8 Billion Trees

Planting Project: Indonesia

Indonesia is an incredibly bio-diverse area of the planet and third in total number of species behind only Brazil and the DR Congo. The wetland ecosystem is made up of over 17,000 individual islands which provide habitat to thousands of different species. In fact, 25% of the global fish population can be found in Indonesia.

Indonesia is home to:

Additionally, Indonesia is home to a great number of threatened species including precious species like the Sumatran Tiger and Elephant and Javan Rhino.

In the early 1900s, Indonesia still had substantial forest cover. However, severe deforestation that skyrocketed in the 1970s has since destroyed over 172 million acres of forest land (70 million hectares). It is estimated that logging will destroy any remaining forests within the next decade.

Forests in Indonesia are currently being destroyed at an alarming rate: 6.2 million acres decimated every year. In the past 3 decades alone, 40% of all mangrove forests have disappeared.

Sadly, 80% of logging is carried out illegally in Indonesia, making the situation even harder to control. Furthermore, since 2012 Indonesia has ranked number 1 for fastest deforestation taking place (passing Brazil).

Partnering with Eden Reforestation, 8 Billion Trees is now aiming to fight back. Our efforts are focused on restoring Biak Island, where a tsunami left a wake of chaos and destruction still being cleaned up.

By replanting in Indonesia, we can begin to revitalize an area facing widespread illegal logging that is also still suffering from a brutal natural disaster.

In addition to the positive environmental effects, we will also be able to provide livable wages for many local villagers. Over 40 million people in Indonesia live below the international poverty line of $1.25 per day—by hiring them to replant thousands of trees we can give them a new lease on life and raise them out of severe poverty.

With a truly diverse ecosystem and high deforestation levels caused by illegal logging and natural disasters, Indonesia is a country that needs our help.

We are currently focused on planting on the Biak Island which has a tropical climate with an extensive shoreline.