Nature will thank you!

Now to you

What will your Earth Day look like? What do you have planned? Have you celebrated Earth Day before? Do you have any great stories, hacks or tips to share?

Please let us know in the comments below. We would really like to hear from you!

Do you know someone who would like to learn about Earth Day? Share it with them.

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24 nature quotes that really speak to us and remind us of the really important things in life

Chris Kaiser — Wed, 10 May 2023 10:38:39 +0000

24 nature quotes that really speak to us and remind us of the really important things in life

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Think of your favorite, most beautiful place in the world. Imagine you were there now…

Do you see skyscrapers and highways? No, neither do we! For most of us, nature is our happy place!

Humans have been trying to express this for thousands of years. The result is a huge, wonderful collection of nature quotes: Quotes praising the tranquility of nature, profound environmental quotes, quotes on sustainability and many more. We have listed our favorites here!

Quotes on sustainability

From the smallest tree frog to the giant sequoia – every living creature has a right to exist. Together, they all make our planet the beautiful, liveable place that it needs to be.

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children”. – Proverb of the indigenous Americans

Each and every one of us is responsible for preserving nature. “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” – Robert Swan

“The earth is what we all have in common.” – Wendell Berry

Of our quotes on sustainability, this one is particularly close to our hearts. Only if we work together can we save our planet!

Are you feeling totally inspired by these great quotes on sustainability now? Then you should try out our surprisingly simple hacks to protect trees and save money!

Quotes about the peace & beauty of nature

How can you describe how beautiful nature can be? If you sometimes find yourself at a loss for words, perhaps one of these quotes about the peace and beauty of nature will strike a chord!

“I went for a walk in the forest and came out taller than the trees. – Henry David Thoreau

A walk in the forest really builds you up and brings relaxation and inner peace when you need it most. A walk in the woods can therefore be a form of therapy.

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that last as long as life lasts.” – Rachel Carson

“There are so many ways to calm down, but only one that really helps: nature itself.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

It has also inspired generations of artists.

“Nature is both book and scripture, fairy tale, painting and song.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“If you really love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” – Vincent van Gogh

Famous nature quotes

Some nature quotes are so loved by people that they have become very famous. Which of these famous nature sayings have you heard?

“The clearest way into the universe is through a wild forest.” – John Muir

This famous nature saying reflects Muir’s conviction that nature is the key to understanding the universe.

Albert Einstein certainly agreed with him. The man who gave us some of the greatest insights into the workings of the universe famously said: “Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.”

Nature was also an inspiration for William Shakespeare: “The earth has music for those who listen.”

The music of the earth can be relaxing and invigorating. If we take our cue from nature, we can avoid a lot of stress and tension.

“Nature is in no hurry, and yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu

Nature quotes from famous people

When it comes to nature, we can all identify with each other. These wonderful nature quotes from famous people show that people never stop appreciating nature, no matter how famous they become.

“To sit in the shade on a fine day and look out over the green hills is the most perfect refreshment.” – Jane Austen

Jane Austen knew how to paint a wonderful picture with words. Wouldn’t you like to be there now?

“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be crooked, bent in strange ways, and they are still beautiful”. – Alice Walker

We know some beautiful trees like this! The bent roots of the mangrove trees not only look fantastic, they also protect countless people and animals by preventing coastal erosion and storm damage.

“The natural world sustains us all, and protecting it is the most important thing we can do.” – Leonardo DiCaprio

Protecting the natural world really is the most important thing we can do. As Sir David Attenborough once said, “We’re all in the same boat, and this is where we’re going to stay.” We only have one earth.

Environment quotes

The earth we love needs our help. Here are inspirational environmental quotes that you can share with friends and family.

“The earth is a beautiful place and it is worth fighting for.” – Ernest Hemingway

Every tree we plant fights for our earth by purifying our atmosphere and providing shelter and food for countless creatures. Can you think of a better reason to plant a tree today?

“I consider it my first and highest task to live and work for nature with everything in me.” – Hermann Hesse

Nature is our home and we must take care of it. Because as Albert Schweitzer explained, “What happens to the forest also happens to people.”

Nature quotes for Insta

In this section you can find great nature quotes for Insta. We’d love to see your photos with these nature quotes – tag us @clickatree! And if you have any more beautiful nature sayings for Insta, share them with us! As you may have already noticed, we love good quotes!

“Only where you have been on foot have you really been.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“The earth laughs in the flowers.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Nature does not need to create masterpieces, it is one.” – Hermann Hesse

“Colors are nature’s smile.” – Leigh Hunt

“Spring is nature’s way of saying: ‘Let’s celebrate!” – Robin Williams

Nature speaks to us all

Which quote is your favorite? Do you know any other nature sayings that we have missed? Or perhaps inspirational quotes on sustainability? Tell us in a comment!

PS: If you like these quotes and want to find out why trees are so important to us, take a look here.

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Plant trees and make dreams come true with your company

Chris Kaiser — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 16:44:24 +0000

Plant trees and make dreams come true with your company

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Did you know that planting trees can lead to great success? And not just because they supply us with oxygen. Trees can also make dreams come true!

But don’t just take our word for it… In this article you can read the success stories of Mary, John and Collins: Three young Ghanaians who were able to realize their dreams with the help of trees.

Planting forests, promoting education and meeting the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals

For us, planting forests means more than just throwing seeds into the ground. In all our projects, we strive to achieve the greatest possible impact by creating self-sufficient forests, ensuring food security through crop trees (fruit, nuts,…), working with full-time employees and empowering people to follow their dreams.

In this way, each of our projects fulfills the UN’s 17 sustainability goals. With the Entrepreneurial School we support in Ghana, we focus on Sustainable Development Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

This means that our partners are not only restoring a beautiful landscape, but also achieving an ESG strategy that is making a big difference to people’s lives!

Because when our partners plant forests with us in Ghana, they are also helping to support this school, whose aim is to promote the education of young entrepreneurs and give them the skills to realize their dreams.

You can find more information about the project in Ghana here.

How planting forests makes a difference for people

In the village of Zongo Macheri, where our entrepreneurial school is located, access to education is an important lifeline for young people. There they learn to write business plans, manage their finances and develop a good marketing strategy.

Since its launch in 2019, the school in Zongo Macheri has trained 20 young people every year. We would now like to introduce you to three of these graduates so that you can see how planting forests can change people’s lives. Here are Mary, John and Collins!

Mary, the tractor healer

Mary is one of the school’s newest graduates. For a young person, her dream is an unusual one: Mary wants to be a tractor mechanic, an incredibly important role in a country where so many people rely on their home-grown food!

Thanks to the entrepreneurship school and the practical experience she is gaining working on the agricultural equipment in our tree planting project, Mary is now well on her way to realizing her dream of becoming a self-employed tractor mechanic.

John, the photographer

John’s dream is to work as a photographer and take photos of amazing places and famous people. Just a dream? Not at all. Since obtaining his certificate at the Entrepreneurial School at the end of 2019, he has come a lot closer to his goal.

With the help of Stephanie Kubik from SK Hotels & Venues and Click A Tree, John was able to purchase his own professional camera equipment. John now works locally as a photographer and saves his money to continue his education. We are sure that his energy and talent will soon take him a long way!

Collins, the pearl whisperer

Collins was one of the first graduates of the Entrepreneurial School. His dream was not only to run his own company, but also to help others start their own.

And amazingly, despite the pandemic, he managed to realize his dream: Collins has set up his own bead embroidery business and a school for those who want to learn bead embroidery.

The result: beautiful beaded bags, key rings, jewelry and even flip-flops! And at the end of 2022, Collins was even able to present its first own graduates to the world. Congratulations!

Helping to boost success: Promoting more education

What’s even better than a superpower? Two!

