How do you compensate your environmental footprint? Do you actually compensate it at all? Do you know how important it is for the future of our beloved planet? We do have a comfortable and meaningful solution for you: Now you can easily plant trees with us and be part of the support for planetary health. Whether as a gift for your loved ones (whether its for a birthday, a birth, anniversary, wedding) or one for your clients or business partners. GROW MY TREE by Impact Hero and HER/etiquette are pleased to launch this new platform, on which you can plant as many trees as you want and receive a personalized certificate for full transparency and traceability.

Here’s what you should know about why planting trees is so crucial for the well-being of our planet:

How do trees help tackle climate change?

Trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, making them important weapons against climate change. But they also provide habitat for wildlife, prevent soil erosion and clean the air. They contribute to healthy micro-climate and water levels, thereby building the basis for biodiversity.

Where are the trees being planted?

We work with local partners (see more details here) in countries such as India, Tanzania or Peru in the Global South that focus on reforesting degraded areas with new mixed forests (natural reforestation) and/or providing trees to surrounding farmers to include into their agricultural practices (agroforestry). 

 

How does Grow My Tree work?

To ensure sustainability, GROW MY TREE by Impact Hero focuses on reforestation and restoration projects. The tree planting initiatives are primarily aimed at restoring degraded forests. The teams on site carefully examine the causes of forest degradation in a given area and take action to prevent it from degrading again. Proper delineation of the area helps prevent encroachment and ensures the project can grow allowing the trees to thrive.

Community and government involvement is a critical aspect of this approach. GROW MY TREE by Impact Hero actively works with local communities and forest authorities and recognize their invaluable wealth of knowledge and experience of the local environment. By including them in the decision-making process, we can effectively address the underlying causes of forest degradation. Your experiences help us to shape our strategies and measures.

Who plants the trees?

GROW MY TREE by Impact Hero works with local specialized partners who support the local communities as part of our projects. For example, up to 25% of the trees we plant are dedicated to agroforestry. These trees provide multiple benefits to the community, including fruit, firewood, wood for fencing, and soil erosion control. Agroforestry trees fit well with community agricultural practices and increase productivity per unit area. They also serve as a substitute for wood from natural forests, thus contributing to the security of the forest ecosystem. In addition, the funds generated from tree planting support community development projects and contribute to educational opportunities for underprivileged children.

What kind of trees are being planted?

Omega, the Planting and Regional Officer for Southeast Africa at GROW MY TREE by Impact Hero is answering this question for you:

We focus on tree species that are native to the restoration sites.  also work with various partners, including forest authorities and researchers, to identify suitable native species for reforestation. The species of trees planted are carefully selected to ensure they are native and non-invasive while meeting the ecological requirements of the site. To create a natural forest environment and promote a balanced ecosystem, we plant a diverse selection of tree species. The seeds and wildlings for these native species are collected by the local community in the natural forest. They are then sorted and sown at a nursery, where community members, both men and women, are employed to oversee daily activities and tend to the seedlings until they are ready to be planted. 

The protection of trees is an important aspect of our commitment. We are not only committed to the survival of the trees we plant, but also to the forest ecosystem as a whole. By actively working with local communities and forest authorities, we combat key causes of forest degradation, such as shifting cultivation, wildfires and illegal logging. Close monitoring of our planting sites allows us to quickly identify threats to tree survival. We ensure the ongoing protection and conservation of the trees planted and the surrounding forest.

In summary, tree planting is a sustainable endeavor that offers numerous benefits to the environment and local communities. By focusing on reforestation and restoration, engaging communities and government agencies, supporting community development and prioritizing conservation efforts, we aim to ensure the long-term success of tree planting initiatives and the sustainability of the forests we restore. In addition, our tree planting initiative aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals such as end poverty, zero hunger, quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, action on climate change, life on land and partnerships to achieve the goals.

Sustainability References

Land ownership: The planted trees are not owned by Grow My Tree but the land belongs to the farmers (agroforestry projects) or land titles are granted to the local communities through long-term contracts (natural reforestation projects).

Biodiversity fit: Only native tree species with high survival rates will be planted. For natural reforestation, only diverse mixed forests are planted and mono cultures are prohibited. 

Technological readiness: We choose either projects already able to properly track or monitor the trees or projects which we can empower.

SDG contribution: All projects support SDGs and have a special focus tailored to their region. 

Community involvement & cultural awareness: All projects involve local communities, giving help to self-help. Cultural traditions are strictly considered.

Ethical codex: Only projects with high ethical standards and fair wages are chosen after a careful due diligence.

Plant your tree(s) with us here (the first tree is on us):

https://growmytree.com/her-etiquette-tree