Update #2: Millions of people have double tapped our Instagram post, making it one of Instagram’s most liked posts, and easily the most sustainable post on the planet. What started as tiny taps have become an environmental movement.
The trees we’re planting in Indonesia are creating homes for 135 endangered species and will absorb 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide over the course of their lives. That’s like taking 100,000 cars off the road each year! And we’re not done yet.
If we reach 20,000,000 likes on our Instagram post, we’ll plant another 500,000 trees! So if you haven’t double tapped yet, get your thumbs warmed up and check us out on Instagram!
UPDATE #1: We’ve already reached our goal of planting 500,000 this week! Thanks so much to everyone who double tapped to plant a tree! Let’s keep it going. If our Instagram post reaches 20 million likes, we’re going to plant another 500,000 trees!
All over the world on April 22nd, people will be celebrating Earth Day. But environmental protection is so important to us, we don’t feel like we can cram it into just one day. That’s why we’re celebrating Earth Week! This Earth Week, in order to help reforest the world, we’re trying something we’ve never done before. Starting on Earth Day, April 22nd, and ending on Arbor Day, April 26, we’re partnering up with Eden Reforestation Projects to plant 1 tree in Indonesia for every 10 likes on this Instagram post. Our goal is to plant 500,000 trees! That’s like planting two and a half central parks worth of jungle!
The world’s first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970 in an attempt to compel worldwide governments to take meaningful action in support of environmental protection. Globally, there were demonstrations in more than 193 countries. In the United States alone, 20 million Americans took to the streets to advocate for the environment.
Nearly 50 years later, our work isn’t done. One of our chief concerns is deforestation. It’s why tentree came to be! We plant 10 trees for each item purchased in our store. Every year, 15 billion trees are cut down and only 5 billion trees are planted.
Our goal is to plant up to 500,000 trees right here
Last year, we began the process of starting up a tree planting project in Indonesia. Indonesia is a large archipelago consisting of more than 17,000 islands. Because the country is spread out over so many islands, it is considered the most biodiverse country in the world, meaning that more species live in that one country than any other.
One of those 17,000 islands is Biak Island. Biak is a small island, only 948 square miles, with a human population of approximately 156,000. It’s located near the northern coast of the Indonesian province of Papua.
In 1996, an 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Biak, leaving 160 dead, 423 injured, and 5,090 homeless. With waves up to 23 feet high struck the coast of the island, the damage was almost unimaginable. Even more than 20 years later, the island is still struggling to fully recover from this earthquake and regain stability.
Trees planted in places like Biak have a multitude of benefits, both environmental and economic. It’s all about what you plant and where you plant it.
What kinds of trees will be planted?
Along the eastern coast of Biak near the village of Mnurwar, we’ll be planting mangrove trees. Mangroves are a type of tree that grows with its roots submerged in water. The trees help by locking in coastlines, preventing erosion, and providing critical habitat to aquatic life, like fish. Mangrove trees are also one of the greatest offsetters of CO2. Just one full grown mangrove tree can absorb 60 kilograms of CO2 each year!
Near the village of Korem, we’ll be planting pineapple trees, tropical forest trees, and mangroves as well. Here, your trees will benefit villagers in Korem by providing a healthy source of food that reaps economic benefits for locals.
What can I do to help reforest Biak?
Planting 500,000 trees in Biak is an audacious goal and one that we cannot reach without you. We need your help! Here’s what you can do:
