Trillion Trees Initiative

The Trillion Trees Initiative and Greening Camps can reduce negative climate changes, deforestation, droughts, desertification, land degradation, floods and global warming worldwide – especially in human-made deserts, drylands and wastelands.

The initiative was started by Oliver Gediminas Caplikas in 2017 and is connected with Greening Deserts economical, educational, cultural, social, scientific and sustainable projects which really have big potential to reduce desertification and global warming, to improve healthy environments, Cleantech and Greentech developments, sustainable agriculture (EcoFarming) and ecological forestry (EcoForestry). Together with many innovative developments and sustainable projects the initiative want to plant over 100 Billion Trees and support other big tree planting actions to reach the trillion trees goal fast and efficient. Project developments like Agrophotovoltaik, Desert Bamboo Africa, Greening Coasts, Greening Drones, Greenhouse Ship, Green Ring Africa, Great Green Wall North Africa, Seeding Balloon and Transparent Solar Greenhouses can support. The official Trillion Trees Initiative (TTI) is really unique, because the members of the connected projects can cultivate, sow and plant many trees directly with the help of greening camps, balloons, greening buses or trucks, drones and planes – if seeds need to be covered by soil we will use seed balls.

This Trillion Trees Initiative not only supports other tree planting organisations. Other trillion trees initiatives write that they planted millions of trees or want to plant a trillion trees. It is not realistic that just one nation or organisation will plant a trillion trees in the next decades, as some of these initiatives claim. In fact many of them have not planted any trees themselfs and they wont if you take a closer look. In some cases their partners or supporters are big polluters or questionable industries who try to do greenwashing or treewashing. They let others do that work, mostly by cheap workers and volunteers. In general it is ok if others will be supported to plant new trees, but pay them good money if they do important work for biodiversity and environmental protection ! To plant just trees is not enough, there are so many things to consider. To plant countless monocultures or monotonous tree plantations has nothing to do with biodiversity conservation, ecological forestry, ethical business or fair trade. They do or will do more damages as improvements, especially if too much trees will be planted in ancient grasslands, savannas or wetlands. The main goal should be to stop deforestation, to improve ecosystem restoration and supporting the regeneration of existing natural forests which were affected by fires or pollution. To all that companies and groups out there ! Join our real climate, environmental and species protection initiative if you really want to improve the worldwide climate and environments. Many institutions, organisations and people were informed during the years, especially about the backgrounds and true history of the real Trillion Trees Initiative.

The truth is that several nations, institutions and organisations adopted many ideas of Greening Deserts and connected projects like the Trillion Trees Initiative. The history and timeline shows exactly who first had which ideas and who first started developments or projects in this relation. It is doubtful that a single nation or organization will plant a billion trees, as some of them claim. We the humanity and all nations can be happy if we reach the goal togehter to increase the global forest cover by one trillion trees until 2050 ! Greening Deserts principles and the real Trillion Trees Initiative (TTI) agreeing with the sustainable goals and scientific parts of the Trillion Tree Campaign by Plant for the Planet, the One Trillion Trees Initiative by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the Trillion Trees Partnership by TrillionTrees.org, Birdlife and WWF. TTI is not directly related to the mentioned organizations but supports some of the good goals and advises against bad goals or shows good alternatives. Greening Deserts and TTI supporting also other conservation organizations and tree planting actions by good examples and ideas. How everybody can see the others took many of the ideas in their programs or agendas. There is also criticism of some points in the Trillion Trees Act and other campaigns or initiatives. On the official pages here you can read about the backgrounds, facts and worldwide opinions of different media outlets, conservation organizations and institutions.

