The Green Spa Network has launched its first action initiative, the GSN Tree Planting Initiative, in an effort to mobilise the spa and wellness community to plant one million trees by Earth Day 2019.

The GSN has partnered with WeForest, a reforestation nonprofit based in Belgium, for the project. WeForest works with communities, local organisations and NGOs to develop scalable reforestation projects, and the organisation guarantees the survival of its trees.

Members of the GSN are encouraged to sign up to track the overall progress towards the goal, and to send a message that the spa and wellness community wants to be recognised as a champion of environmentalism.

Existing and new members of the GSN network are encouraged to pledge to contribute to this effort in any of several ways. Strategies can include planting a tree for every treatment given, asking customers to donate to the cause at point-of-sale, or choosing to donate 10 per cent of profits to WeForest’s efforts.

Members can also organise or participate in a local tree planting or fundraising event involving staff, customers, schools or government organisations, or include a tree-planting event in their Global Wellness Day celebrations.

“There are many different ways the spa or product company can tailor it to their own needs,” said Bonnie Baker, founder of Satteva Spa and Wellness Concepts and VP board of directors for the GSN. “We really want to show that the spa community can create positive global impact and change.”

GSN’s Tree Planting Initiative will contribute specifically to WeForest's Brazil project to support the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. This project aims to create forest corridors between remaining fragments, increasing tree cover and habitat connectivity for native species. The community-based nurseries, seed collection, and planting activities are under the management of local people who, thanks to this project, are empowered to earn a living while restoring the forest.

“Climate change can no longer be ignored, especially when solutions exist," said Marie-Noelle Kiejzer, CEO of WeForest. "WeForest is delighted to support GSN in its commitment to transform the spa industry into an actor of change. Delighting customers with trees planted as a result of their business is a simple gesture which will make a huge difference to the local communities that live around the forest we restore in Brazil and help make earth cooler."

Those interested in participating can sign up at thttps://greenspanetwork.org/gsnplantstrees/ to have their trees counted towards the goal.