Overview of Tree Planting in 2016

Tree planting is an essential activity that significantly impacts the environment. Trees contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, regulate the water cycle, and enhance the aesthetic beauty of urban and rural settings. The world witnessed significant efforts in tree planting during the year 2016. Organizations, governments, institutions, and individuals made serious strides to increase the number of trees to foster a green environment. The question is, how many trees were planted in 2016?

Global Tree Planting Initiatives

The year 2016 witnessed various tree planting initiatives, from private companies to international organizations. For instance, in April 2016, Apple launched the "Apps for Earth" campaign to plant trees worldwide, partnering with the World Wildlife Fund to plant one tree for every app purchased. The campaign resulted in the plantation of approximately 800,000 trees. The Kenyan Government also launched a tree planting program called Kijani Pamoja in March 2016, which aimed to plant 2.3 million trees within a year. Other global initiatives included the Trees for the Future program, which planted over 1.8 million trees in Africa, and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Billion Tree Campaign, which had planted over 13 billion trees worldwide by the end of the year.

Community Tree Planting Activities

Tree planting is a community activity that has been embraced worldwide. In 2016, several communities came together to plant trees. In the United Kingdom, the city of Sheffield planted about 10,000 trees in a single day in November 2016. The City of Toronto's Tree Planting Program also planted over 50,000 trees in parks and public spaces. In the United States, the Arbor Day Foundation partnered with TD Bank to plant 250,000 trees nationwide. In Nigeria, communities came together to plant trees in a region heavily deforested by illegal logging activities.

Government Tree Planting Programs

Governments around the world have launched several programs that aim to increase the number of trees. For example, the Indian Government launched the "Green India Mission" program in 2016, which aimed to increase the forest cover of India. As part of the program, the Indian Government planned to plant two billion trees by 2020. In Pakistan, the Government launched the "Billion Tree Tsunami" program in 2016, which was aimed at planting a billion trees in five years. In Brazil, several hundred Brazilian mayors committed to the national goal of planting a billion trees by the year 2030.

Conclusion

In conclusion, tree planting is a vital activity that is receiving increased attention globally. The year 2016 saw many initiatives aimed at planting trees, from international organizations to private companies and individuals. Communities and governments around the world contributed to the global effort, resulting in the planting of millions of trees in various parts of the world. While it's impossible to have an exact number of trees planted in 2016, the efforts were significant and demonstrate the importance of tree planting for the human race and the planet at large.