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Reforestation is a crucial tool in the fight against climate change, with benefits ranging from absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to supporting the planet's intricate web of life. These efforts not only contribute to healthier and more resilient ecosystems but also help to mitigate the damaging effects of climate change.
To help us unpack the benefits of reforestation is Pieter Van Midwoud, the Chief Tree Planting Officer at Ecosia. After finishing his studies, Pieter developed a certification scheme for forest carbon projects and joined Ecosia as their first tree-planting officer, creating a varied portfolio of reforestation efforts. Ecosia, a search engine with millions of users, plants trees worldwide using its ad revenue. Over 150 million trees have been planted to date, helping promote landscape restoration, community nourishment, wildlife protection, and carbon neutrality.
In our conversation, we discuss the broad benefits of trees and reforestation efforts, the challenges of integrating reforestation into policy, how to reduce deforestation, lifestyle adaptations that can help combat climate change, the many hurdles that reforestation projects are facing, and much more. So tune in, and discover how a small company is making big changes with Pieter Van Midwoud.
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Key Points From This Episode:
Background on Ecosia, how the company is making a difference, and the motivation behind the focus on trees and reforestation. [0:02:11]
He unpacks the complexity and nuance behind reforestation efforts. [0:07:18]
Examples of how Ecosia's reforestation efforts are benefiting the environment and local communities. [0:11:17]
How the Ecosia platform is leveraged to drive reforestation projects and educate the public. [0:18:12]
What other positive impacts Pieter hopes to see from the Ecosia user base. [0:23:34]
Pieter explains the role of biodiversity hotspots in mitigating climate change impacts. [0:27:49]
How Ecosia's approach differs from the problematic characteristics of the carbon offset market. [0:33:31]
Hear an important takeaway message from Pieter. [0:42:39]
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Tweetables:
“Trees are more than these woody things with their roots in the soil somewhere. They have amazing benefits to local populations and local people if you use the right species.” — @treepieter [0:04:27]
“Trees play an important role [in fighting] climate change.” — @treepieter [0:06:15]
“Ecosia is a brand, I think, for a lot of people, that stands for trust, and we want to make sure we deliver that trust.” — @treepieter [0:20:07]
“Ecosia is the bridge between our users and our tree planting projects.” — @treepieter [0:22:02]
“So much of our food, clothes, and the fuel we put in our cars, and on our plates are all causing deforestation.” — @treepieter [0:24:03]
“I am very proud that we, as a small search engine, have a very committed group of users who are making an effort to save some of these species.” — @treepieter [0:32:22]
“We should judge companies by what they do and not by what they pledge.” — @treepieter [0:35:38]
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Pieter Van Midwoud on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pieter-van-midwoud-7123964/
Pieter Van Midwoud on Twitter: https://twitter.com/treepieter
Ecosia: https://www.ecosia.org/
Ecosia on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1_up347GdfKBDVGqwjt7Aw
Gold Standard: https://www.goldstandard.org/
Wageningen University & Research: https://www.wur.nl/en.htm
Borneo Nature Foundation: https://www.borneonaturefoundation.org/
Eric Toensmeier: Perennial Sustainability: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/eric-toensmeier
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): https://www.iucn.org/
IUCN Red List: https://www.iucnredlist.org/
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI): https://www.bgci.org/
‘State of the World's Trees’ report: https://www.bgci.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/
Trees, Water & People: https://treeswaterpeople.org/
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