Over 590,000 trees and shrubs planted

According to a study in the Nature Climate Change Journal, "global forests were a net “carbon sink” of 7.6 billion metric tonnes of CO2 per year". ² The process of "absorbing CO2 and storing the carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air" helps reduce the effects of climate change, as noted by the Arbor Day Foundation.³

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nationals (FAO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) state that “forests help prevent erosion and enrich and conserve soil, helping to protect communities from landslides and floods.” ⁴

The U.S. National Parks Service reminds us that “trees can improve air quality… Urban forests can remove multiple tons of ozone, gaseous air pollution, and particulate matter each year either through direct uptake of gasses or temporarily intercepting airborne particles.” ⁵

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), “forests play a critical role in protecting the quality and safety of drinking water... Forests impact water quality by reducing soil erosion and sediment load and filtering pollutants.” ⁶

The World Resources Institute notes that “trees are one of the most practical tools cities have to combat heat. Offering both shade and ‘evaporative cooling’ — they provide relief to people outdoors while helping lower surrounding temperatures.” ⁷

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization and United Nations Environment Programme, “forests are home to an astonishing 80% of land-based wildlife species. That’s 80% of amphibians, 75% of birds and 68% of mammals that live in or depend on healthy forests.” ⁸

Exposure to forests “contributes to improved mental health, and access to forests also promotes increased physical activity, which is associated with reduced obesity and stress levels—factors that are linked to reduced risk of noncommunicable diseases.” ⁹