A faith-based environmental group in the Philippines has launched a seven-year tree stewardship campaign that will track whether planted trees survive, grow and become part of restored forests and ecosystems.
Living Laudato Si’ Philippines (LLS) launched Arbores Gratiarum — Trees of Thanksgiving on Sept. 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, as part of its observance of the Season of Creation.
The campaign invites individuals, families, parishes, schools, organizations and institutions to plant and care for seven trees each year for seven years, or 49 trees per participant by 2033.
“But this is not simply about planting or counting trees. We want to journey with them — to know how many take root, survive, grow, and become part of living forests and ecosystems,” the group said.
The initiative emphasizes long-term care, survival, and ecological restoration rather than planting alone.
LLS said there are an estimated 3.04 trillion trees on Earth, while humanity continues to lose roughly 10 billion trees net every year.
“In the face of this continuing loss, we want to help build a culture not only of planting, but of growing, sustaining, protecting and restoring,” the group said.
The seven-year framework is intended to keep participants involved beyond the initial planting and encourage them to follow the growth and survival of the trees over time.
The group also cited the estimated 1.422 billion Catholics worldwide in describing the potential reach of the campaign.
“With around 1.422 billion Catholics worldwide, imagine what could grow if many of us made this commitment together,” the group said.
The group encouraged parishes, dioceses, schools, religious communities, organizations and families to join the campaign and share the initiative through their networks.
“Every commitment matters. Help us invite more people to plant, grow, and sustain — and to journey with these trees until 2033,” it said.