At Click A Tree, we are committed to making a real difference. That is why our tree planting projects are designed from the ground up to have the greatest possible social impact, benefit the environment in the long term and meet all 17 UN sustainability goals.

We have therefore decided to open a second school for entrepreneurs in 2022, this time in Tamale, the capital of the region. Being located in a bustling city means that more young people have access to the school and that there are more opportunities for them to bring their business ideas to life!

There was still a lot of building going on here:

And here the inauguration is already being celebrated with the community:

Make trees part of your ESG strategy: become a Click-A-Tree partner

Our partners can be really proud of their achievements: In Ghana alone, we planted 40,159 trees in 2022 with their support. That’s 40,159 climate change fighters and protectors of local wildlife!

And then there are the social impacts: Every tree planted creates valuable jobs for the local community and helps young entrepreneurs to create a better future for themselves. That’s why we call our project “Trees for Entrepreneurs”!

Would you also like to get involved and plant trees to make dreams come true? Then just send us a short email! We would be happy to tell you about our projects and how planting forests can become a valuable part of your ESG strategy and bring more profit to your company. For more inspiration, you can also take a look at our case studies for companies.

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Trees of life: truly meaningful gifts for the special people in your life

Chris Kaiser — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 09:49:55 +0000

Trees of life: truly meaningful gifts for the special people in your life

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Happy birth-tree to you, happy birth-tree to you….

In ancient times, the Celtic druids believed that each person had a special tree associated with their month of birth. And with good reason: the lives of trees and humans have been closely linked for thousands of years.

The Celts believed that each tree – ash, birch, alder, etc. – corresponded to a month and gave the person born in that month special characteristics. They called these trees “birth trees”.

Here you can find out which tree is your tree of life, which character traits you even share and how to give the right tree as a gift to the special people in your life.

Tropical arborvitae

Don’t you think the Celtic trees of life are a fantastic idea? Us too! And that is why we have adapted them for our tropical trees.

Because the tropical trees we plant also have superpowers: they provide jobs, food and income for entire communities. (And they are also fighting climate change…!)

Tropical trees are indeed the most meaningful gifts you can give. Do you want to give trees that the birthday boy or girl will really like? In this article, we present a fantastic tropical birth tree for each month.

Please note, in order to avoid monocultures, you can only select the project in which the trees are planted and no specific trees. However, we promise you that every tree will make a real difference to the future of our planet.

January birth tree

People born in January are considered to be strong-willed personalities who go their own way in life. For this reason, they can achieve successes that many others consider impossible.

Its native tree is the acacia, which thrives against all odds in some of the most challenging places in the world.

Acacias protect themselves with long thorns and appear lonely at first glance, but they form the center of entire ecosystems in the savannah.

Give remarkable trees like the acacia to a special person – support our project in Ghana!

February birth tree

People born in February have a high appreciation for art and beauty. They are free-spirited beings who can seem a little unconventional in their outlook on life.

The birth tree for February is the laburnum tree, one of the most spectacular and extravagant of the tropical trees!

February birthday children are very caring, and this also applies to the laburnum tree. Its roots, bark, fruits, leaves and seeds have healing properties.

Do you want to plant a beautiful tree for someone you care about? You can do just that with our project in Thailand!

March Birth tree

Creativity and empathy are attributed to those born in March. They prefer peace and quiet to the hustle and bustle.

Its native tree is the mangrove, whose protection creates an area of calm in the midst of the stormiest waters.

And speaking of creativity: have you seen the fantastic patterns formed by the aerial roots of the mangroves? These anchor and protect the fragile seabed of islands such as the Philippines and provide a safe nursery for marine animals.

Our team plants mangroves in the Philippines.

Did you already know? Mangroves are the superheroes of our planet! They remove huge amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere and protect entire islands.

With our “Trees for the oceans” project, you can give the gift of extraordinary mangrove trees to someone. For every mangrove tree planted, we also remove 1 kg of plastic from the sea!

Trees for the oceans

April birth tree

Those born in April wear their hearts on their sleeves. They love being the center of attention and make friends easily.

The perfect birth tree for April babies is Moringa, also known as the tree of life because of its nutrient-rich fruits and leaves.

Moringa has many fans all over the world. In recent years, it has received a lot of attention in the press for its numerous health benefits: April’s Birth Tree even has its own line of nutritional supplements!

Bring a smile to the April birthday boy or girl’s face! With“Trees for Entrepreneurs” in Ghana you can plant great trees like the Moringa.

With every tree you plant there, you are also supporting an entrepreneurial school for young Ghanaians and helping them to realize their dreams.

May birth tree

Many talented musicians, actors and artists have their birthday in May: Audrey Hepburn, Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder, to name but a few.

Fittingly, the birth tree of the May children is the mahogany tree, a tree whose refreshingly cool shade promotes concentration and creativity.

The mahogany tree is very versatile: There is much more to this tree than just beautiful wood! Its leaves and bark have numerous health benefits and can lower fever and blood pressure and even fight ^cancer1.

Bouquets of flowers at the artists’ entrance are so passé… Plant fantastic trees for the star in your life!
Click here to get started!

June birth tree

People born in June are characterized by a high degree of empathy and insight. They are also often very creative, which makes them masters at problem solving.

The birth tree in June is the neem tree: a tree that is so versatile that it always has the right thing ready for every situation.

Neem trees are nature’s true problem solvers: they repel mosquitoes and other pests, clean teeth, treat dandruff and athlete’s foot and provide the ingredients for a range of wonderful creams and soaps for sensitive ^skin2.

Neem is not the only fabulous, multi-talented tree we grow in our project in Ghana. To give the MacGyver in your life a crafty tree (or three!), click here:

Plant trees in Ghana

July birth tree

July birthday children are kind-hearted and understanding, but can also be a little eccentric. They are also often very adventurous. The tree associated with her birth month is the grape fig, a nutritious fruit that is not for the faint-hearted!

All parts of the grape fig are good for your health and it is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine. But be careful: figs depend on wasps for pollination, and every organic fruit still contains a small piece of wasp.

Is there a better gift for an adventurous soul than a tree? A tree that supports elephants! Click here to plant trees for elephants.

August birth tree

People born in August are warm-hearted, committed to philanthropy and love to be at the heart of their family.

They also tend to be very hard-working. That’s why the tree for August-borns is the baobab, the most generous and family-friendly tree ever!

The baobab tree cares for animals and humans alike: All of its many products are extremely useful, and in Ghana entire villages and ecosystems rely on its soothing mass to provide them with food, water and shelter.

You can plant incredibly useful trees through our project in Ghana: “Trees for Entrepreneurs” is dedicated to helping the local community – the perfect gift for August birthdays!

September birth tree

People born in September are organized and intelligent. Their innovative power can take on ingenious proportions. September’s birth tree is the banana, a tree that is simply brilliant!

Bananas are famous for their delicious fruit, but their huge leaves are also amazing.

Did you know that banana leaves are a fabulous alternative to plastic? In Ghana, they are used to wrap food and as plates and drinking cups. They can also be woven into sturdy baskets, bags and even furniture!

Birthstones are totally overrated. Trees like the banana and the baobab are a very special gift, now and for the future! Through our “Trees for Entrepreneurs” project in Ghana, you can give these trees as a gift to a very special person.

October birth tree

People born in October are considered the children of Fortuna, who have luck on their side. Honest and conscientious, they can achieve a lot in life. The perfect gift for these lucky people is the money tree, whose five-fingered leaf has an important meaning for Feng Shui practitioners!

This robust and hardy tree is said to bring good luck. It also has other benefits: The tree produces pods full of tasty seeds, which have earned it its other name, the malabar chestnut.

Happy birthday children deserve happy trees! Through our “Trees for Elephants” project in Thailand, you can give wonderful trees such as the money tree as a gift.