We want to be honest and work transparent, we can plant millions or even some billions of trees ourselfs with the help of mentioned projects and tools. Even the future staff of the Trillion Trees Initiative can plant a lof of trees and we can connect many awesome tree planting projects from around the world — the case we will get enough financial support. The goal of the initiative, partners and connected projects is to plant up to 100 billion trees, especially in Africa, Europe and India. So far as possible only native species will be planted, biodiversity experts and indigenous people will be included. We respect indigenous people who protect approx 80% of the world’s remaining forest biodiversity, including cultural, spiritual, social and environmental values. If Greening Deserts projects and the official Trillion Trees Initiative get enough financial support and can generate good income by the greening and research camps, developments and products, we can share much better our experiences with learning materials, various media, online or offline courses, workshops, etc.. The camps and projects can provide much work, generate a lot of jobs and income for each region. With appropriate funding and constructive support we can accelerate or improve the project developments and team building for each camp, as well as the whole infrastructure. Without money it is not possible to build up any of these camps and with too less support it needs many years more as planned, in this case other tree cultivation and tree planting projects cannot really be supported. We have not that time to wait longer and longer for all that promised support by officials or politicans. The projects need this year finally real active and financial support or it maybe will be too late. If you know the real backgrounds because of the keystone species, accelerating mass extinction and tipping points,.. you understand why we must act now or fast as possible. We must put these important points of species protection on the first place of all ‘green agendas’, whether it is the Green Deal, Greening Act, Trillion Trees Act or UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Over 20.000 institutions, organisations and personalities were invited to join the official Trillion Trees Initiative during the last years. Many academics, ambassadors, environmentalists, developers, entrepreneurs, ministers, researchers or scientists and students showed interest. Most of them liked the ideas and developments of Greening Deserts and the Trillion Trees Initiative. Even some people of the EU Commission, UN and WHO became inspired by the initiative. It is sad that some conservation and environmental organistations ignored Greening Deserts and the Trillion Trees Initiative, even after several friendly contact requests. We all should act and work together, but the society and world shows that it is not so easy, especially in these times of the crises, egoism, fears, ignorance and misunderstanding.

Just imagine all that actions, the attention and financial support in the Corona Crisis would be used to reduce the Climate Crisis. We really would change the world into a better one, prevent new crises, disasters and even new pandemics who are caused by environmental pollution, species extinction and weak environments. Climate adaption, global warming mitigration, ecological education, environmental resilience and species protection is now more important as ever before. Climate protection, nature conservation and environmental protection is also species protection – so it is human protection.

“We’re not just fighting an epidemic; we’re fighting an infodemic,” said World Health Organization director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Over 10,000 of approx 60,000 tree species worldwide are threatened with extinction.
On the IUCN Red List over 1,400 tree species are listed as Critically Endangered (CR), in reality it are probably much more. Biodiversity, conservation and reforestation programs should care more about these critically endangered and keystone species. The Trillion Trees Initiative and Greening Camps in concerned regions could recultivate the critically endangered trees species. Each camp will have extra greenhouses and storage rooms for the seeds. Botanical gardens and other biodiversity projects can be connected.

The Critically Endangered Species Research and Protection Program (CES-RPP) will connect arborists, biodiversity experts, climate scientists, conservationists, natives, indigenous people, professionals and students. They can help us to find the most endangered species for the environmental greening and species protection actions. Together with AI, GIS and plant databases we can find and select the right trees and plant species for each region, habitat, climate or vegetation zone where we will start with greening and reforestation. School classes and volunteers can join the actions, they can learn a lot and use the camp area with botanical gardens, greenhouses, media room, workshops, etc. – even army troops can support the tree planting actions like scouts and rangers. They will do something real usefull and have good training courses. Many nations adopted that idea which was published by Greening Deserts in 2017. People from the region are also welcome to use the public offers and spaces at the camp. The lounge, media room and open outdoor areas invite to exchange with each other. The concept to connect culture, economy, science and society into the greening process with professional greening and research camps was developed during years. Many of the sustainable developments and projects are unique. Parts of the concept have great potential for refugee camps, greenhouses and community gardens for the refugees were demanded several times since 2016. We are happy if others became or become inspired to do something good for the nature and humanity.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese proverb

Visit Greening Deserts project pages and social networks like Twitter for more details and regular updates! More media and platforms will be used in future.

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Thanks to Google and Microsoft for showing some support during the last months. Glad that so many became inspired by our projects and the new species protection program CES-RPP. Planetary Computer (PC) and Wildlife Insights (WI) sounds nice. Would be great if we can connect it with the Trillion Trees Initiative (TTI). Let’s make the world green again!