To date, 8 Billion Trees has supported the planting of over 8,371,131 trees around the globe and has funded the conservation of over 185,329 acres of existing forest. Additionally, we fund a Wildlife Conservation Center near the Amazon Rainforest where we save injured and displaced animals.

8 Billion Trees supports groups that work to protect and restore Earth's most endangered forest ecosystems.

We currently plant and conserve trees in 20 different countries around the world:

• Australia
• Brazil (Amazon Rainforest)
• Madagascar
• Nepal
• Tanzania
• California
• Indonesia
• Haiti
• Honduras
• India
• Philippines
• Ethiopia
• Kenya
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Mali
• Senegal
• Uganda
• Mozambique
• Mexico
• Nicaragua

While planting and conserving trees everywhere they are needed is important, we have to start somewhere. And in doing so, we have to think about where trees are needed the "most". In order to answer this, scientists have determined "biodiversity hotspots" that contain a large number of unique and precious species but are gravely in danger of being destroyed.

There are two factors that must be met for an area to be classified as a hotspot:

• A minimum of 1,500 species of plants are present
• A minimum of 70% of the original vegetation has been removed or lost

As of today, there are 35 areas defined as hot spots, making up 2.3% of Earth. However, this small percentage supports and provides habitat for more than half of earth's plant species (that aren't found anywhere else on the planet). Furthermore, over 42% of all bird, mammal, amphibian, and reptile species live in these hotspots.

Focusing on these troubled hotspots, 8 Billion Trees is able to place its focus where it can have the greatest impact. Furthermore, it gives us a chance to have a strong, direct impact not just on Earth's future--but the futures of the animals living in areas being heavily deforested.

Furthermore, as explained in our FAQ, planting trees goes so much beyond fighting habitat destruction. It recharges the environment, helps to stabilize micro-climates for farming, prevent harmful erosion, restore water systems, and ultimately provide a new source of income for the inhabitants of less developed areas. On top of focusing on hotspots, 8 Billion Trees also takes into account the poverty level of a given area to help determine where the greatest impact can be made.

8 Billion Trees also helps to support some groups that do not fit these criteria, but still make an incredible difference for not only the environment but the people who live in it. We always check the legitimacy of the organizations we support and have included several important resources on our 8 Billion Trees review page (legit vs. scam).