Trees for elephants

November birth tree

November people are born optimists. They are generous and full of empathy. Whenever you spend time with them, you simply feel good!

There is a very special birth tree for these special people: The shea tree, whose seeds have almost magical properties!

The shea tree gives us shea butter, which is known all over the world for its great moisturizing and beauty-enhancing properties.

But this tree can do so much more: its fruits and leaves are known for their effectiveness against skin diseases, rheumatism and ^typhus3. You can give one of these fantastic trees as a gift through our project in Ghana!

Birth tree December

Those born in December make good decisions in both their professional and private lives. They are also very loyal friends. Its native tree is teak, which is known for its solidity and longevity.

Teak is a true friend of the forest. Its flowers and seeds nourish a variety of animals and are valued by humans for their medicinal properties.

Each towering tree provides a habitat for hundreds of forest animals, including highly endangered species such as orangutans and forest elephants.

Teak is a great tree – in every respect! That’s why we plant it in Thailand and Ghana. With just a few clicks, you can give such a fabulous tree to a December birthday boy or girl.

Happy Birth-tree!

Which fabulous birth tree belongs to you? Give yourself a present and plant your birth tree here. And while you’re at it, you can also give trees as gifts to your friends and family.

Tropical trees of life really are the most meaningful gifts for anyone you care about. Every tree helps our planet in the fight against climate change, protects wildlife and provides local people with an income and a chance for a better future.

To make it easier for you to decide which projects you would like to support, we have put together a practical overview of each birth tree/month for you here:

Insert image

Sources:

1 https://www.news-medical.net/news/2006/03/27/16910.aspx

2 https://www.britannica.com/plant/neem-tree

3 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878535221002288

Der Beitrag Trees of life: truly meaningful gifts for the special people in your life erschien zuerst auf Click A Tree.

Earth Day 2023: When, where and how to celebrate it (+ free trees!)

Chris Kaiser — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 18:09:52 +0000

Earth Day – Earth Day

When, where and how to celebrate it

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Would you like to know what Earth Day is and how you can celebrate it? Fantastic! Here in our ultimate guide, we’ve put together everything you need to know about Earth Day.

What is Earth Day?

Also known as “Earth Day”, Earth Day is an occasion to celebrate our planet.

It is a small reminder that we all live on the same planet. And that we need to pay attention to him – more on this below.

In short:

When we celebrate the earth, we also celebrate life. And we all love life in some way, don’t we?

Now you know what Earth Day is. Do you already know when it is?

When is Earth Day?

Earth Day is celebrated in Germany and 174 other countries every year on April 22.

Each year, the celebration has a specific theme. The aim of the campaign is to create a greater awareness of nature and promote appreciation for the environment.

The smartest scientists on our planet say that now is our last chance to save our planet. It’s definitely time to act!

Earth Day – a brief history

Did you know that the first Earth Day in 1970 was celebrated by over 20 million people?

The first mention of dedicating one day a year to our planet was at a UNESCO conference in San Francisco in 1969.

Activist Denis Hayes

Earth Day 1970 became the biggest one-day protest in the history of mankind!

But that was not all: in 1990 Hayes made the day international and organized events in 141 countries around the world!

In 2020, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day was celebrated by over 100 million people.

Earth Day is the most widely celebrated secular holiday in the world today.

Earth Day in Germany

Of course we also celebrate Earth Day here in Germany!

The motto for Earth Day 2024 is:

“Planet vs Plastic”

Earth Day offers us a great opportunity to question how we currently live and how we can reduce our impact on the environment.

Earth Day fun facts

Now you know the story of Earth Day, here are some fun facts to impress your friends with:

1. the naming of the Earth Day

Originally, the plan was to call the Earth Day “Environmental Teach-In”. Understandably, this didn’t stick, and so Hayes needed a cooler name.

Along came Julien Koenig. Ever heard of him? No? No worries.

He is the brains behind Volkswagen’s Think Small campaign (a campaign for the Volkswagen Beetle) – one of the most successful advertising campaigns of all time.

And there he was, having coffee with Denis Hayes, brainstorming to come up with cool brand names for a day of environmental awareness.

The story is that Koenig had four ideas: “Ecology Day”, “Environment Day”, “Earth Day” and “E Day”.

“Earth Day” was his personal recommendation because it rhymes with “birthday” and April 22 was Koenig’s birthday.

It’s funny how one of the most popular events in the world came about!

2. the date for Earth Day

John McConnell, who had the original idea for Earth Day, suggested March 21. March 21 is the day of the equinox, the astronomical beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere.

But Gaylord Nelson and Denis Hayes opted for the April 22. And they were much, much better at marketing and PR. That is the only reason why Earth Day on April 22, and not on March 21.

Did Julien Koenig also have a hand in this? After all, April 22 was also his birthday. A great way to leave a legacy.

Ultimately, it’s all about marketing. Even when it comes to saving our planet.

3. day of the earth vs. day of the tree

As the name suggests, we celebrate trees on Arbor Day. In Germany, it falls on April 25.

Although the first Arbor Day was celebrated worldwide in 1594 – and is therefore hundreds of years older than Earth Day – Earth Day became much better known.

It all comes down to marketing…

If you want to learn more about Arbor Day, check out the full Arbor Day guide.

The 3 most popular Earth songs

To celebrate Earth Day appropriately, we need to familiarize ourselves with the best Earth songs out there.

There are hundreds, perhaps even thousands. To save you time, we have selected the top 3 Earth songs for you.

Tell us in the comments what your favorite song is!

Michael Jackson – Earth Song

Probably the most popular earth song in the world comes from pop music legend Michael Jackson.

You probably know the song, but have you ever seen the video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAi3VTSdTxU

Lil Dicky’s Earth Song

Somehow, Earth Song producers aren’t exactly creative when it comes to choosing a name for their song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvuN_WvF1to

Louis Armstrong – What a wonderful world

The all-time classic from 1967. (Before Earth Day was invented. Possibly one of the reasons why it is not called “Earth Day Song”).

Turn up the speakers and sing along!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqhCQZaH4Vs

Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments. With these catchy tunes, we can now get involved in the coolest Earth Day activities.

The 14 coolest activities for Earth Day

Now you know all about Earth Day. Are you ready to celebrate?

Here are the coolest activities for Earth Day.

Invite all your friends. Of course, it’s better to celebrate together!

Celebrate Earth Day at home: 9 indoor activities

The most obvious way to celebrate Earth Day is to go out and enjoy Mother Nature.

But if for some reason you’d rather stay at home, here are the coolest activities you can do indoors on Earth Day. (Bonus: you don’t have to wear pants here either…)

1. listen to the Earth Songs (and sing along).

We have collected the top 3 Earth Songs in the world for a reason.

Turn up your speakers and sing along!

Then invite a few friends over for a little Earth Day party.

2. find your favorite green book

Looking for something quieter? Read a green book and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of nature.

We’re not talking about dry textbooks! How about a gripping novel?

And no list of fascinating green books would be complete without “The Secret Life of Trees” by Peter Wohlleben – a must for every nature lover!

3. plant a tree for a person you really like

Make a difference!

Plant a tree for our earth. You can also dedicate it to someone you really like.

It is our actions today that will determine our planet tomorrow…

Planting trees

4. the lungs of the earth – 15 amazing forest facts

Without forests, we would have ceased to exist a long time ago. They are the green lungs of the earth and home to many living creatures.

There are so many things we can learn from forests and trees. These facts about the forest ecosystem are guaranteed to fascinate you.

5. change your background to a nature image

Many people react to things they see.

This way you can remind yourself every single day how wonderful our planet is. Every time you unlock your cell phone or start your laptop, you can admire the beauty of the earth.

The most memorable photos are the ones you take yourself.

6. look out of the window

The beauty of the earth is all around us. Take a moment to enjoy the view from your window. Who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to do something great.

