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The Year Ahead – Top 5 Reasons to be Optimistic about Global Reforestation 

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ForestPlanet has always focused on the positive – what is working, what could work, and what each of us can do to help. Simply put, we replace climate despair with positive action.

Granted, there are headwinds in 2025 with the incoming U.S. Administration that may play out in some form. But we have good reason to believe that our institutions, business interests, scientific advancements, and public support could temper, if not block, many of the feared threats.  So here is our top 5 list of reasons to be hopeful in 2025:

1) Federal Investments

Image credit: Gallup

The U.S. invests in global reforestation as part of its broader efforts to combat climate change, preserve biodiversity, and promote sustainable development. These funds are typically channeled through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), bilateral agreements with specific countries (such as Brazil), and multilateral contributions to international funds such as the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility.  While these investments fall under the discretionary part of the federal budget and may well be targeted for dramatic cuts, there are still reasons for hope. There will be slim margins in and both the House and Senate and Congressional rules still require 60 votes in the Senate to pass legislation. Also, Congress is very unlikely to use the budget reconciliation process (which only required 50 votes in the Senate) to cut discretionary programs.

2) Private Sector Investments

Image credit: Business Insider

The private sector, which is far larger than the public sector, has been increasing investment in reforestation projects around the world. For instance, Fortune 500 companies are progressively integrating nature conservation, including reforestation, into their sustainability agendas, according to McKinsey, with carbon remaining the primary focus of commitments.  While the overall number of companies with comprehensive nature-related targets remains small, the increasing acknowledgment and initial target-setting indicate a positive trend. Shareholders, particularly from younger generations who are more concerned about climate change, can also continue to exert significant influence in corporate investments.

3) Corporate Transparency Requirements

Image credit: Freepik

While the incoming Administration has signaled interest in scaling back climate-related commitments, other countries continue to move ahead with theirs.  The European Union (EU) enacted its Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in 2023 and the first CSRD-compliant reports are due in early 2025. The CSRD is a set of standards to improve the consistency, comparability, and quality of sustainability reporting among companies operating in EU member states.  Companies with securities listed on an EU-regulated market (including many American ones), large EU companies that are not listed, and EU subsidiaries of US companies will all be required to comply as the CSRD is fully phased in.  These businesses will be required to disclose detailed information on their environmental and social impacts, and how their environmental, social and governance (ESG) actions affect their business. 

What this means is that more accurate information on the degree of harm to the environment caused by businesses could soon come to light.  This could result in greater pressure on businesses to both reduce that harm and to offset it through natured-based solutions, including reforestation.

4) Advances in Science

Image credit: NIST

There are hundreds of published articles each year on reforestation reflecting meaningful advances in tree selection, growth, care, and survivability as well as their human and ecosystems benefits. These include everything from soil microorganisms to satellite-based measurement systems. They also include proof of the effectiveness of indigenous practices, such as digging “half-moons” for soil preservation and rainwater retention.

Here are just a couple of our favorites:

• • • A 2022 study of an effective technique involving densely planting sites with a group of indigenous woody species to facilitate natural regeneration, promoting biodiversity and ecosystem recovery.
    • A 2021 study showing that degraded forests can recover their tree canopy four times faster when covered in coffee pulp, a free waste product from the coffee growing industry. 

In short, the world is getting smarter about reforestation.

5) Public Support 

Image credit: PNGEgg

Public opinion surveys indicate substantial and increasing support for addressing climate change and in reforestation efforts, both in the United States and globally.  Recent surveys conducted in the U.S. show that:

• • Nearly 70% of American favor the U.S. taking steps to become carbon neutral by 2050 (Pew, 2023)
  • An overwhelming 94% of Americans believe trees are beneficial for the planet, and 91% agree that trees help combat climate change (Arbor Day, 2024)

The bottom line is that most people still care very deeply and you are not alone.

What This All Means for ForestPlanet

This just means that we get a little more inspiration to do what we have always done:

1. Plant trees where they do the most good, both for ecosystems and for people
2. Plant large numbers of trees at the lowest cost per tree
3. Work through vetted local planting organizations
4. Enhance biodiversity by planting a variety of native tree species
5. Continually seek to improve our work and experiment with new technologies 
6. Measure our results
7. Thank our many past, present, and future supporters and partners. Without you, we could not do what we do.

Very Best Wishes for 2025!

Hank, Annie, and the rest of the ForestPlanet Team