Environmental experts and monitoring tools like Global Forest Watch have observed a worrying decline in India’s biodiverse old-growth forests over the last two decades especially in parts of the Northeast and the Himalayan belt. This loss has been due to construction, mining and logging activities as well as frequent forest fires. The loss of India’s green cover is an overwhelmingly complex issue but four organisations are changing this narrative. Their comprehensive afforestation strategies include empowering citizenry to make a difference through meaningful gestures like gifting trees. Tree‑gifting initiatives transform celebrations like birthdays, anniversaries and corporate milestones into moments that give back to nature, bolster local communities, and contribute to profound ecological healing.
Grow-Trees.com: Social enterprise Grow-Trees.com successfully planting over 20 million trees across 24 states in India. They have pioneered the concept of a eTreeCertificate®. Every time an individual or corporate entity greets with trees, they receive an eTreeCertificate® as acknowledgement of their green gesture. Users can also track the location of the project where the tree is planted. Anyone can gift trees with just a click across diverse ecological projects from Himalayan forests to elephant habitats to tiger corridors. Since their inception, they have planted over 20,654,759 trees across India and created 1,704,018 workdays, primarily for tribal and women communities. These trees on maturity are expected to absorb 413,095,180 kg CO₂ annually. Grow-Trees.com has played a pivotal role in habitat restoration with projects like Trees for Tigers®, Trees for Elephants® and Trees for Leopards®. Their afforestation projects have also restored coastal ecosystems and Himalayan biodiversity. Anyone can be a part of their mission to restore India’s green cover by simply clicking on their website.
The Happy Plant Project: The Happy Plant Project Welfare Society plants trees across various locations in nine states of India. These are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Through their website, users can choose trees based on region, impact, or dedicate them under categories like ‘Leave a Legacy’ or ‘In Memory.’ Greenverz also offers a simple monthly planting programme that allows individuals to plant one tree every month with a minimum duration of one year. Each tree can be dedicated to someone special, whether for a birthday, anniversary, Diwali or Christmas, making it a thoughtful option for both personal and professional gifting.
Grow Billion Trees: Launched with a vision to plant one billion trees across India by June 2030, Grow Billion Trees Foundation offers individuals, corporate entities, and community groups opportunities to participate in tree-planting efforts aimed at addressing climate change, preserving biodiversity, and improving community well-being. Their projects include initiatives like Trees for Carbon Neutral Meetings, Trees for Wedding Anniversary Celebrations, Trees for Clients, Trees for Forests, and Trees for Employees. The foundation also leads efforts in agroforestry, Miyawaki urban forests, mangrove restoration, livelihoods-driven rural plantations, and carbon-offset forestry.
Greenverz: Greenverz Solutions was launched in 2022 with the objective of land restoration through the use of technology. The organisation primarily focuses on tree planting to restore degraded land, benefiting farmers, communities, and the nation as a whole. It offers individuals the opportunity to plant trees on special occasions, such as the birthday of father, mother, sibling, or cousin, as well as on important events and international days. Donors can choose from a variety of tree categories, including fruit trees of India, multipurpose trees, native species, and timber trees. NGOs and business establishments can also partner with Greenverz for tree-planting initiatives. Choose a tree, plant it online, and Greenverz provides a geotag and regular updates on its growth. It’s a return gift that truly lasts.
