HOW WE PLANT TREES FOR UNDER 10¢ EACH
Let's put the global deforestation crisis in perspective.
Earth Restoration Goal #1:
In 2002 the WORLD BANK communicated the urgent need to replant 15 million hectares [1 hectare = 2.47 acres] of deforested land, per year, for ten years. Each hectare of reforested land typically requires a minimum of 2,000 trees. You can do the math yourself, but our calculators say this means the world needs to find a way to plant 30 BILLION – yes, BILLION – trees each year, for the next ten years. That's a pretty staggering statistic!
Earth Restoration Goal #2:
The WORLD BANK also estimated that it will cost 20¢ per seedling. However, when inflation and other factors are considered, the real cost in 2008 is closer to 28¢ per seedling. Do the math again. This means that someone needs to come up with about $8.5 billion per year for ten years. Who's going to do this? Who's going to pay for this? Hint: Very few and very little has been volunteered to date…
Earth Restoration Reality:
The global deforestation problem is not a "casual emergency." There is an urgent need to plant BILLIONS of TREES - and finding the most cost-effective means to do it is a big deal to the people involved with Eden Reforestation Projects.
The reality is most reforestation organizations are asking for $1 to $4 to plant each new tree. We don't mean to be unkind in our comparisons, but at these rates the goal of significantly reforesting the planet is just too expensive. The world has got to find a way to be more cost effective in its reforestation efforts, and we think we have found ways to consistently plant seedlings for less than 10¢ each. Here are the principles that we have found to be effective at dramatically reducing the cost of a seedling:
Principle #1:
We don't pay for organizational start-up costs. Instead, we partner with humanitarian leaders and groups in third world countries that already have an existing organization in place. These groups and leaders have become convicted that they want to add reforestation as a priority to their other efforts. Therefore, again, there is no expensive start-up cost!
Principle #2:
We do everything possible to keep overhead expenses to a minimum! For instance, we do not allow ourselves to afford pricey offices or vehicles, and most of our US-based staff are volunteers. What really matters to us is planting trees – LOTS of trees.
Principle #3:
We employ local third world workers at wages that are consistent with their economy. These workers are almost always from the ranks of the unemployed. In this way, we are also helping to break the cycle of poverty.
Principle #4:
The local leaders and people at the reforestation project sites must be committed to the healing of their own lands. That is, they must be willing to donate the land for nurseries and reforestation sites. In addition, they must be willing to donate some of their own labor. After all, it's their land that we're trying to heal!
We don't pay for organizational start-up costs. Instead, we partner with humanitarian leaders and groups in third world countries that already have an existing organization in place. These groups and leaders have become convicted that they want to add reforestation as a priority to their other efforts. Therefore, again, there is no expensive start-up cost!
Principle #2:
We do everything possible to keep overhead expenses to a minimum! For instance, we do not allow ourselves to afford pricey offices or vehicles, and most of our US-based staff are volunteers. What really matters to us is planting trees – LOTS of trees.
Principle #3:
We employ local third world workers at wages that are consistent with their economy. These workers are almost always from the ranks of the unemployed. In this way, we are also helping to break the cycle of poverty.
Principle #4:
The local leaders and people at the reforestation project sites must be committed to the healing of their own lands. That is, they must be willing to donate the land for nurseries and reforestation sites. In addition, they must be willing to donate some of their own labor. After all, it's their land that we're trying to heal!
Click here to check out Eden's successful reforestation project sites.