7. start an earth painting competition with friends

When was the last time you painted a picture of Mother Earth?

Now is the best time! Start an Earth painting competition with your friends. Who can paint the funniest, most beautiful or most detailed picture of our planet?

Take your best pictures and share them with us on Instagram!

8. Netflix & Chill

Some days you don’t want to leave the sofa. We get it.

And sometimes these days are April 22. That’s okay too.

But there’s something you can do even if you’re in the mood for Netflix & Chill – you can watch a breathtaking documentary about our sensational planet.

It will totally change the way you think about the earth. And then you’ll want to plant a huge amount of trees!

Here is our favorite selection:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkaxUblCGz0&t=4s

9th Earth Day cooking evening with friends

Since we’ve just mentioned movies, the next thing we’re thinking about is food.

Organize a cosy cooking session with a few friends.

It’s Earth Day – decide to cook vegetarian or vegan food. The production and consumption of meat has a drastic effect on our planet. (They fall under these 5 causes of deforestation).

You can find many delicious options all over the internet. How about one of these 40 sensational vegan recipes?

(Do you have a favorite recipe of your own? Share it in the comments below – we’d love to try it!)

4 outdoor activities for Earth Day

The weather is nice and you feel like going out?

Fantastic. Now, of course, you can go ahead and plant your own trees.

But if that’s not your thing, here are some more great activities you can do outside on Earth Day this year.

1. get a tree or earth tattoo

Show your love for Mother Earth with a fantastic tattoo of the Earth!

Since we’re mainly focusing on trees here, we’ve put together a collection of the finest tree tattoos (including their meanings) for you.

But if you’re looking for something a little more global, your favorite tattoo artist is sure to have great ideas too.

2. do an Earth Day dance (preferably with friends)

Really? You’ve never heard of the official Earth Day dance?

To be honest: neither do we.

So now is the time to invent one! Think of an acrobatic / mind-blowing / fun dance that honors our planet. Maybe it will even be the next TikTok sensation.

Then dance it all Earth Night long…

Don’t forget to record a video. Then post it and tag us on Instagram. We’ll be on the lookout for #earthdaydance and #clickatree.

Some things are much more fun when you do them together. Share these Earth Day activities with your friends and spend a fantastic day together.

3. plant your own tree

As mentioned above, planting a tree is always a great option – especially on Earth Day.

Check that your garden has enough space and call your local nursery and ask which tree species is best for you.

Otherwise, you can also take part in a community event – there are so many. (If not – organize one.)

It’s a lot of fun – and you always meet inspiring people.

4. help clean up your neighborhood

Beach and city clean-ups are the big new trend in outdoor activities. You’ll be doing something meaningful that’s good for the planet, meeting new people and staying fit at the same time.

And hey: all these benefits won’t cost you a penny! What’s not to like?

If you want to go one step further, you can also try “plogging”. This is a Swedish neologism of “jogging” and “plocka up” (collecting garbage).

In this activity, you jog along your favorite route and collect garbage in a small garbage bag. The a) helps Mother Earth and b) improves your workout by engaging your whole body.

To learn more about plogging and other amazing things, read our truly meaningful New Year’s resolutions. (Which you can really start at any time of year).

5. build an insect hotel

The last unique Earth Day activity you can do outside is to build an insect hotel. (Then call it “The Click A Tree Air-Bee-and-Bee”. Haha.)

As you know, insects are vital to our planet, including for the production of the food we all love.

Build them a brand new home. This can also be made entirely from used materials.

Here is a short video explaining how to build an insect hotel properly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8J-lPepikg

Fantastic. There are lots of things you can do on Earth Day, don’t you think?

If we missed your favorite Earth Day activity – post it in the comments below!

(Free) trees for Earth Day

We promised you (free) tree offers for Earth Day, and here they are.

Some of these offers are free, others are not – you can choose which ones you like best.

Ultimately, when done right, planting trees supports 16 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations!

Planting trees is therefore holistically the most sustainable thing you can do on Earth Day.

Here are our 4 favorite options:

1. #freetrees4you

Starting April 1, you can open one of the 26 virtual doors of the Arbor Day calendar to see which name gets to plant a free tree.

People with this chosen first name can then plant their free tree via Click A Tree’s Universal Impact Platform. The platform allows you to track the positive effects of your tree*.

Even if your name wasn’t chosen for this Arbor Day campaign, you can still help reforest the planet by forwarding the Arbor Day calendar to a person with that name.

Helping the earth to heal is a task for us all. That’s why Click A Tree has launched the #freetree4you campaign.

To be the first to find out which names get to plant free trees, follow our Instagram page.

2nd free tree for Earth Day

Go for a walk in the forest and collect some tree seeds. These trees are already growing in your area and are therefore already adapted to the local conditions.

Plant them in your garden, your neighborhood or the nearest community forest.

2. support the local economy

Contact your local nursery. They know which tree is best for your area – and how to care for it so that it grows into a large, healthy tree.

3. a global tree for Earth Day

Plant your Earth Day tree right here, right now. What’s stopping you?

Trees are one of the most sustainable gifts. So if you don’t plant the tree for yourself, you can always dedicate it to someone special.

Plant a tree

Pro tip: The nice thing is that it’s not a question of either – or. You can follow all 3 suggestions and plant as many trees as you like for Earth Day. Mother Nature will thank you!

Now to you

What will your Earth Day look like? What do you have planned? Have you celebrated Earth Day before? Do you have any great stories, hacks or tips to share?

Please let us know in the comments below. We would really like to hear from you!

Do you know someone who would like to learn about Earth Day? Share it with them.

Der Beitrag Earth Day 2023: When, where and how to celebrate it (+ free trees!) erschien zuerst auf Click A Tree.

Arbor Day: when, where and how to celebrate it

Chris Kaiser — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 14:41:10 +0000

Arbor Day: when, where and how to celebrate it

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Have you heard about Arbor Day and would like to find out what exactly this day is all about and how you can celebrate it?

Then you’ve come to the right place: we’ve summarized everything you need to know in our ultimate guide to Arbor Day.

Let’s dive straight into the day of the trees.

What is the day of the tree?

Before we look at how tree love can be celebrated, let’s first tell you what Arbor Day actually is.

In the simplest sense, Arbor Day is a day when we celebrate trees.

We don’t want to bore you with a long philosophical monologue about the importance of trees (although our founder Chris would really love that!).

Thank you for the picture, Maja!

So let’s just say: Arbor Day is the perfect opportunity to let out the tree hugger in you.

So, now you know what the day of the tree is. But do you know when it is?

When is the day of the tree?

In Germany, Arbor Day is celebrated every year on April 25.

Did you know that this decade is very important for the environment? Some of the world’s brightest scientists are warning that now is our last chance to save our planet.

In this article about the “Twentrees” (the decade that will save our planet), you can find out more about why it is still worth remaining optimistic and what role trees play in climate change.

Tree love around the world – When is Arbor Day in other countries?

The date of Arbor Day varies in different countries. Some countries even celebrate trees for whole weeks!

Here is a rough overview of the dates on which Arbor Day is celebrated in other countries.

Australia

In Australia, Arbor Day is celebrated on June 20.

And because Australians really understand the importance of trees (have you ever been to the outback?!), they also celebrate a National Tree Day (on the last Sunday in July) and a National Schools Tree Day (on the last Friday in July), in addition to Arbor Day.

And hey, if that’s not enough, the Australian state of Victoria is celebrating a whole week of trees.

Canada

Let’s plant a tree, shall we?

Canadians celebrate their National Forest Week during the last full week in September.

The actual day of the tree is on the last Wednesday in September (also known as Maple Leaf Day in Canada).

And then there are a few states that love trees so much that they simply need a few extra days.

