How Many Trees Were Planted in 2020?

2020 was a year unlike any other, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacting lives and economies around the world. In the midst of all the chaos, however, there were still efforts being made to tackle another global crisis: climate change. One of the ways in which this was being done was through tree planting initiatives.

The Importance of Tree Planting

Tree planting is important for a number of reasons, such as:

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reducing the amount of this harmful gas in the air.

Providing oxygen: Trees are a source of oxygen, which we need to breathe.

Conserving water: Trees help to regulate the water cycle, preventing soil erosion and improving water quality.

Cooling the environment: Trees provide shade and cooling, making urban environments more livable and reducing the heat island effect.

Providing habitat: Trees provide habitat for many species of animals, including birds, insects, and mammals.

Given the many benefits of tree planting, it is clear why there has been a push in recent years to plant more trees.

Tree Planting Projects in 2020

Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, many tree planting projects were still carried out in 2020. Here are some examples:

The Trillion Tree Campaign: Launched in 2018, this initiative aims to plant one trillion trees by 2050. In 2020, the campaign announced that it had reached the halfway point, with over 500 billion trees planted.

The Great Green Wall: This project, which aims to plant a wall of trees across Africa to combat desertification, continued in 2020 despite the pandemic. Over 20 million trees were planted throughout the year.

The European Union's Green Deal: As part of its efforts to become carbon-neutral by 2050, the EU pledged to plant 3 billion trees by 2030. While progress was slowed by the pandemic, the EU still managed to plant over 50 million trees in 2020.

Reforestation in Australia: Following the devastating bushfires of 2019-2020, there were several initiatives to plant trees in affected areas. The government of New South Wales, for example, pledged to plant one billion trees by 2030.

The Total Number of Trees Planted in 2020

It is difficult to know exactly how many trees were planted worldwide in 2020, as there were countless individual initiatives as well as larger-scale projects. However, some estimates suggest that the total number of trees planted in 2020 could be as high as 100 billion.

While this is an impressive number, it is important to remember that tree planting is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to tackling climate change. We also need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, protect existing forests, and transition to more sustainable ways of living.

Conclusion

Overall, 2020 saw a continued commitment to tree planting initiatives despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the total number of trees planted is uncertain, it is clear that efforts are being made to combat climate change and its many associated problems through tree planting.