Plant Trees Not Bombs asks the world’s defence forces to put their people, aircraft and discipline to work for the planet, and to plant trees instead of bombs, alongside young people, governments and cities.
Climate change is now one of the biggest threats to peace and security. Droughts, floods and fires destroy livelihoods, push people from their homes and deepen conflict. Planting trees is one practical step anyone can take. It restores land, protects water and changes the story of what security means.
How the campaign works
Each defence force commits to planting at least one million trees. Where it makes sense, seeds are “carpet-bombed” from military aircraft in biodegradable clay balls, so large areas of damaged land can be reached at once. Cities, schools and youth groups set their own targets and plant alongside them.
The campaign is grounded in the third Global Peace principle: protecting our shared environment.
Where it started
Global Peace launched the campaign with South Africa’s Ministry of Defence on 14 November 2019, at the United Cities and Local Governments World Congress in Durban. Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula committed the South African National Defence Force to plant one million trees and challenged her counterparts around the world to do the same.
“We are reopening a chapter in the role of the military… a chapter that changes the narrative from planting bombs to planting trees… from inflicting death to giving life,” she said.
Graça Machel, Chair of Global Peace, UN Under-Secretary-General Fabrizio Hochschild Drummond, UCLG President Parks Tau and mayors from Strasbourg, Tunis, Daejeon, Ramallah and Granollers planted a Tree of Peace at the Durban International Convention Centre. An SANDF helicopter delivered the tree.
The first goal was 75 million trees, one million from each of 75 countries, to mark the United Nations’ 75th anniversary.
Milestones
Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula launched the campaign at the UCLG World Congress and the Tree of Peace was planted.
President Cyril Ramaphosa planted a tree for the campaign on Armed Forces Day in Polokwane.
Young climate activists from 15 countries met ahead of COP28, with the campaign as Global Peace’s tool for climate action.
Defence forces in countries including China, South Korea, Malawi, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Mexico and Colombia already run their own reforestation programmes. The campaign invites more to join them and to share what they plant.
Get involved
Commit to a planting target and tell us about it.
Plant with your communities and add your trees to the global count.
Organise a planting day and share it with #PlantTreesNotBombs.