Ontario celebrates Tree Week from the last Friday in April to the last Sunday in May.

Prince Edward Island marks its Arbor Day on the third Friday in May, during Arbor Week.

And Calgary celebrates trees on the first Thursday in May.

USA

In the USA, National Arbor Day is always celebrated on the last Friday in April.

The very first Arbor Day was celebrated in the USA on April 10.

The current date for Arbor Day was not decided until 1970. At the 100. To mark the 50th anniversary, President Richard Nixon set the date for Arbor Day for the last Friday in April.

Great Britain

In the UK, National Tree Week is usually around the end of November.

The story of the day of the tree

In Germany, the first official Arbor Day was celebrated on April 25, 1952.

On this day, Federal President Theodor Heuss and the President of the German Forest Protection Association (SDW), Federal Minister Robert Lehr, planted a maple tree in Bonn’s Hofgarten.

Since then, Arbor Day has been celebrated on the same day every year and millions of trees have been planted by nature lovers throughout Germany over the past 70 years.

But that’s enough history now! Now it’s time for our fun facts and 12 super activities to celebrate Arbor Day!

Three fun facts about the Day of the Tree

So, now all the statistics and figures are out of the way. And because we don’t just make sustainability easy at Click A Tree, but fun too, here are three day of the tree fun facts.

1. the oldest day of the tree in the world

The oldest Arbor Day in the world is not the one in the United States, as so many people would assume. Although it was founded in 1872 and is therefore already 150 venerable years old, the oldest Day of the Tree was celebrated in Mondoñedo in Spain in 1594.

2. the oldest tree in the world

Exactly which tree is the oldest tree in the world varies from time to time. However, the spruces in the northern Swedish mountains are definitely among the oldest known trees. Twenty of them are estimated by scientists at Umeå University to be over 8,000 years old.

The North American Scots pine “Sinus aristata var.longaeva” is estimated to be only a comparatively young 4000 to 5000 years old.

This might also interest you: The 12 tallest, oldest, largest and rarest trees in the world

3. worldwide names for the day of the tree

“Day of the tree” describes it quite well. Other countries have gotten creative, so you can also celebrate, for example, ‘Tree Loving Week’ in Korea, ‘The Nation Festival of Tree Planting’ in India and ‘The Greening Week’ in Japan.

Activities for the Day of the Tree

The theory is now complete, are you ready to celebrate?

The most common activity on Arbor Day is, of course, planting trees.

But if, for some reason, you can’t plant trees yourself this year, here are a few dozen activities – both indoor and outdoor – to help you celebrate Arbor Day in a different way.

Seven fun ideas for celebrating Arbor Day at home

Whether it’s because of a virus, bad weather or any other reason, if you’re celebrating Arbor Day at home this year, here are the nine coolest Arbor Day activities that don’t require you to wear pants.

1. be surprised by these 15 fantastic forest facts

There are so many things we can learn from forests and trees. These facts about the forest ecosystem are guaranteed to fascinate you.

2. plant a tree for yourself, the planet or your favorite person

Trees stand for everything that is good. Plant a tree from the couch with our help and dedicate it to someone you really, really like.

Plant trees

3. change your laptop/mobile phone background to a great tree picture

Remind yourself of the beauty (and importance!) of trees every day with a great new tree wallpaper for your laptop or phone.

You can either photograph it yourself or take inspiration from Maja’s tree gallery. Maja is a long-time supporter of Click A Tree and loves taking photos of trees.

4. find out about your favorite tree

Do you already know all his superpowers? Trees can do so much more than just look beautiful and provide shade. One of our favorite trees is the baobab, as it is a real all-rounder.

Here are 7 amazing facts about the baobab tree.

5. read Peter Wohlleben’s book “The secret life of trees”

How often have you walked past a tree, perhaps even admired it, without paying attention to what is actually going on inside? You’re missing out!

Trees have so much more to offer than we can see from the outside. Did you know, for example, that trees are social creatures?

In The Secret Life of Trees, forester and author Peter Wohlleben takes you into the world of trees and shows you how similar trees and people are.

6. start a tree painting competition with your loved ones

It’s as simple as it sounds. Who can paint the most beautiful / colorful / funniest tree?

We would love you to share your masterpieces with us on Instagram!

7. Netflix & Chill

Take a virtual walk through your nearest arboretum or watch one of the incredible tree documentaries you can find online.

Here is our recommendation:

Link to the video

Or would you prefer to spend Arbor Day with your nature-loving friends? Then you should share this article with them so you can choose a fun activity together for Arbor Day.

Five outdoor activities on Arbor Day

Want to spend the day outside? Super! Many people plant trees today, but there are of course other activities you can do on Arbor Day.

1. get a tree tattoo

If you really love trees, there’s no better day than today to get a classy tree tattoo. Of course, this is only for the tattoo lovers among us.

For inspiration, we’ve already asked our community around the world to show us their favorite tree tattoos and explain their meaning.

2. plant your own tree

Like so many people on this Arbor Day, you too can plant your own tree.

If you have enough space in your garden, great! Call your local nursery and find out which tree species is best for you.

In case you don’t have enough space in your garden, you could contact your local environmental champions and ask about community events on Arbor Day. Join in – it’s really fun and you get to meet cool new people!

And, if there are no events near you, you can organize your own. With a little help, it’s easier than you think.

3. dance around a tree and sing funny tree songs (preferably with your loved ones)

Find a tree with enough space around it to start a wild tree dance session.

Come up with unique lyrics to celebrate the tree. Let your love for nature out openly and uncensored.

4. hug a tree. Take a photo. Post it on Instagram and tag us.

Instagram needs more tree pictures – definitely!

Tag @clickatree. And add the hashtags #tagdesbaumes and #twentrees.

5. organize a tree treasure hunt (“Tree-sure Hunt”)

How about a bit of geocaching action on Arbor Day? Or a good old-fashioned “Tree-sure Hunt”, without iPads and smartphones.

Anything is possible with a little creativity.

Helping the earth to heal is a task for us all. That’s why Click A Tree has launched the #freetree4you campaign.

By planting these trees, you are not only combating climate change, but also creating jobs, wildlife habitats and much more.

To be the first to find out which names get to plant free trees, follow our Instagram page.

*Applies to new registrations only.

Now to you

What will your day of the tree look like? What are you going to do? Have you ever celebrated Arbor Day? Do you have any great stories, hacks or tips that you would like to share with us?

Of course you can also plant a tree.

The day of the tree, a wonderful day for a wonderful plant!

What would a world be without trees?

Der Beitrag Arbor Day: when, where and how to celebrate it erschien zuerst auf Click A Tree.

2022 Mission update from our reforestation project in Ghana

Chris Kaiser — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 11:47:09 +0000

2022 Mission update from our reforestation project in Ghana

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2022 was a wild year. After we all thought there would finally be some peace and quiet after 2020 and 2021, the exact opposite happened. War, inflation, staff shortages, Omicron… who has time to think about anything other than themselves?

Quite a lot of people, it turns out. In fact, the number of companies and private individuals who regularly provide us with active support is increasing. Of course, this also means that a lot has happened in our reforestation projects.

Find out here what we have achieved together with our business partners, what new updates there are from Ghana and what our goals are for 2023.

Project presentation: Ghana

The country

Ghana, country in western Africa on the Atlantic coast. Approx. 31.73 million inhabitants (136.6 inhabitants per ^km2), UN Human Development Index rank 133 (Germany: rank 9; UN Report 2020)

The place

Eastern Ghana, Oti Region, near Kyinderi; 8°12’11.2 “N, 0°07’14.9 “W

The mission

Our mission is to create long-term full-time jobs and sustainable food security for local farmers, while training young people at the local entrepreneurship school.

Procedure

Syntropic reforestation (reforestation in the spirit of nature, combined with sustainable, organic agriculture).

