3 Billion Trees Pledge

The Commission published its dedicated EU Forest Strategy for 2030 to improve the quantity and quality of EU forests. It includes a roadmap outlining how the Commission plans to achieve the 3 Billion Additional Trees Pledge in full respect of ecological principles.

Trees are a key part of the solution to combat climate change and biodiversity loss however this pledge will not solve the climate nor the biodiversity crisis on its own. Planting new trees is not an alternative to preserving existing trees, but a complement to broader conservation action. Planting 3 billion additional trees across the EU by 2030 will

• increase the area of forest and tree coverage in the EU
• increase the resilience of forests and their role in reversing biodiversity loss
• mitigate and help us adapt to climate change

In the EU, it is estimated that almost 300 million trees have grown each year between 2010 and 2015.

The aim is to double these numbers so that we reach 600 million trees grown per year. This means 3 billion additional trees by 2030 compared to the “business as usual” scenario.

Many planting and natural regeneration activities are taking place in Europe, and the 3 Billion Trees Pledge will kick-start additional efforts and give visibility to what is already happening.

An important aspect is that additional trees need to be planted and grown in full respect of ecological principles. This means that the right tree has to be planted in the right place and for the right purpose. This requires long term planning and monitoring.

In practice, the right mix of tree species should be planted not only in forests, but also in rural and urban areas. No trees should be planted in areas of high nature value such as mires, bogs, fens, wetlands, peatlands, and grasslands. Tree planting in cities can be very beneficial even in smaller numbers, while planting in rural areas can bring added synergies when coupled with agroforestry or landscape features.

Some answers to your questions:

This pledge will not solve the climate nor the biodiversity crisis on its own. Planting new trees is not an alternative to preserving existing trees, but a complement to broader conservation action. The Commission is taking further action to improve the quality and quantity of EU forests through the new EU forest strategy for 2030. This strategy aims to increase forest coverage in the EU whilst respecting ecological principles, and improve the resilience of forests in the EU. It includes commitments to strictly protect remaining EU primary and old-growth forests, ensure that forests are managed sustainably, and improve the monitoring of EU forests.

See the list of organisations that have already planted trees as part of the pledge.

11 May 2022: Launch event of the 3 Billion Trees Counter for individuals

9 December 2021:MapMyTree: New data tool to count planted trees in Europe

• Communication toolkit (more communication products will be uploaded in the upcoming weeks):
  • Social media visuals: Main visual, Geographical visuals, Season visuals
  • Social media header images
  • Editable social media visual templates - these templates need to go together with two other products for users to insert into the templates:
    • Slogan in all EU languages
    • Title in all EU languages
  • Word template
  • PowerPoint template
  • Sign-off in all EU languages
  • Communication guidelines in all EU languages
  • Graphical charter
  • Brochure in all EU languages
• 3 billion trees pledge – factsheet
• 3 billion trees pledge - roadmap 
• 3 billion trees pledge – staff working document
• EU forest strategy for 2030 and webpage
• Public consultation summary and evidence base - staff working document
• EU biodiversity strategy for 2030
• Advocacy Toolkit for Nature in EU languages, and also in Arabic