One Million Trees Initiative

A Collaboration Across Metro Atlanta

The One Million Trees Initiative is an exciting collaboration of metro Atlanta cities, regional nonprofit organizations, and Trees Atlanta. Individuals can also report trees planted.

Combining our efforts, together we will plant and conserve one million trees across metro Atlanta by 2030.

 

 

Environmental issues are not limited to city boundaries and cross over into many areas of sustainability concerns. The partners of the One Million Tree Initiative are working to protect our urban tree canopy to help address climate and environmental stresses in our communities. We can improve our cities’ sustainability and better protect the health and well-being of people across metro Atlanta by planting and conserving more trees where we live – in urban areas.

Take a look as our progress, and be a part of the count!

The count of trees planted or conserved are reported by city, county, and nonprofit partners. These partners also have agreed to educate the public, promote the benefits of trees, and support the planting and conservation of trees.

We heard from individuals who wanted to be a part of the tree solution, and influenced trees lets you be a part of the count, too! 

Influenced trees are reported by Metro Partners and Community Partners who influence and help gett more trees planted by offering tree giveaways or tree sales. Community Partners include retail businesses that sell native species of trees. They report the number of trees (native species) sold at retail locations within a Metro Partner area.

Individuals who source and plant trees through other means can report a single tree planted (or more!) by using our online form: One in a Million

How can you help us reach one million trees?

Plant trees:

  • Organize community projects
  • Encourage planting projects in city-owned properties like parks and greenways
  • Support public project plantings like those at affordable housing, municipal sites, and schools
  • Emphasize private projects like planting in yards, businesses, and parking lots

Save trees:

  • Identify and purchase forests for preservation
  • Support allocation of public funds for the purchase of forests
  • Place private land into conservation easements

Feel inspired:

  • Get involved by personally planting, protecting, and caring for trees
  • Volunteer in the community to plant and care for trees

The initiative was launched on Georgia Arbor Day at Trees Atlanta’s 2020 Canopy Conference. The focus of the presentations and discussions centered on the theme “Fighting Climate Change with Urban Forests” and offered local solutions to mitigate a global condition.

The count to one million includes trees planted in public spaces, for public projects, and on private land (such as yards of homes, businesses, and other commercial land) in partner cities. Trees preserved in forested areas that are newly protected by conservation deed for permanent protection as of 2020 through 2030 will be counted.

Photo by Curbed Atlanta

“One million new trees in metro Atlanta would capture 1.4 billion gallons of water and 530,000 tons of CO2 every year— reducing stormwater runoff, improving water quality, reducing rates of asthma and heat-related illnesses, and improving air quality.” - Matt Westmoreland, Post 2 At-Large Councilmember,
Atlanta City Council

Meet the Metro Partners of the One Million Trees Initiative

Meet the Community Partners of the One Million Trees Initiative

Plus, Individuals Like You!

Please send questions and inquiries to Judy Yi, Director of Marketing & Outreach, by email at judy@treesatlanta.org or at 404-609-3373.