Planting a tree isn’t as simple as digging a hole and putting it in the ground; Greenpop shares four ways we can all make planting a tree count for something more.
South Africa (03 October 2022) – Planting trees is vital for life on Earth. A tree has the power to give us clean air, bind the earth to prevent flooding, offer shelter and shade, cool down the earth, give people a source of food, some have medicinal benefits and above all, ensure a better future for all. That is a lot of pressure for a tree to take on, so making sure you are planting it properly, is the best way to help.
For Greenpop, it has always been about making trees count instead of counting the number of trees. In South Africa, planting the right species of trees in the right environments and making sure they thrive has always been a part of the philosophy of Greenpop. Having planted nearly 200,000 trees since its founding, Greenpop has the best advice to make sure any trees you plant, thrive too!
So what are the four ways to make trees count?
Plant a tree for the right reason.
A little research makes good intentions go much further. Before planting trees, the Greenpop team make sure they do their due diligence as to why the tree is being planted.
“We choose project activities that (1) are most relevant and appropriate within the project context, (2) will address the barriers which prevent forests from being protected or restored without our intervention, and (3) are based on current best practices and research.
This process helps us to ensure that when we do plant trees, we plant them for the right reasons.”
Plant a tree in the right place.
Not every place can sustain a tree or even a forest. Some areas have vulnerable water tables or lack of space needed to sustain a tree. Remember, they can live many lifetimes and grow to enormous heights.
“We know that trees do not belong everywhere and we take care to avoid causing the loss or conversion of natural ecosystems (grasslands, fynbos, etc) through our tree planting activities.
As such, we will only consider planting trees in (1) degraded forests, (2) farmland and (3) villages and urban areas.”
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Plant the right species.
South Africa has an incredible variety of indigenous trees but knowing which should go where, requires a bit of research and understanding.
“At Greenpop, we recognise that not all trees are created equal.
When selecting tree species for our projects, we ensure that the trees are: (1) non-invasive, (2) fit for their purpose, (3) locally indigenous and (4) grown in nurseries which take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer and other invasive pests and weeds.”
Plant trees with the right people.
Colabration is key when planting trees. Sometimes that comes in the form of sponsorship and sometimes in the form of educating the next generation. Working with the right people helps ensure the longevity of a tree.
“Based on our experience, Greenpop is aware of the complex challenges associated with indigenous forest and urban landscape management in Sub-Saharan Africa. As such, we don’t use drones to plant trees – we use collaboration. The success of our projects relies on (1) an expert team, (2) local partnerships, (3) stakeholder engagement, (4) a pro-community stance and (5) university partnerships.”
Greenpop has two further points which include measuring the impact the tree makes and what a tree should be valued at. These points are explored further via their website here. Should you wish to launch a tree-planting initiative, the linked post is a phenomenal asset for that.
You can support the future of our forests by donating to the cause here. Greenpop also has a nifty gifting platform that allows you to buy a tree for someone you love, whether for a birthday, an anniversary, a holiday or just because. The tree is then planted in one of the locally run reforestation projects, using the criteria listed above.
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