One Million Trees Planting Project in North Rhine Region
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany's most populous state, is set to embark on a significant environmental endeavour with the launch of its "NRW plants" tree-planting initiative. The project, aimed at planting one million trees over the coming years, will officially commence on July 7, 2025, at 10:01 AM in Alpen, Kreis Wesel, with the planting of an oak tree.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between the NRW Minister for Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Silke Gorißen, the Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz Nordrhein-Westphalen, and the Robin Gut initiative. The Robin Gut Foundation, which initiated the "NRW plants" project, plants various native tree species to convert monocultures into climate-resistant mixed forests.
The project team will collaborate with local communities and forestry offices to plant trees, with professionals handling the planting and care of the trees. The costs for these planting actions will be covered by "NRW plants" using donated funds.
The tree-planting initiative in NRW is open to public participation. Interested individuals can donate money at [nrw-pflanzt.de](http://nrw-pflanzt.de) to support tree plantings. Cities, towns, kindergartens, schools, and companies can also register at [nrw-pflanzt.de](http://nrw-pflanzt.de) and start their own planting actions, with the goal of planting at least 100 trees in each community.
The initiative aims to foster social cohesion by having citizens participate, as well as enhancing climate protection and biodiversity. The project also aims to take place in various locations across NRW, including the Teutoburg Forest, demonstrating a commitment to reforestation on a broad scale.
Similar tree-planting initiatives in Germany have shown that citizen involvement is a key aspect of these projects. Local governments often collaborate with community groups to allow residents to plant and take care of trees on public land. Examples include urban foragers in Berlin-Pankow, who have reached an agreement with the borough administration to plant and maintain fruit trees collectively.
For those who wish to get involved, checking local government websites, environmental NGOs, or organisations like Plant-for-the-Planet for upcoming opportunities is a good starting point. Donors will be informed about the location of their trees, and by participating, they can contribute to a greener, more biodiverse future for NRW.
The collaborative tree-planting initiative in North Rhine-Westphalia, led by Silke Gorißen, seeks to expand environmental-science efforts by converting monocultures into climate-resistant mixed forests, promoting both climate protection and biodiversity. Interested individuals can donate to the 'NRW plants' project online at nrw-pflanzt.de and even initiate their own planting actions, aiming to plant at least 100 trees in their community. This endeavour is expected to foster social cohesion while decreasing carbon emissions and enhancing the region's lifestyle and home-and-garden aesthetics. City dwellers can also collaborate with community groups or local governments to plant trees in urban areas, as demonstrated by the success of the fruit tree project in Berlin-Pankow.