Labor force

Full-time workers for planting, tending and harvesting the trees. Use and sale of the harvests by the local population.

Planting time

April to September; new trees are grown in local nurseries from October to March.

Plant species

e.g. moringa, baobab (Adansonia digitate), teak (Tectona grandis), acacia (Acacia pycnantha), shea nut tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), rivet tree (Azadirachta indica), mahogany (Meliaceae).

Special feature of the project / The superpower

In addition to the sustainable creation of full-time jobs, an entrepreneurial school is being promoted in Ghana. Here, unemployed young people learn how to create a better future for themselves. You can read about what we achieve in the Success Stories.

We have compiled more in-depth details about Ghana, the entrepreneurship school, the reforestation project and the special reforestation method on Click A Tree – Planting trees in Ghana.

Previous project successes of Click A Tree

Click A Tree has been planting trees in Ghana since 2019. Thanks to the great support of numerous partners, the following has already been achieved:

Important: “Newly created working hours” only takes into account all additional working hours created in this month. Even with small numbers (e.g. 0 in Q4 2020), all existing jobs will be retained. At such times, for example, the nursery is expanded, the field prepared, planned, etc.

A video update from Clement

If you want to see what all these numbers mean in reality: Take 4 minutes of your time and let our project manager Clement take you to Ghana.

https://youtu.be/t_JBZS23WH8

In a truly meaningful reforestation project, it is not only the number of trees planted but also the diversity of the different tree species that is extremely important.

This is why we continued to diversify in 2022, planting a total of 64 different tree species to date.

You might also be interested in: How everyone benefits from a partnership with Click A Tree

The Big News: The expansion of the entrepreneurial school

Thanks to the steady growth of our partners, not only are there significantly more trees growing than before, but the “superpower projects” are also flourishing.

The superpower in Ghana is the entrepreneurial school. So far, up to 20 young people a year have been trained in the basics of entrepreneurship in a building near the reforestation project in Zongo Macheri: They learned how to write a business plan, why accounting is important (and how it works) and why a solid marketing strategy is essential.

Thanks to the strong support of all our existing and many new partners, we have now been able to expand the Entrepreneurial School. It is probably euphemistic to speak of a new “campus” – but at least there is now a second entrepreneurial school in Tamale, the regional capital of the Northern Region!

The proud community at the inauguration of the new entrepreneurial school.

Why Tamale?

Establishing an entrepreneurial school in a big city instead of a rural area offers a lot of advantages. Here are the most important ones:

Attractiveness for students
Young people, i.e. potential entrepreneurial students, would like to live in a city where they can go out, shop and meet lots of other young people. All this is much easier in Tamale than in Zongo Macheri.
Attractiveness for teachers
Motivating good teachers to teach in a remote rural area is also much more difficult than getting them interested in a job in Tamale.
Infrastructure
As the regional capital and third largest city in Ghana, Tamale offers a much better infrastructure than Zongo Macheri. With a population of around 370,000, there is not only more going on here, but it is also much easier to obtain the working materials that students need for the practical part of their training.
Direct access to one of the largest markets in Ghana
Tamale has one of the largest markets in Ghana. This allows students to test their business idea directly in reality during their studies and find paying customers – and improve the business model if necessary.

The final work is still being carried out here:

Almost finished…

And that’s it:

Would you like to make a big impact with your company in a very uncomplicated way? Then click on the button:

Click A Tree for companies

Success Stories: Success stories from Ghana

“Watching a tree grow is enormously exciting.”

We have never actually heard this sentence before.

And that’s right: The trees we plant need time to develop. But what’s great is that thanks to the Entrepreneurial School, we can already see anew every year what great things we can achieve together.

We would like to share three of the success stories from the entrepreneurship school in Ghana with you below.

Collins, the pearl whisperer

Collins was one of the first students in the entrepreneurship school. He successfully completed his training in November 2019.

The young man on the left, standing, the one with his arm raised – that’s Collins, at his 2019 graduation ceremony.

Then came corona, the crisis and inflation.

And yet Collins has made his dream come true: this year he opened the Ndenwure Beading Training Center. A school where he teaches other young people the art of bead embroidery.

Key ring, necklace, flip flops, handbag or even a rucksack?
No problem. Can Collins create anything?

Not only does Collins now have a job that really fulfills him thanks to his training – but he is also helping other young people to further their education and later open their own businesses!

At least as important: they also have fun doing it!

If you would like to support Collins: Like his Facebook page. And maybe leave a short, motivating comment right away.

It is these small gestures that ensure that Collins will not give up.

Baby John, the photographer

John – who they all just call “Baby John” – wanted to become a photographer. His dream: to travel the whole world and take photos of the most amazing places and the most famous people.

Part 1 of the dream has already come true. After graduating from the Entrepreneur School at the end of 2019, we were able to provide him with his own professional photography equipment thanks to the generous support of Stephanie Kubik from SK Hotels & Venues.

Since then, John has been earning his own money as a photographer, which he is currently using to finance further training.

We are sure that with the stamina John has shown so far, one day he really will travel the world and be booked by the most famous celebrities.

You go, John!

Would you like to be part of these success stories with your company? Then become a Click A Tree partner!

Click A Tree for Businesses

Mary, the tractor healer

When Chris, founder of Click A Tree, met Mary, she was still earning her living from arts and crafts. And she was really good at it – he spontaneously bought her a chic necklace.

But Mary actually wanted to repair tractors. A rather unusual wish from a young person in the heart of Ghana. But not impossible, of course.

Mary also went through the entrepreneur training – and completed it with flying colors. Thanks to the agricultural equipment in our syntropic reforestation project, she was also able to gain her first practical experience in repairing tractors.

One day she would like to start her own company. But for now, she is gaining more practical experience as an employee – and living her dream.

Helping people to help themselves with reforestation and entrepreneurial training

The idea behind Click A Tree is not only to offer people new job opportunities, but also to empower them to make their dreams come true. And it is precisely this value that the graduates of our Entrepreneurial School also share: helping people to help themselves .

We want to help them to go their own way – and we are beside ourselves with joy when we see that it works.

We take exactly the same approach with our reforestation projects. We do not plant trees that are forever dependent on our support. We are creating diversified, self-sufficient ecosystems that will be able to function completely without us in the future.

Just as nature would do.

You could say: helping nature to help itself. However, that would be wrong, as nature doesn’t need us, we need it.

Nature has enough time. Only we humans are running out of time. In other words, helping people to help themselves is purely selfish.

And we would all do well to think selfishly here and create even more forests together.

The mission for 2023

Our mission for the coming year is ambitious. But only those who think big can achieve big things. We are therefore aiming for the following in 2023:

Do you want to support us as a company in this mission?

Then write us an e-mail today with a short sentence stating that you are interested in a business partnership. We would be happy to arrange an appointment for a non-binding telephone call.

If you want to go faster, you can also start planting trees directly by creating an account on our Universal Impact Platform. The platform allows you to track your engagement and share it with your stakeholders. Your account could look like this:

Der Beitrag 2022 Mission update from our reforestation project in Ghana erschien zuerst auf Click A Tree.

15 facts about forests that you didn’t know yet

Chris Kaiser — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 10:46:18 +0000

15 facts about forests that you didn’t know yet

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Forests are incredible places: Diverse, productive and fascinating beyond measure. And yet many people know so little about them!

Did you know that even today we simply cannot live without forests? That even today, researchers are still regularly discovering new and amazing facts about forests?

What are you waiting for? Let’s explore the fascinating world of forests!

What is a forest? The definition

First of all… What exactly is a forest? According to the technical definition, a forest is an area of more than 0.5 hectares with trees that are taller than 5 meters and whose crowns cover more than 10 percent of the ^area1.

