Plant-for-the-Planet was started in 2007 by the then nine-year-old Felix Finkbeiner as part of a school project. In the past decade, Plant-for-the-Planet has matured into a well-respected institution with 100 employees and the mission of increasing the global forest cover from three to four trillion trees through a Trillion Tree Campaign. These trees are a necessary supplement to global emission reductions in order to keep global average temperature rise under 2°C. To start that greatest afforestation project in history, the organisation has five aims:
1. Create a global network of children and youth spread the message of the importance of global afforestation and the dangers of Climate Change in speeches and through tree planting actions. Plant-for-the-Planet aims to create a network of one million such youth and has already educated over 50,000 at academies in 56 countries.
2. Fund cutting age research of global reforestation. Research conducted by a team initiated by Plant-for-the-Planet and led by Tom Crowther has been published in Nature and Science. In September 2017, Plant-for-the-Planet will establish a research institute led by Tom Crowther at a leading University.
3. Show that efficient afforestation is possible and financially viable through a model project. To that aim, Plant-for-the-Planet has established an afforestation project on its own land with 78 employees in Campeche, Mexico. Trees are currently being planted at a rate of two million a year with a survival rate of over 95%. At a visitors’ centre, groups from all over the world can observe the project.
4. Track and publish global tree planting efforts. A global TreeCounter will make developments in global tree cover visible through crowd reporting and acts as a motivational tool for NGOs, private individuals and companies to engage in afforestation. A beta version is available at treecounter.org.
5. Broadcast the need for a trillion trees to the world. At an international conference in Monaco on the 9th of March 2018, the Plant-for-the-Planet will launch the Trillion Tree Campaign together with HRH Prince Albert II of Monaco and elite guests from around the world.