A Billion Begins with One

FAQs

General Information

• What is the Plant a Billion Trees Campaign?

  The Plant a Billion Trees campaign is a large-scale restoration initiative launched by The Nature Conservancy in 2008. Our first project was to restore Brazil's Atlantic Forest, and now we have expanded to include forest projects all across the world! By planting trees and helping forests regrow where they have been severely degraded, we're helping to reduce the impacts of climate change, slow biodiversity loss, ensure clean water and air for everyone, and provide full, healthy forests for future generations.

• How does restoring and protecting forests impact me and communities around the world?

  Forests help sustain all life on Earth. They clean our water. Cleanse our air. Cool our planet. Store our carbon. Trees give us refuge and refreshment, shade and shelter.

  The Plant a Billion Trees campaign will help restore the health of our natural environments. Planting trees will improve important watersheds that provide clean drinking water and hydroelectricity to millions of people, as well as protect thousands of species of plants and animals.

• One billion trees is a pretty big goal—how is TNC going to accomplish this?

  It is ambitious, but forests around the world are worth the effort. They are essential to healthy lives and planet. We will need to stretch in ways that challenge us and deepen our partnerships around the world. Together, we can achieve more than any of us can alone.

  TNC has over 400 scientists on staff that specialize in a range of different fields including forest ecology, water, climate mitigation, soil, carbon and other related areas. They are working to find the best ways to ensure the forests we restore and re-establish are viable ecosystems that provide multiple benefits to people and nature.

  Founded in 1951, because of donations like yours, The Nature Conservancy has the means, experience and track record to work closely with partner organizations to meet this important goal.

More Details

• How much does it cost to plant a tree?

  The cost to plant a tree varies depending on the location of the project and the type of tree being planted, and ranges between approximately $1.50-$3 USD per tree. Beyond covering costs to simply plant the seedlings in the ground, donations support ongoing maintenance, research, and stewardship at Plant a Billion sites to ensure the seedlings grow to be mature, healthy trees.

  Donations also help pay for the reforestation efforts at PBT projects, such as the removal of invasive species, protecting areas where tree saplings are growing, encouraging species to return to degraded areas, and removing any barriers that might prevent a forest from regrowth. Up to 20% of the cost is used to help administer the program.

• How are trees being cared for after they are planted?

  Monitoring procedures vary from site to site, but generally, TNC staff conduct regular site visits to oversee qualitative and quantitative surveys. We gauge measures such as seedling survival rates and tree sizes, as well as assessing ecosystem conditions for invasive/competing species to ensure we are making the appropriate adjustments to best care for our trees over time.

• How is TNC staff involved at these projects?

  TNC staff and scientists, based in-country, manage each of our planting projects. To help accomplish this work, we collaborate with a network of in-country partners—including governments, forestry companies, local cooperatives, non-governmental organizations and local communities. Additionally, we offer assistance and technical guidance to others, using established TNC projects as a model to accelerate results and efficiencies.

• Does TNC work with Indigenous Peoples and other local communities in the planting process?

  Partnering with Indigenous Peoples and local communities has been an important part of TNC’s approach for many years. Our partnerships with Indigenous Peoples and local communities are opportunities for mutual learning, sharing and benefit between the communities and TNC. We strive for transformational—not transactional—partnerships in the spirit of reciprocity. We learn from and support their leadership in stewarding their lands and shaping their future.

  Plant a Billion Trees, in particular, works very closely with Indigenous communities at our planting sites in Mexico and Brazil, which are homes to, respectively, the Mayan Forest and the Amazon. Through continued and expanded partnerships, TNC envisions strong indigenous organizations and peoples sustainably managing their lands, while collaborating with governments and other organizations to guarantee the integrity of those areas for future generations.

• Does The Nature Conservancy provide carbon credits?

  Our Plant a Billion Trees reforestation projects yield important carbon benefits by capturing and storing carbon, helping to stabilize our climate. However, these projects do not offer certified carbon credits or offsets. TNC does offer a Carbon Calculator to estimate your carbon footprint. You can read more about carbon markets and their effects on climate change here.

Support

• I want to help! How can I get involved?

  Thank you for caring about the world's forests! To help us reach our goal of planting and protecting one billion trees, get started with your tree donation. Your support will help us plant trees and protect and restore forests in a location of your choosing, or you can choose to let us decide where the funds are most needed.

  There are other ways to get involved, too:

  • You can check out volunteer opportunities with The Nature Conservancy.
  • Sign up for your local TNC monthly e-newsletter, Nature News.
    
  • You or your organization can partner with TNC.
    
• What is Gift a Tree and how does it work?

  If you know someone who loves nature and conservation, Gift a Tree is the perfect option to send them a token of appreciation, celebrate a holiday, or honor a loved one. Write a heartfelt message in the form, pick a date, and we will send an e-card letting the recipient know they were gifted trees.

  For each $10 donation received as part of our Gift a Tree option, TNC will plant five trees in our critical forests around the globe. The more you gift, the more trees will be planted in celebration.

  Share the ability to gift a tree with friends and family by using plantabillion.org/giftatree.

• Is my donation tax deductible?

  The Nature Conservancy is a 501(c)3 organization, and donations are tax-deductible. For Plant a Billion Trees donations, you can claim the entire amount of your cash gift as a charitable income tax deduction. The IRS allows you to claim this deduction up to 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

  The Nature Conservancy does not provide legal, tax or accounting advice. You are encouraged to consult your own professional advisors on tax matters.

  The Nature Conservancy's tax ID number (EIN) is 53-0242652.

  For more information about donating to TNC, visit here.

• Who do I contact if I’m having trouble with my donation?

  If you ever have any questions about the Plant a Billion Trees program or need assistance, please contact our member care services by emailing member@tnc.org or calling 800-628-6860.

• How can my company/organization partner with Plant a Billion Trees?

  If you are an company/organization that is interested in partnering with TNC, find more information here.

• Do you have any educational resources I can use at school or share with others?

  While we do not have any specific resources from Plant a Billion Trees, our Nature Lab program has an extensive curriculum to help students learn the science behind how nature works for us and how we can help keep it running strong.