Click A Tree and the 16 (of 17) Sustainable Development Goals

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Would you like to help end poverty and hunger in the world, combat climate change and give millions of cute baby animals a safe home? Did you know that you can contribute to 16 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals – here and now?

That’s right, you can. And yes, you actually deserve a superhero cape for that. But let’s explain that first…

What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)¹ are 17 goals developed by the United Nations (UN ). They are a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for every living being on earth.

All 17 goals are interconnected and should not leave anyone out. Each of the goals addresses the global challenges we all face. These include poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.

They are an important part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development². And since this 15-year plan is already five years old, our current decade is of crucial importance.

Click A Tree supports these sustainable development goals

So now you know what the Sustainable Development Goals are. What role does Click A Tree play in this?

To be very direct, planting trees helps with 16 of the following 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This illustrates why planting trees saves the planet in so many different ways.

No poverty

Global poverty is a complicated and far-reaching problem. Planting trees won’t solve it overnight – but it will certainly help.

Many of our plantations are located in countries with low incomes and high unemployment.

We do not recruit volunteers for tree planting. Instead, we employ locals and pay them a fair and constant wage.

This means that people who previously had to fight poverty can now buy the essentials for their household and even afford school for their children.

No hunger

Everyone knows that certain trees bear fruit that feed both humans and animals.

While we focus primarily on creating thriving ecosystems as habitats for animals, projects like our syntropic agriculture approach in Ghana simultaneously produce crops for the local population to eat and sell.

In addition, all our employees receive a wage that enables them to buy the food they need.

Forests also help to restore the water cycle and improve the quality of the soil.

The entire area around our reforestation projects, including the nearby farms, benefits from more nutrient-rich soils, restored rain cycles and therefore higher quality crops.

Health and well-being

Good food and clean water are important for good health.

But what about clean, high-quality air? What about exercise, money for healthcare and a healthy community?

What about positive thinking and mental health? A long walk in a quiet forest is very calming, and many of us automatically relax in lush green surroundings.

Not forgetting a stable income, without worrying about what to eat next week. Because that is definitely reassuring too.

All this makes tree planting possible, as Boto and Mary experienced first-hand in the miracle of Mahabana.

High-quality education

We have already mentioned that local people who plant trees with Click A Tree receive a salary that enables them and their children to get an education.

Can we go one step further? How about building and supporting a local entrepreneurship school? Can planting trees really support education?

Yes, and it already does! You can find out all about it in our introduction to the Click A Tree Ghana project.

Gender equality

All over the world, women are recruited to plant trees with Click A Tree.

In many countries where we plant trees, women are traditionally expected to do the housework, cook and stay at home. Planting trees helps to break down this old role model.

By working on our plantations, the workers can build a career and become an important part of their community.

As Sushila and Kanji experienced in our success story in Nepal, a career in one of our nurseries can change lives.

Clean water and sanitary facilities

We pay a lot of attention to trees – this is because they are an important part of our fascinating ecosystem.

One of the most important elements of this ecosystem is the water cycle. And trees help to restore it. After rain, they retain the earth’s water reservoir like a natural sponge. This allows sufficient water to stand in wells.

Trees purify the water and supply the soil with essential vitamins. They support vital water catchment areas and help to maintain water levels in a natural way.

Not bad, right? These are just some of the reasons why trees are great.

Instead of building new water treatment plants, which are ineffective and overloaded, trees can purify the water naturally. We just need to plant more of them in watersheds.

A study by the Thomas Reuters Foundation makes it clear that planting trees can significantly improve sanitary conditions in poorer countries³.

Affordable and clean energy

For this goal of sustainable development, we could list everything about wood combustion and the advantages of biomass energy here.

It may be clean, renewable energy, but that’s not really what our Click A Tree trees are about. We create sustainable, functioning ecosystems that are not destined to be burned down.

The procurement of affordable and clean energy is therefore the only goal of sustainable development to which we are not currently contributing.

Decent work and economic growth

Planting trees is certainly no walk in the park – but the work is more than reasonable.

This starts with a fair, steady salary. However, our employees can also take on responsibility and have the opportunity to advance in their careers.

But more importantly, decent work benefits the whole community. Our employees earn money and naturally spend it within the community. In this way, they support other local companies.

When more people find stable employment and unemployment falls, the overall economy in the region begins to grow and flourish.

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Many of our projects start small. But as soon as the support grows and you help us to plant even more trees, a miracle happens in the industry.

Trees are already helping to purify the water and improve sanitary conditions. Planting even more trees will also fund much-needed new roads and strengthen the community’s resources. Thanks to the entrepreneurship school that we support in Ghana, trees also promote innovation and technology.

Fewer inequalities

Gender equality is extremely important – but it is only one of many inequalities that trees can reduce.

If you help to plant more trees, more people will be employed to plant these trees. Danit gives more people around the world an income and the opportunity to send their children to school.

Income and education enable families and communities to work towards a better life and reduce inequalities around the globe.

Sustainable cities and communities

Seriously, is there anything more sustainable than planting trees?

