Amelia Ryan
- May 2, 2021
- 4 min read

Fighting the Climate Crisis One Step at a Time

Updated: May 6, 2021

In the last 100 years the global average surface temperature has increased by more than 0.9 °C resulting in the melting of sea ice, rising sea-levels, and an increase in the frequency of severe weather events. According to a recent survey, involving 1 million people in over 50 countries, almost two thirds of respondents view climate change as a global emergency.

It is arguably the greatest threat facing humanity today. As world leaders bicker amongst themselves trying to come up with some sort of ‘quick fix’, it can feel like actions as an individual are negligible or meaningless in the global fight against climate change.

Here at Treekly, we want to change that. We want to give control back to those who’s futures will undoubtedly be affected by the warming climate and provide them with a platform to make a positive change for future generations.

How? We turn your footsteps into forests.

Research continues to show reforestation has the greatest climate mitigation potential than any other natural climate solution, so the power of trees cannot be overlooked. Reducing our current carbon dioxide emissions is not enough, we must actively seek to remove it from the atmosphere if we are to keep warming within 1.5 °C.

The Treekly Forest is being planted in Moraharivo, Madagascar. In line with good reforestation practices, we plant native mangrove trees. These ‘ultimate giving trees’ are much more than bark and leaves, as they can store 2.5-6 times more carbon than terrestrial forests.

In the case of terrestrial trees, CO2 is released into the atmosphere when they die or from dead plant matter (rotting leaves). On the other hand, mangroves using their intertwined root system, trap carbon in waterlogged soil. This “blue carbon” can stay trapped there for thousands of years without being released into the atmosphere.

Mangroves have tangled roots which act as protection from harsh weather conditions. They rise above the ground giving them the nickname the “walking tree”.

With only 10% of Madagascar’s original forests remaining today, mangrove forests are also crucial to the preservation of Madagascar’s unique wildlife and its ecosystems.

Mangrove forests act as a ‘barrier’ between the coast and the shore. Their thick, tangled roots become submerged at high tides creating a sanctuary for marine life. In fact, around 75% of the world's tropical fish are born in the safety of the mangrove roots, which act as protection against hurricanes and other harsh weather conditions.

They are the only trees in the world that thrive in saltwater, a unique feature which is vital to the upkeep of the surrounding ecosystems, and reduce flooding and coastal erosion more effectively than any man-made system. Yet, human activity has caused a sharp decline in Mangrove forests in Madagascar.

Without these trees acting as natural ‘sieves’, the water quality at coastal areas and nearby coral reefs has declined significantly, reducing the health of coral reefs and the ecosystems dependent on them. Red soil is being washed out to sea, reducing the quality of the water. As a result, astronauts have noted that Madagascar looks like it is 'bleeding to death' as these 'rivers of blood' run through the island before reaching the sea.

Source: NASA/R. Arnold

The benefits mangrove trees have on their surrounding environments are immense. We have teamed up with Eden Reforestation Projects who have planted over 480 million trees in 8 countries since 2007. Unsurprisingly, most deforestation is directly linked to extreme poverty and the destruction of communities. Through fair wage employment, Eden employ local people to plant the trees so villages can begin to thrive once again.

Source: Eden Reforestation Projects

Did you know you can now take 'steps' to offset your carbon footprint whilst improving your health and wellbeing, and contribute to the health of the environment?

Treekly is launching in March, with an app which turns your footsteps into forests - automatically tracking your daily steps and rewards you with trees. Each week, your aim is to hit the Treekly target of 5000 steps on 5 of the 7 days. In return, one* mangrove tree is planted on your behalf in the Treekly Forest in Moraharivo, on the island of Madagascar.

The Treekly app provides you with two dashboards. The first shows your Impact including tree tally, the other is your Health dashboard to view your steps and other health data metrics (depending on which device you have connected). Involve your friends, family and colleagues for some healthy competition to grow your own part of the forest, become more active and reduce your net CO2 impact.

Want to remove even more CO2 from the atmosphere? You can purchase one-off tree packs or monthly subscriptions allowing you to plant more and further offset your carbon footprint.

Available for both individuals and businesses, everyone can become a climate warrior and reduce their carbon footprint. So, start walking more and turn your footsteps into forests to change lives and help save the planet!

Sources:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/global-warming-effects

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55802902

https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1404

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKg-WuUG0ac

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/mangroves.html

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/04/04/3181798.htm

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24405426/

https://www.conservation.org/stories/11-facts-you-need-to-know-about-mangroves

https://edenprojects.org/madagascar/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuH-ELqCN3E&feature=youtu.be

https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/fee.1451?saml_referrer