But a forest is so much more! Breathtaking beauty, tranquillity, life, income.

What does a forest mean to you?

Yes, it really does exist! Read on, because here are 15 amazing facts about forests that you should definitely know!

1. the forest ecosystem is one of the richest in the world

What do we mean when we talk about the forest ecosystem? It is a community of animals, plants and other creatures that interact with the soil, water and air in their environment. These make the forest into a huge living organism. This ecosystem is incredibly rich and productive.

Over 80 % of all land animals, plants, fungi and bacteria in the world live in a forest. This means that forests are home to more animals and plants than any other place in the world!

Forests provide food and shelter for fabulous animals.

2. forests combat the greenhouse effect

Healthy forests can filter and store enough carbon (CO2) from the atmosphere to keep the greenhouse effect in check.

According to NASA estimates, tropical forests absorb over 1.4 billion tons of harmful ^CO22 every year. That is more than two thirds of the CO2 produced by all countries in the European Union!

You may also be interested in: 11 reasons why trees are so incredibly important to us.

3. forests produce cancer drugs

Did you know that more than 120 medicinal products come from forests? One of the most fantastic facts about forests is that the most effective cancer drugs are produced by trees.

Forests are also the source of the latest medical treatments for type II diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

One of the most amazing facts about forests: Seventy percent of the plants that the U.S. National Cancer Institute attributes anti-cancer properties to grow in tropical ^rainforests3.

4. forests give us clean water

Forests are reservoirs for clean water. The forest soil cleans the rainwater, so that large reserves of drinking water can be found in many forest reserves.

These benefit not only the local settlements and wildlife. Did you know that water reservoirs in forests supply large cities such as Bogotá, Mumbai and Singapore with vital water?

5. forest therapy against stress and illness

Doctors in the UK are now increasingly prescribing ‘forest bathing’ as a treatment for a range of ^conditions4.

One of the greatest facts about forests: A relaxing walk in the woods, where you immerse yourself in the tranquil atmosphere of the forest, helps to lower blood pressure, reduce stress and improve memory and concentration!

It has been proven that forest therapy significantly accelerates recovery after an illness.

6. forests secure the livelihoods of over one billion people

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, forests provide a livelihood for 1.6 billion people worldwide. Forests not only provide protection, food and water, but also enable the cultivation of valuable crops such as tropical fruits, cocoa and coffee.

Click A Tree is very aware of these facts about forests: Syntropic agriculture is an important part of our tree planting project in Ghana.

Every tree planted with your help supports sustainable agriculture that provides livelihoods for entire communities. The project also supports a local school for entrepreneurs to give young people in Ghana a better future.

Planting trees in Ghana

7. forests need fire

Forest fires can be devastating and cause immense damage to property and the environment. But did you know that fire is also very important for the renewal of forests?

Small fires release valuable nutrients in the forest floor and open up the forest cover to sunlight, which then stimulates new growth.

One of the little-known facts about forests is that important tree species such as lodgepole pine and Banks pine need intense heat to open their cones and release their seeds.

8. let your children go to a forest kindergarten!

What is a forest kindergarten? Forest kindergartens offer children the opportunity to enjoy nature and learn in a classroom without walls.

Forest kindergartens are becoming increasingly popular as parents want to give their children the opportunity to play and learn in a natural environment.

Doesn’t that sound great? You can find more information about forest kindergartens in this video from SWR Landesschau Baden-Württemberg:

Link to the video

9 The coolest job, or: What do foresters do?

Foresters help to preserve the forests by maintaining the land, hiking trails, campsites and forest roads. They also help to prevent and fight forest fires.

As a forester, you can also take part in educational programs. It’s one of the coolest jobs in the world!

And also one of the healthiest. Studies show that spending time in a forest every day reduces health problems such as respiratory diseases and skin cancer.

And that’s not all: forest air contains phytoncides, which have a high antibacterial effect and strengthen the immune ^system5.

10. forests protect coasts

Mangrove forests protect the most beautiful coasts on earth. Their roots combat erosion by holding the soil in place and preventing it from being washed away.

They provide shelter and protection from storms for animals and humans alike and serve as a nursery for marine life.

Mangrove forests offer protection and a nursery for marine life.

You can find more amazing facts about mangrove forests in our article Mangrove forests – the all-round heroes [7 lebenswichtige Funktionen + 4 einzigartige Fakten über Mangroven].

Click A Tree is actively involved in the reforestation of mangrove forests in the Philippines and Madagascar. Would you like to read more about our “Trees for the Oceans” project and help protect these breathtaking islands?

Click here

11. forests prevent hurricanes

Forests can weaken and even prevent hurricanes.

The crowns of the trees that form a forest help to break strong winds. According to a new study, large-scale reforestation across Europe could reduce the number of extratropical cyclones by up to 80 ^%6.

12. forests cover 31 % of the earth’s surface

Forests cover 31% of the global land area, but are not evenly distributed across our entire planet.

This means that some countries have more forest than others: Brazil, Canada, China, the Russian Federation and the USA are home to more than half of the world’s forests.

13. forest trees communicate via the “web”

Hidden beneath the soil of forests in temperate zones is a complex network of fungi known as mycelium. This forms an underground network (a forest-wide-web!) that connects all the trees and plants with each other.

In this way, the trees can exchange nutrients and inform each other of approaching dangers.

14 Forests are millions of years old

… and are still full of life! Our list of fascinating facts about forests wouldn’t be complete without a special mention of the oldest forest in the world: the Daintree Rainforest in Australia is estimated to be 180 million years old.

Imagine that this forest ecosystem was once home to dinosaurs!

Would you like to find out more about the oldest, rarest, largest and tallest trees?

Click here for more tree facts

15 And now to finish… What is a forest diagram?

Fun fact: A forest diagram has nothing to do with forests! Although it also shows “trees”… if you squint a bit.

A forest diagram, often called a blobbogram, is a kind of graphical representation of the results of several scientific studies dealing with the same question.

Photo Credit: James Grellier , CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

And this is a forest diagram, often also called a blobbogram. This should not be confused with an illustration showing a forest!

Fantastic forests

There’s no doubt about it: forests are absolutely fantastic! Whether they are millions of years old, produce life-saving medical treatments or are simply there to comfort and protect us, we need forests in our lives.

Help us to create forests

Did you have as much fun reading these facts about forests as we did compiling them? Then share them with all your favorite people in the world!

Sources

1 https://www.fao.org/3/I8661EN/i8661en.pdf

2 https://www.nasa.gov/jpl/nasa-finds-good-news-on-forests-and-carbon-dioxide/

3 https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/47844

4 https://www.news-medical.net/news/20190610/Doctors-urged-to-prescribe-woodland-walks-for-mental-health-problems.aspx

5 https://www.stateforesters.org/2021/03/18/5-reasons-to-pursue-a-career-in-forestry/

6 https://physicsworld.com/a/forests-reduce-cyclone-intensity/

Der Beitrag 15 facts about forests that you didn’t know yet erschien zuerst auf Click A Tree.

The 5 causes of deforestation revealed

Chris Kaiser — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 09:09:15 +0000

The 5 causes of deforestation revealed

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Imagine a world without trees… Can’t you? Neither do we! But unfortunately, this is already becoming a serious possibility. Researchers estimate that around 15 billion trees are cut down every year.

At the same time, however, only 5 billion trees are planted every ^year1. This means that our world is losing over 27 million trees EVERY DAY!

“But how is that even possible?” I hear you cry out in alarm. The answer is: deforestation. Huge areas of forest are disappearing every day, and the consequences are a real nightmare.

In this article, we take a look at the 5 main causes of deforestation on our planet and list 9 (vital) reasons why we really shouldn’t cut down trees.

