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Realtors Planting 215K Trees to Fight CO2

In a partnership with the National Forest Foundation, NAR’s trees will be able to absorb enough carbon dioxide to equal 23K cars or 13B smart phones.

BOISE, Idaho – The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) in partnership with the National Forest Foundation (NFF), will plant 215,000 trees in national forests throughout Idaho this year. The trees will help fight climate change by capturing 107,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over their lifetime – the equivalent to the CO2 emissions released from:

  • 20,917 homes’ electricity use for one year
  • 23,163 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles for one year
  • 12,096,320 gallons of gasoline consumed
  • 13,076,584,477 (more than 13 billion) smartphones charged
  • 266,837,098 (more than 266 million) miles driven by the average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle

Source: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator

“We are proud of our work at the intersection of the built and natural environments,” says Tracy Kasper, 2023 National Association of Realtors president-elect and a Realtor from Nampa, Idaho. “Sustainability is directly relevant to what agents and Realtors do, and we aim to lead by example – determining how to enjoy resources today and ensure that future generations have the same advantages.”

The planted trees will support reforestation efforts in the Boise and Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests to bolster recovery from the 2016 Pioneer Fire and the 2021 Johnson Creek Fire. This planting is part of a 1.575-million tree-planting initiative under the NAR-NFF program.

“The National Forest Foundation is proud to partner with the NAR on their sustainability initiatives.” says Mary Mitsos, president and CEO, National Forest Foundation. “Tree planting after wildfires is more important than ever. These 215,000 trees are a crucial step to not only restoring our public lands, but to providing cleaner air and beautiful outdoor spaces for future generations to enjoy. With NAR’s support, and our joint commitment to sustainability and growth, we look forward to a brighter, greener future.”

Idaho Governor Brad Little issued a proclamation for the tree planting.

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