Thanks to your incredible support, your tree donations are making a real, measurable impact on ecosystems and communities around the world. We are excited to share an update on how your contributions through our partnership with ONE TREE PLANTED are helping restore vital forests and create a healthier planet.
Mangrove Restoration in Guatemala
Because of your donations, 174,095 mangrove trees were planted across 63.55 hectares of land in the municipalities of Ocos and La Blanca in the San Marcos region. These restored mangrove ecosystems play a vital role in environmental health and community resilience along Guatemala’s Pacific coast.
Mangrove forests serve as:
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Critical breeding grounds for fish, mussels, and crustaceans
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Nesting and feeding habitats for migratory bird species
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Natural barriers that protect coastlines from erosion and extreme weather
Your support directly helped restore these essential ecosystems while strengthening the livelihoods of local communities.
Community-Led Restoration For Long-Term Success
This project is guided by Local Mangrove Roundtables (Mesas Locales de Mangle or MLMs) community-based organizations made up of local residents and leaders, civil society groups, municipal forestry representatives, and Guatemala’s National Forest Institute.
MLMs are responsible for ensuring the long-term conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems. By supporting these regional groups, the project strengthens a community-driven model that ensures lasting environmental and economic benefits.
As the newly planted trees mature, they will:
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Improve ecological stability
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Increase biodiversity
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Create sustainable livelihood opportunities for coastal communities
Why Mangroves Matter
Mangrove forests in Guatemala are vital to regional environmental stability and play a crucial role in supporting the livelihoods of thousands of coastal families. Along the Pacific coast, many communities depend heavily on healthy mangrove ecosystems for their primary economic activities, including tourism, fishing, and the production and commercialization of fish and crustaceans.
Mangroves act as natural nurseries for marine life, providing safe breeding and feeding grounds for fish, shrimp, mussels, and crabs. These ecosystems directly support local fisheries, helping ensure sustainable food sources and long-term income for families who rely on the sea. In addition, thriving mangrove forests enhance eco-tourism by attracting bird species and wildlife, creating opportunities for guided tours and community-based tourism initiatives.
Beyond their economic value, mangroves provide essential environmental protection. Their dense root systems stabilize coastlines, reduce erosion, filter pollutants, and buffer coastal communities from storms and changing weather patterns. When mangrove forests are degraded or lost, communities become more vulnerable to environmental and economic instability.
By restoring mangrove forests, this project helps rebuild these critical ecosystems while supporting diversified income streams and increased livelihood opportunities. Healthy mangroves strengthen local economies, protect natural resources, and empower communities to thrive in balance with their environment, ensuring a more resilient future for both people and nature.
Where Your Donations Are Going Now
Every tree planted represents hope for the environment, for wildlife, and for the communities that depend on healthy forests. The current store donations to ONE TREE PLANTED are being allocated to a few different projects, like the Southeast US initiative taking place in Florida and Georgia, and another initiative in Texas.
The Southeast Project
The Texas Project
The goal of this project is to interplant both sites to achieve the recommended stocking rate of 605 trees per acre. Interplanting is an important step to ensure the survival of the species and the resilience of the ecosystem. It provides a more diverse habitat, allowing for increased biodiversity, which is important for the environment and for the local community. Additionally, interplanting can provide habitats for a range of wildlife, as well as create greater economic opportunities for the local community by providing a sustainable source of timber for the lumber industry. Finally, this project will help to reduce soil erosion and water runoff, helping to protect local water sources.
Together, we are helping restore ecosystems and grow a healthier planet for future generations. Thank you for choosing to shop with purpose and for being part of this meaningful impact.
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