How Many Trees Did #TeamTrees Plant?

Initiated by YouTubers Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast, and Mark Rober, #TeamTrees is a fundraising campaign that aims to raise $20 million to plant 20 million trees by the end of the year 2020. The campaign began in October 2019 and quickly became viral thanks to the power of social media and MrBeast's and Mark Rober's massive online following.

The Fundraising Success

As of December 2019, the #TeamTrees campaign has already raised more than $16 million from over 500,000 donors. The donations came in different forms, including the sale of limited-edition merchandise, direct donations from individuals and corporates, and contributions from other fundraisers who pledged their own campaigns' proceeds to #TeamTrees.

The donations have come from all over the world, showing how people from different countries and cultures are willing to unite in making a positive impact on the planet. Some of the high-profile donors include Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who donated 1 million trees, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke, who pledged to donate 1 million trees, and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who donated $150,000 for the cause. Other popular YouTubers, including PewDiePie, Jacksepticeye, and Smarter Every Day, also joined the campaign and helped raise awareness among their millions of subscribers.

The Tree Planting Effort

The #TeamTrees campaign has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation, a non-profit organization that has been planting trees since 1972. The Arbor Day Foundation has a long history of successful tree planting efforts, having planted over 250 million trees in the US and around the world.

The Arbor Day Foundation has identified several areas that need reforestation, including wildfire-damaged forests in California, degraded rainforest areas in Brazil, and areas affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters. The foundation also involves local communities in the planting and care of the trees, providing livelihoods and environmental education to the communities.

The Impact of Planting Trees

Planting trees has numerous benefits for people and the planet. Trees help combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and producing oxygen. They provide habitats for wildlife and help restore degraded ecosystems. They also help prevent soil erosion, regulate water cycles, and provide shade and cooling in urban areas.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, one mature tree can absorb up to 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year, and a forested acre can sequester up to 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide in a year. Additionally, one tree can provide enough oxygen for two people to breathe for a year, and a mature tree can provide shade that cools the equivalent of 10 air conditioners operating for 20 hours a day.

The Future of #TeamTrees

With just a few weeks left until the end of the year 2020, the #TeamTrees campaign is closer than ever to reaching its goal of planting 20 million trees. The success of the campaign shows the power of collective action and the potential of social media to spark positive change. The impact of the planted trees will be felt for years to come, contributing to a healthier planet and a brighter future for all of us.