Starting today, and up until Tuesday, November 27, Para la Naturaleza is raising funds to support the production of 5,000 native trees in Puerto Rico by joining the #GivingTuesday movement, a global day of philanthropy powered by social media and collaboration.

Para la Naturaleza seeks to promote solidarity in Puerto Rican communities throughout both the archipelago and the diaspora by calling upon its people to contribute to the reforestation of native trees in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has more than 547 species of native trees whose existence is vital to Puerto Rican’s quality of life.

“Reforesting is becoming more urgent every day. Developing trees in the tropics absorb more carbon dioxide than in any other geographical zone, which contributes to decrease the impact of global warming. The native and endemic trees we will be planting are best adapted to the zone’s climate conditions. They also serve as habitats to other plants and, together, they are vital to recover our ecosystems. We have planted more than 19,000 trees to date, but we need many more,” said Fernando Lloveras San Miguel, Esq., President of Para la Naturaleza.

With the motto Let’s recover our forests!, Para la Naturaleza is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of our islands’ ecosystems. With each $10 donation, Para la Naturaleza can grow and care for native trees such as copperwood, Spanish elm, maga, native oak, among others.

This campaign is part of Habitat – a post-hurricane ecological recovery program created by Para La Naturaleza – which consists of three initiatives: reforestation, supporting agroecology, and retrofitting 30 community centers with solar panels and water collection and filtration systems.

Here is how you can participate:

• Visit: www.pln.org/donaunarbol, on or before November 27, 2018.
• Make your donation: Select your amount, starting at $10. The more you contribute, the more trees we can plant! On our website you may personalize your tree or forest and then share it via social media.
• Spread the word: Become an influencer of our campaign. Share our content and encourage your neighbors, friends, and family members of the diaspora to join us by donating and using the hashtag #GivingTuesday #DonateaTree and tagging @ParalaNaturalez in Twitter and @Paralanaturaleza in Facebook.

Why are native trees important?

A native tree is a species that belongs to a specific region or ecosystem. Its presence is the result of natural phenomena with no human interventions. Trees in Puerto Rico have long-adapted to environmental and physical characteristics of the diverse regions of our archipelago. Many native species bear drought periods better and recover faster after the impact of a hurricane.

They also produce oxygen, fight pollution and provide shade to reduce temperatures. They serve as buffers against noises, they foster and feed our birds, and they are a part of the beauty that defines our natural surroundings.

Get to know some of our native trees by visiting www.paralanaturaleza.org/donateatree

Acerca de Para la Naturaleza

Para la Naturaleza es una organización sin fines de lucro que integra a la sociedad en la conservación de sus ecosistemas naturales. Su meta es asegurar que el porcentaje de áreas naturales protegidas en Puerto Rico sea 33% para el año 2033. Provee experiencias transformadoras en la naturaleza para inspirar a cada persona y comunidad a tomar acciones concretas para protegerla, como donar tiempo, dinero o terrenos. Además de organizar eventos de voluntarios, educativos y campañas de recaudación, Para la Naturaleza protege 60 áreas naturales y recibe al público en centros de visitantes por todo Puerto Rico