New Facebook Tree Planter Application Plants Real Trees

Nebraska City, Neb. (April 11, 2008) – The Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota have teamed up to create a unique Facebook application called Tree Planter, where Facebook users can plant real trees simply by using their computer.

As with many Facebook applications, users send virtual gifts – in this case trees – to their friends and networks. What’s new is that for each virtual tree that is given and planted in the Facebook Forest, it is matched with a real tree – planted in a real forest – by the Arbor Day Foundation.

The trees given on Facebook through the Tree Planter application will help replant our National Forests, which have been destroyed as never before by insects, disease, and devastating fires. Tress planted in our National Forests will restore their life-giving benefits and awe-inspiring splendor for Americans to enjoy for generations to come.

“By using Facebook, people can make a difference in the world by helping to plant trees in our National Forests,” said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The Tree Planter application is a great way for everyone to help plant desperately needed trees in our nation’s forests.”

Tree gifts on Facebook include all the classics, such as cedar, oak and maple, as well as forest creatures like squirrels and birds.

Like other Facebook gifts, Tree Planter gifts cost only $1. But unlike most other gifts on Facebook, Tree Planter gifts will make an impact in America’s National Forests and on the environment.

Toyota will kick off the Tree Planter application by buying 50,000 trees and will give one to each new user for them to re-gift to a friend. With Toyota’s help, the goal of Tree Planter is to plant 1 million trees.

Tree Planter is available now on Facebook. For more information, or to install the application, go to www.beatreeplanter.com.

The Tree Planter application on Facebook was made possible by the generous support of Toyota. As part of its commitment to enhancing environmental literacy and developing conservation leaders of tomorrow, Toyota has been active in education and tree-planting efforts of the Arbor Day Foundation since 2001.

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About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org.