FOREST OF HOPE:Help New Zealand turn 2020 troubles into trees

Photo/ Julian Apse

By almost every measure, 2020 has sucked for most people, from cancellations to postponements, missed weddings, graduations, birthdays, and celebrations; not to mention, of course, the tanking of travel due to the pandemic. However, Tourism New Zealand has an innovative plan to kick off the New Year with a dose of positivity and wants your help.

For the month of December, the tourist board is partnering with Trees That Count to build a “Forest of Hope” for 2021. With trees as a natural symbol of life and growth, the forest is a way for people to “say goodbye to this year’s disappointments and plant a seed of hope to look forward to better times ahead in 2021,” says TNZ.

For every disappointment shared with Tourism New Zealand on its website by Dec. 31, a native Kiwi tree will be planted along the popular Queenstown bike trail in the Southland, or among the Wiapoua Forest in the Northland. Once the borders open and New Zealand is able to welcome visitors again, people will be able to visit the tree they helped grow.

TNZ says that by contributing to the initiative, the lasting impact will be felt not only in New Zealand but the climate the world over, as planting native trees is integral part of fighting climate change and improving the environment.

For a donation of CAD$10, the tourist board is encouraging people give the gift of tree this month to a friend, back to yourself, or simply “back to the environment.”

To participate, visit the Tourism New Zealand website, and follow along on social media using #NZForestofHope.

https://www.newzealand.com/nz/form/forest-of-hope/

Fast facts:

• Trees That Count is a conservation charity that started in November 2016. Their vision is to help plant 200 million native trees across New Zealand, done through a community. marketplace that connects tree funders to tree planters.

• Since they started, they have planted over 32,432,000 trees

• Over 50 years, these native trees have the potential to remove an estimated 5-7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

• Over 500,000 trees have been gifted since the program started, with over 500 planting projects taking place and almost 15,000 funders and planters lending their support.