One tree per G Adventures’ traveller to is to be planted per day under a new ‘Trees for Days’ initiative unveiled to mark World Tourism Day.
One tree will be grown for every day a traveller is on a G Adventures trip, helping to both mitigate carbon emissions and increase support in 17 local communities around the world.
The tree-planting projects are in locations that have been severely impacted by climate change through deforestation, or that are currently under threat.
More than one million trees are already being grown, as the small group adventure operator has backdated the planting of trees for every day a traveller has joined a trip since January 1.
Company founder Bruce Poon Tip said the vision for the Trees for Days project was to increase the positive impact customers have when travelling with G Adventures, while at the same time supporting communities impacted by climate change.
He added: “As the pioneers of community tourism, supporting local communities is at the core of our DNA.
“With the increasing urgency to help our planet, I’m thrilled to be announcing our Trees for Days initiative in partnership with Planeterra and Reforest.
“Our non-profit partner, Planeterra has been instrumental in sourcing the community based tree planting projects, and Reforest – which we invested in last year – is providing the technology platform.
“Our travellers care about making a difference when they travel – and they do that simply by booking a tour with G Adventures. Together, we will address how community tourism can play an important role in helping the planet heal, while uplifting local communities, through reforestation and positive local impact.”
Planeterra president Jamie Sweeting said: “The planting of trees not only contributes to the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but it helps promote healthier landscapes and ecosystems such as wetlands, grasslands, and forests, and provides crucial habitats, food, and shelter for wildlife, thus helping to maintain biodiversity.
“Beyond that, helping local environments grow and flourish means they become more resilient to extreme weather events, which protects – and even helps develop – local communities and their sources of income, especially in rural areas. More trees also means cleaner air, and a reduction in the effects of extreme heat.”
Daniel Walsh, founder of Reforest, added: “Travellers increasingly want to feel like they are leaving a positive footprint, so a key benefit of this programme is that they can feel that sense of ownership of the trees planted for them.”