The Enterprise 50 Million Tree Pledge
In 2006, the Arbor Day Foundation approached Enterprise with an idea. In honor of the company’s 50th Anniversary, the Arbor Day Foundation challenged Enterprise to make a long-term commitment to celebrate that milestone and make a pledge to the future.
All along, to celebrate this anniversary, Enterprise had planned to say thank you for its first 50 years by making a significant gift for the next 50.
The question was this: What kind of gift would be consistent with Enterprise as a company and also have a meaningful connection to its business, its employees and the communities it serves?
The need for reforestation is great. And the positive impact trees make on the world is immense from cleaning the air and maintaining a clean water supply to helping combat soil erosion and providing habitats for birds and other animals.
A single tree can make such a difference. So Enterprise decided to take the idea to the next level. And Enterprise Holdings 50 Million Tree Pledge was born.
Here's how it works:
- Each year, The Arbor Day Foundation will identify a number of tree planting projects throughout the U.S. and work with similar agencies in Europe and Canada to find planting projects in those countries.
- Enterprise will fund as many of these planting projects as possible each year planting 1 million trees a year, 50 million trees total over the next 50 years.
This collaboration with The Arbor Day Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service brings together the best of three worlds:
- The public agency charged with protecting and preserving the National Forests…
- Private funds from a committed corporate citizen…
- And a world-class nonprofit organization with the vision to bring a program like this together.
A million trees a year is not a total solution, but it's a solid step in the right direction.
Impact
The 1 million trees planted this year by Enterprise Holdings, when they reach maturity, will absorb as much as 15,000 tons of CO2 and produce 10,000 tons of oxygen per year and enough to meet the needs of 45,000 people. Help by donating today.
Oxygen
Two mature trees can provide enough oxygen for a family of four. One tree produces approximately 260 pounds of oxygen a year.
Pollution
One acre of trees removes up to 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide each year.
Soil
Over the course of 50 years, a single tree can control $31,500 worth of soil erosion.
Water
Trees improve water quality by slowing and filtering rain as well as protecting aquifers and watersheds.