Little machinery or fuel is needed to plant trees. And there is no waste. Air quality is improved and the entire ecosystem benefits.

In addition, planting trees also spreads the self-sufficiency model. Our employees learn new skills and pass them on to their children in a natural way.

While the next generation learns how to earn a living by planting trees, they also learn about soil, water cycles, nutrition and sustainability. The entire community becomes sustainable in a healthy, long-term way.

Sustainable consumption and production

Planting trees is just one step on the way to a more responsible and sustainable life.

But as soon as you start planting trees, you will also realize how everything comes together to form a big whole.

Trees are a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. They allow us to think outside the box and encourage us to consume more responsibly.

People who plant trees become more environmentally conscious consumers. You buy sustainable products from companies that plant trees(like these partners who support our travel tool B’n’Tree). These companies understand the wishes of their customers and attach great importance to responsible production.

This is the perfect opposite of a vicious circle. And trees are the catalyst.

Climate protection measures

Our Mother Earth has spent hundreds of millions of years perfecting the ideal weapon for us in the fight against climate change.

You guessed it: They are trees!

Trees are natural carbon sinks. They store the carbon that is rapidly heating up the planet and are also home to millions of endangered animals. They also improve the quality of water, air and soil while slowing down the effects of climate change.

It seems as if our world is on fire right now. Climate change is wreaking havoc in every corner of the world. The water temperatures continue to rise. Trees help to combat all this⁴.

So why don’t we listen to Mother Earth and plant more trees?

Life under water

Yes, trees also help living creatures under water.

Mangrove trees are extremely important in many tropical parts of the world, including Madagascar and Indonesia. With their net-like roots, some of which are under water, these trees provide a refuge for marine life.

Parrotfish, groupers and shrimps are just some of the many animals that depend on mangrove trees. This is because the water near the roots is cooler and enriched with oxygen.

Their roots are also an ideal breeding station, as they protect young fish and harbor bacteria on which they feed.

Scientists have discovered that the decline in adult fish in the sea is directly linked to the decline in the mangrove tree population⁵. We simply need more trees to support life under water.

You see, we said that trees can help our world in so many different ways.

Life on land

Trees support life on land in a very similar way. And not just us humans – they support every single breathing organism on the planet.

Trees provide us with the air we need to breathe. They provide us with shelter and many other valuable resources, and are even more important for wildlife, as they not only serve as a natural habitat. Their fruits and seeds are a vital source of food for many animals, on which their lives depend.

No matter where you come from, what you earn or what your background is, each and every one of us depends on trees. Without trees, there would be no life on land. It’s as simple as that, which is why we need your help so that we can continue to plant more trees and combat destructive deforestation.

Even the largest land-dwelling animals are lost without trees. You can protect their future by planting more trees and creating more much-needed habitat.

Peace, justice and strong institutions

Career, security and sufficient resources – these are the things that change many people’s lives for the better. Human trafficking, murder and sexual violence are still widespread in many parts of the world. Our plantations bring hope for change to previously hopeless areas.

Planting trees allows our employees to focus on their careers and avoid bad influences and dangers. With a reliable salary, they can continue their education and lead a better life.

Partnerships to achieve the goals

Planting trees is truly a global cooperation – because it is a very global affair.

At Click A Tree, we work with people in Thailand, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Nepal, Indonesia, Peru and several other countries to plant and care for your trees.

Our Click A Tree team is also international – we currently have support from Europe, Asia, Australia and North America.

We have also entered into partnerships with a number of well-known names in the travel and tourism industry. You can also work with us. We make your company more sustainable and profitable. If you are interested in planting trees with us, get in touch with us to find out what opportunities are available.

What do the Sustainable Development Goals mean to you?

We are grateful for you and everyone who has read this article up to this point. You have already done a lot for us and our planet.

Can we ask for more?

We’ve really made it clear how valuable trees are for the Sustainable Development Goals, haven’t we? We do this for a good reason!

Trees save our planet – in so many different ways. Help us plant trees and remember us whenever sustainability is mentioned by letting Google Chrome plant trees for you and, of course, by planting trees yourself.

Your company can also benefit from this! Planting trees with Click A Tree will attract new customers and strengthen both customer and employee loyalty.

Everyone now researches the sustainability of a company before making a purchase – and that’s no coincidence: if you plant trees for your customers, you’re marketing your product to a much wider, environmentally conscious audience. You achieve a greater reach – and help save the world at the same time!

In addition, you can engage in dialog with your customers about sustainable development as you help to make the world a better place for us all.

Let’s keep planting trees!

It’s as simple as that. When you plant trees with us, you contribute to 16 out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals!

Let’s keep planting trees and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals to save the world.

Want to make the world a better place right now? Share our Instagram posts with your followers. Join us on Facebook and let us know what you think about the Sustainable Development Goals.

And, if you haven’t already done so, sign up for our GROW newsletter! And we’ll plant a tree for you in return, just to say thank you for becoming part of our community.

Stay as great as you are! And thank you for your efforts so far! Let’s see what else this exciting new decade has in store for us. Let’s welcome the “Twentrees” together!