Trees for Everyone

By project GIFT

Published on 21 November 2024

Netherlands

Friesland (NL)

About this good practice

The Frisian Environmental Federation (FMF) and Landscape Management Friesland (LBF) collaborated to improve biodiversity in Fryslân through the "Trees for Everyone" project. By 2024, they aimed to plant around 100,000 native trees and shrubs across 200 private locations, contributing to biodiversity restoration, CO₂ sequestration, and enhanced well-being.

This initiative supports biodiversity policy goals and addresses critical societal challenges, emphasizing the importance of a rich and diverse natural environment for clean air, water, and soil. By planting the right trees on the right soil, the project ensured long-term success while engaging landowners and volunteers. Participants were provided with planting plans tailored to their land and signed agreements to care for the young trees. Monitoring is conducted post-planting and after five and ten years to assess progress.

The project tackled challenges such as ensuring a consistent supply of native planting materials, achieved through partnerships with local nurseries. Publicity campaigns via media, newsletters, and social platforms raised awareness and encouraged participation.

In 2023-2024, the project achieved its goal of planting 100,000 trees, increasing awareness about biodiversity and fostering community engagement. Its success has laid the groundwork for the follow-up initiative, "Trees for Everyone 2.0", which aims to further the impact by streamlining operations and focusing on obstacle-free areas.

Resources needed

The project required human resources: it involved collaboration among FMF, LBF, and local nurseries, with volunteers and students providing labor. The financial resources were: 425.000 Euro. Largely funded by Trees for All (app. E350.000). The province of Fryslân also funded about E35.000.

Evidence of success

"Trees for Everyone" is a good practice due to its measurable success: 100,000 native trees and shrubs were planted across 200 sites in Fryslân (2023–2024), enhancing biodiversity, CO₂ storage, and reducing heat stress. Tailored planting plans ensured species survival, while community engagement raised awareness of biodiversity's importance. Long-term monitoring supports sustainability, making it a replicable model for similar initiatives, with demonstrated ecological and social benefits.

Potential for learning or transfer

This practice is interesting for other regions due to its transferable framework for large-scale tree planting, biodiversity restoration, and community engagement. Success factors include tailored planting plans, partnerships with local nurseries to ensure native species supply, and effective collaboration with landowners, volunteers, and institutions like "Hotel for Trees." Public awareness campaigns further drove participation.

Challenges for transfer include ensuring long-term care for plantings and the availability of suitable land. However, its replicability has been demonstrated: the format is set for "Trees for Everyone 2.0" in Fryslân and could inspire regions with similar biodiversity challenges. It aligns well with European biodiversity and climate goals, making it relevant for all European countries. While direct transfers are yet unreported, the modular approach and monitoring methods make this initiative highly adaptable to different ecological and social contexts.