World hits milestone: 5 billion trees planted in global reforestation push
A coalition of 74 countries says grassroots planting efforts have restored forest cover across more than 12 million hectares — three years ahead of schedule.
The world just crossed a milestone once thought impossible. According to a joint report released Friday, a coalition of 74 countries has collectively planted more than 5 billion trees since the global reforestation pact was signed in 2019 — three years ahead of the original 2029 target.
The effort, coordinated through the United Nations Environment Programme, has restored forest cover across an estimated 12.4 million hectares of degraded land. Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, and Brazil lead the tally, but organizers say the real story is the wave of small, community-run nurseries that fed the pipeline.
"We used to think reforestation was a government project," said Dr. Amina Yusuf, who runs a nursery cooperative outside Nairobi. "Now every school in this district grows seedlings. Kids know the names of the trees they plant."
Scientists caution that planting is only the first step — survival rates over the next decade will determine the true climate impact. Early monitoring, however, shows a 78% two-year survival rate, well above the 60% benchmark.
The next phase, announced today, aims for 10 billion trees by 2032, with a new focus on native species and biodiversity corridors that connect fragmented habitats.