Over 60,000 Native Tree Christmas Gifts To Combat Climate Change – Project Crimson
62,686 more native trees will be planted in New Zealand in 2021 thanks to generous Kiwis who chose to go green for Christmas gifting.
Trees That Count, a programme of the Project Crimson Trust, provides an accessible option to help grow Aotearoa by gifting a native tree. The charity saw a record breaking number of native trees gifted in December 2020, with the 62,686 trees gifted and donated a staggering 119% increase on the December 2019 number.
“We know 2020 has been a challenging year for many of us, so we’re really thrilled to have seen so much support for New Zealand’s big backyard this Christmas,” says CEO Adele Fitzpatrick.
The native tree ‘gifts’ sent will directly translate to trees in the ground in the 2021 winter planting season. While the tree itself is matched to a worthy conservation project to be planted and cared for, the gift recipient is treated to a personalised gift certificate via email: and the knowledge that their native tree will help to grow New Zealand for years to come.
Gifted and donated native trees bring a myriad of benefits to Aotearoa, including restoring ecosystems, cleaning waterways, boosting communities, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The 62,686 native trees donated this Christmas have the potential to remove over 27,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere over the next fifty years.
“We’re very grateful to generous New Zealanders for helping our native forests have an even bigger positive impact on the climate through their donations—and also to those overseas who have donated or gifted trees,” says Adele.
From 2016 to 2020, Trees That Count supported 560 planting projects around Aotearoa with native trees funded by businesses and individuals through their marketplace. In 2021, that number will rise to more than 700, following a record number of applications for funded native trees from keen planters.
“It’s inspiring to see that so many Kiwis—community groups, farmers, iwi, families, schools and more—are out there restoring our land by planting native rākau,” says Fitzpatrick.
One such project, at Turihaua Station in Gisborne, is grateful to be receiving 3500 funding native trees to support their planting this year. “As custodians of the land we want to make sure we are constantly improving it for the benefit of our three boys like our parents and the generations before us,” says Sarah Williams, environmental scientist and farmer.
Native tree gifts from international tree-huggers also reached an all-time high in December, with 3,120 trees gifted from overseas. The virtual present option proved hugely popular with both expat New Zealanders and those separated from friends or family by COVID restrictions.
“Gifting native trees isn’t limited globally, and also isn’t just for Christmastime. We’ve always got more demand from planting groups, so we fundraise year-round,” says Adele. “We’re excited to see native trees become the gift of choice for many more Kiwis this year, as we celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, new births, and just to say thanks.”
Find out more about gifting native trees at treesthatcount.co.nz/gifting
More about Trees That Count
Trees That Count is a programme of charitable organisation Project Crimson Trust. Trees That Count runs the country’s first tree marketplace which connects funded and gifted trees to deserving community groups, iwi, local councils, schools and individuals looking to strengthen their own planting projects.
Trees That Count is generously supported by The Tindall Foundation and Te Uru Rākau through the One Billion Trees programme, alongside the many businesses and individuals who are donating through the marketplace.
I suggest that Aotea- whats it, takes a look at what South Australia is doing in the way of planting native trees. The last time I was in SA they were planting a million trees a year and thats a State of probably less than 2 million people.
LOL!, We can do better. I like nursery trees like Manuka / Kanuka,… looked upon as ‘scrub’ trees, they are an important first line of the revegetation program. Some look upon them as unsightly, I look upon them as a resource. There’s nothing like wandering through a grove of Manukas and smelling that humousy smell. With Ponga’s growing amongst them. Its from this nursery crop that whiteywood and others grow , and then in comes the Grey Warblers, the Tui’s and Keruru. Throw in a few Lancewoods and cabbage trees and flax and you’ve got a good thing growing.
As for the south island past lake Te Anau, its beech. I dont like beech, its got no warmth in the fire , bugger all food sustenance besides Vit C in the bark, and even the birds are few and far between, but beech it is for that region. Each region to its own and its there for a purpose. A rugged alpine reason.
100% behind any revegetation and its regional variance.
As for pahoots? they are a coastal tree, and while looking gorgeous,- its the rough and ready Manuka / Kanuka so called ‘scrub’ trees that are the backbone of any serious revegetation. Whether in estuary’s or inland lowland forests of the North and upper South Island.