Plant One Million

Plant One Million
February 2015
3 states. 13 counties. 1 tree at a time.
PHS and Partners Lead Tree-Planting Campaign
Plant One Million is an ambitious multi-state tree-planting campaign encompassing
13 counties in southeastern Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and Delaware, with
the goal of planting and caring for one million new trees. The Pennsylvania statewide
initiative of TreeVitalize spurred the development of Plant One Million in 2011, led by
PHS and regional partners, the New Jersey Tree Foundation and The Delaware Center for
Horticulture, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Philadelphia
Parks & Recreation, aiming to restore the tree canopy cover to 30 percent in the Greater
Philadelphia Region. To date, more than 470,000 new trees have been planted as part of
Plant One Million throughout the region.
Measuring land covered by tree canopy (the upper branches or crowns of mature trees)
is an important yardstick for a healthy environment, since trees improve air quality and
help reduce erosion, water pollution, and flooding. In recent decades the Philadelphia
region has lost millions of trees to development.
A Regional Partnership
Plant One Million partners work with community agencies such as school districts,
universities and other institutions, municipal shade tree commissions, civic groups,
individuals, and businesses to educate citizens and promote tree planting.
The Delaware Center for Horticulture and the New Jersey Tree Foundation serve as lead
partners in those states. In Philadelphia, adding trees to the landscape is an integral part
of Mayor Michael Nutter’s sustainability plan, Greenworks Philadelphia. PHS, working with
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s TreePhilly project, is helping the city reach its goal of
planting 300,000 new trees by 2015. This includes trees on private and institutional land,
as well as trees in the public realm. PHS also works with TreePhilly on citizen education,
outreach, and stewardship activities.
Get involved!
• Plant a tree, and then visit
the website to make sure your
tree is counted.
• Encourage your friends and
family to plant and count trees.
• Volunteer for a tree planting
in your community.
• Become a PHS Tree
Tender by attending a
training session.
• Make a secure donation to
help support Plant One Million.
Visit PlantOneMillion.org
to learn more.
Through grants from PennVest, a federally funded state program, thousands more trees
are being planted in southeastern Pennsylvania communities with low tree cover—in
parks, along streetscapes, and other public spaces. In addition, DCNR provides generous
support enabling PHS to work with municipalities to plant and tend trees as part of the
TreeVitalize program. PHS also receives funding from the Department of Environmental
Protection and Aqua Pennsylvania to support the P1M regional effort and statewide
TreeVitalize initiative to plant riparian (streamside) trees.
To mobilize citizen activists, PHS is expanding the network of more than 4,200 volunteers
trained through the PHS Tree Tenders® training program. Created in 1993, PHS Tree
Tenders teaches citizens to plant and care for community trees. Approximately 250
groups are operating throughout the region.
Spreading the Word
PHS and its partners work together to raise money for tree planting; teach citizens about
the importance of trees; and encourage homeowners, landowners, and businesses to
plant trees on their properties. A U.S. Forest Service Field Station has been established
at PHS headquarters to link these efforts to the latest research in urban forestry.
Plant One Million Partners
100 N. 20th Street – 5th Floor • Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495
• p: 215.988.8800
For more information on Plant One Million, please visit PHSonline.org