5 Causes of deforestation uncovered

Agriculture on an industrial scale

Of the billions of trees felled every year, up to 85% are cut down to make way for industrial agriculture. Most of the deforested land is used as grazing land for cattle or for growing fodder for cattle.

In Brazil, one of the largest meat-exporting countries in the world, this practice has led to the deforestation of millions of hectares of the Amazon ^rainforest2.

In Asian countries, on the other hand, large areas of forest are often cut down to make room for oil palm plantations. Palm oil is very versatile and can be found in millions of products.

In Indonesia and Malaysia, production has led to considerable deforestation.

Deforestation for timber extraction

Trees are often felled for their wood: high prices are paid for tropical woods such as mahogany, ipę (Brazilian walnut), jatoba (Brazilian cherry), ramin and nyatoh because of their appearance and durability.

Timber companies source these slow-growing trees from South America, Africa and Asia. And although the companies are only interested in the valuable trees, destruction follows them at every turn.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), 70 % of deforestation is the result of the construction of access roads by timber companies.

Once a tropical forest area has been invaded, the probability that it will soon be completely deforested increases ^eightfold3.

Expansion of mankind and its infrastructure

Entire forests are being cut down to make room for the world’s growing population: Villages are growing into cities, and infrastructure such as power stations and water treatment plants are growing with them. This is a direct cause of the deforestation of enormous areas.

The needs of the cities are also leading to large-scale deforestation elsewhere. New York City, for example, is one of the largest consumers of tropical hardwoods.

It is estimated that the city’s waterfront promenades contain over 2 million meters of Brazilian walnut wood. These have to be replaced regularly, which has already led to large-scale deforestation to procure ^ipę4.

Climate change and forest fires

Climate change is leading to extreme weather conditions all over the world. Forests are destroyed by drought, floods, storms and other natural disasters.

This year, forest fires, which spread uncontrollably due to the extreme drought, caused great devastation. Many old forests have also been lost in Europe.

Over 120 million hectares of forest have been destroyed by fires in the last 20 years. And with every tree that burns, the carbon dioxide it has so carefully hoarded is released back into the atmosphere. For this reason, fire is one of the worst ways to lose trees.

You may also be interested in: 9 unexpected benefits of trees.

Mining in forests

According to the World Bank, 44% of all operating mines are located in forests. Mining causes deforestation in many ways: Trees are cut down to create access roads and make way for buildings and huge processing areas.

Roads built for exploration purposes also lead to new forest areas being opened up for industrial agriculture.

Mines also cause environmental pollution, which contributes significantly to deforestation: The mercury used by gold miners poisons watercourses and kills both animals and trees.

Entire villages were displaced by the resulting destruction. This is a particular problem in Ghana, where economic development in the form of numerous small-scale mining operations has a major impact on the ^environment5.

Creating more opportunities

Developing countries such as Ghana are the worst affected by deforestation. Too often, Ghanaians have to take jobs that harm trees, simply because they have no other choice. They need the money to feed their families.

By employing local people in our reforestation projects and paying them a fair wage, we can help to change this.

People are much happier in a job that allows them to create something beautiful and useful! Our reforestation projects give them this opportunity.

Read here how we support the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

9 reasons why we shouldn’t cut down trees

Trees give us the air we breathe

When it comes to vital causes, there is none more important than this: Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the world’s most dangerous greenhouse gases, and convert it into the oxygen we all need to live.

A single large tree can supply up to four people a day with ^oxygen6. So cutting down trees actually robs us of the air we breathe.

Trees combat climate change

Trees are nature’s superheroes! They combat climate change by removing billions of tons of harmful CO2 from the earth’s atmosphere every year and storing it safely. However, there is also a flip side to the coin.

One of the worst consequences of deforestation is probably this: All this CO2 is released back into the atmosphere when trees are cut down and burned.

Trees offer protection from deadly storms

All over the world, trees act as barriers against storms and storm surges: In the Philippines, for example, mangroves protect entire islands from being washed away.

Researchers have also found evidence that forests prevent the formation of hurricanes and ^tornadoes7. Areas affected by deforestation lose this protection: the associated loss of human life and property is enormous.

Trees are the source of vital products

Trees provide countless products without which humans cannot live – literally. They provide nutritious fruits and nuts, spices (such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg), maple syrup and ingredients for cosmetics and medicines. Aspirin comes from the bark of the willow tree, and one of the most effective cancer drugs, Taxol®, is extracted from the bark of the Pacific yew ^tree8.

We could list many more examples – you know how we are… But many fantastic tree products have not yet been discovered and may never be discovered if we do not stop deforestation and the consequences of deforestation.

You can help by trying out some of these fabulous, surprisingly simple hacks that protect trees!

Trees support millions of creatures

Trees provide millions of creatures with a home, a source of water, protection and food. These include entire ecosystems, in which all too often many of the world’s rarest and most beautiful creatures have their place.

The deforestation of rainforests has a serious impact on biodiversity and threatens the survival of endangered species such as orangutans, clouded leopards and forest elephants.

Trees prevent soil erosion

For centuries, people have been cutting down trees to make room for agriculture. One of the consequences of deforestation is that fertile soil is lost through erosion.

The roots of the trees stabilize the soil, while their shade helps to retain moisture in the soil and protect young plants from hot sunlight.

Trees stop avalanches and landslides

Trees also help to save hundreds of lives every year that would otherwise be lost to devastating landslides and avalanches. Tree trunks and branches stabilize the snow mass, while their roots anchor the ^slope9.

Trees also improve the soil’s ability to absorb water. Some of the worst natural disasters have been caused by cutting down trees: one example is the recent massive landslide on ^Ischia10.

Trees are essential for the water cycle

Trees collect water and filter out pollutants and sediments. The result is clean water that supplies entire ^{communities11}.

The water vapor emitted by the leaves is also needed to balance the water cycle: The consequences of deforestation in areas where people grow crops to survive are serious: the poorest regions of the world, where deforestation is at its worst, are repeatedly hit by droughts.

Trees are important for mental health

Trees make us happy! Hand on heart, it’s really true: a study published in the Journal of Climate Change and Health in May 2022 shows that there is a clear link between deforestation and poor mental health in entire ^{populations12}.

For us as individuals, spending time in a forest offers relaxation and mental recuperation. This is the basis of forest therapy. Trees are good for us all round!

We cannot live without trees

So why shouldn’t we cut down trees? The answer is: we simply can’t live without them. Each tree supports hundreds, and even thousands of lives: People, animals and plants.

Plant trees

Trees are one of the most important components of our planet. When our trees disappear, terrible things happen. Which consequences of deforestation do you think are the worst?

Sources

1 https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=googlescholar&id=GALE|A428357768&v=2.1&it=r&sid=googleScholar&asid=af743024

2 https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2022/10/19/23403330/amazon-rainforest-deforestation-cattle-laundering

3 https://research.wri.org/gfr/latest-analysis-deforestation-trends

4 https://www.rainforestrelief.org/What_to_Avoid_and_Alternatives/Rainforest_Wood.html

5 https://www.mining-technology.com/features/mining-and-deforestation-the-unheeded-industry-challenge/

6 https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2015/03/17/power-one-tree-very-air-we-breathe

7 https://www.cifor.org/press-release/forest-loss-may-lead-to-more-hurricanes-scientists-warn/

8 https://dtp.cancer.gov/timeline/flash/success_stories/s2_taxol.htm#:~:text=Taxol®%20(NSC%20125973),as%20well%20as%20Kaposi%27s%20sarcoma.

9 https://www.slf.ch/en/projects/forests-and-avalanches.html

10 https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221203-on-ischia-illegal-construction-blamed-for-deadly-landslide

11 https://www.americanforests.org/article/the-important-relationship-between-forests-and-water/
12 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278221001061

Der Beitrag The 5 causes of deforestation revealed erschien zuerst auf Click A Tree.