The More Trees Now project: growing a greener future for Europe

Why More Trees Now?

Since its launch in the Netherlands in 2020, the More Trees Now approach developed by Stichting Meergroen has pioneered a new way of thinking about reforestation. Instead of relying solely on traditional tree nurseries, the campaign mobilises volunteers to collect young trees and shrubs from areas where they would otherwise be cut or unable to mature. These “rescued” saplings are stored in local hubs and later replanted on farms, community lands, and private properties.

The concept has many virtues and goals:

• Turning climate despair into positive action,
• Using nature as a nursery,
• Highlighting ecology as a key solution to the climate crisis,
• Using billions of saplings that are already 3–10 years old as an additional source of trees from nurseries,
• Sequestering excess carbon in wood to regain the 50 years lost to research and planning.

To achieve the last goal, around 30 million km² of extra forest worldwide is needed, serving as a model for uniting a divided humanity around a shared purpose.

The impact has been extraordinary: in just five winters, over 2.5 million trees have been transplanted by more than 34,000 volunteers. This approach not only increases genetic diversity by keeping tree genetics local but also places communities at the heart of climate action.

 

What the project aims to achieve

Through five interconnected work packages, the More Trees Now Project seeks to:

• Exchange best practices across diverse European climates.
• Develop training programmes that equip adult learners with hands-on reforestation skills.
• Advance research on effective, climate-resilient planting methods.
• Create educational tools such as online courses and multimedia resources.
• Disseminate results through events, networks, and media.

At its core, the project is about scaling a proven, community-based reforestation model while strengthening local organisations’ capacity to lead restoration efforts.

 

Anticipated outcomes

By the end of the project, we expect to see:

• Thousands of adult learners trained in restoration skills,
• Stronger collaboration across European organisations,
• Communities more engaged in environmental stewardship,
• Increased civic participation in rural areas,
• Accessible educational tools that inspire action throughout Europe.

The project will contribute to climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and the growth of resilient, empowered communities.

 

An innovative approach

What sets the More Trees Now model apart is its ingenuity and simplicity. By harvesting trees where they naturally sprout in abundance and relocating them to places where they can grow to maturity, the method solves multiple challenges at once:

• Expands tree cover quickly and at low cost,
• Preserves local genetic diversity,
• Mobilises communities to take hopeful, practical action for the planet.

This model is not just about trees – it’s about people coming together to restore ecosystems, share knowledge, and take meaningful action.

 

Looking ahead

The More Trees Now Project is more than a reforestation effort – it’s a movement that showcases collaboration, resilience, and innovation in the face of global challenges.

As more trees are planted, rescued, and nurtured, new networks of learners, organisations, and changemakers will take root across Europe. Together, we are not only planting trees; we are planting hope, resilience, and a shared future.

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