A 4-in-1 Environmental Action Plan for Our Time
We Can Rewrite Our Story! Relieving Poverty • Restoring Nature • Removing C02 • Reducing Emissions
Relieving Poverty
Restoring Nature
Removing CO2
Reducing Emissions
What should be top of our minds for the years ahead?
The 2025 Global Risks Report gathered the views of over 900 leaders from academia, business, and politics on how they would assess 33 global challenges over a two-year and a 10-year horizon.
Here’s how their conclusions shaped up…
The Next 2 Years: Misinformation is viewed as the top risk in the short-term, as AI tools have accelerated the creation of false information, be it in the form of text, image or even video. However, climate change is no longer just seen as a long-term issue, as extreme weather events are rated as the second most severe risk for the present and the near future, marking a notable shift from past editions of the report.
Over the Next Decade: While misinformation is expected to remain a major threat, for the second consecutive year the four most severe risks faced by the world over the next decade are all predicted to be related to climactic and environmental challenges.
The 4-in-1 Environmental Action Plan: Global inequality. Biodiversity loss. Climate change. Sustainable lifestyle choices
We will all have to confront these pressing issues in the coming years, and the “ReWrite Our Story” Environmental Action Plan was developed as an economical and effective response option for individuals who would like to turn their personal concerns around these areas into action by addressing all four through one comprehensive initiative.
The ReWrite Our Story program is founded on the proven “Recruit & Restore” strategy, which — since 2012 — has focused on large-scale tree planting and long-term forest conservation projects as the means of reviving vulnerable communities and providing work and income benefits for the local villagers and indigenous people. In addition, the project locations for the program have been specifically selected to balance the overarching goal of improving long-term prosperity in threatened communities, with the potential for being able to restore precious ecosystems of critical environmental value in Africa.
In order to most effectively address these intertwined environmental and humanitarian considerations, the on-the-ground implementation of the ReWrite Our Story program is undertaken in two of the world’s most critical biodiversity “hotspots”:
(a) the world’s fourth largest island, Madagascar, which is one of only 17 mega-diverse countries on earth, and;
(b) the Tanzanian villages on the shores of the world’s longest freshwater lake, Lake Tanganyika, which holds nearly 20% of the world’s freshwater.
As outlined in the four impact areas below, the unique makeup of the on-the-ground conditions at these two locations serve to multiply several-fold the potential benefits that can be derived from implementing the program as a whole for both people and planet.
Let’s look first at the human elements.
4-in-1 Environmental Action: Relieving poverty & inequality
Both Madagascar and Tanzania fall within the world’s top 3 countries where extreme poverty has the most devastating impact. Around 50% of people in Tanzania live off less than $2.15 a day, while in Madagascar the figure may be as high as 80%.
Through the ReWrite Our Story program, modest contributions from individuals around the US (averaging just over $20 a donor) and Europe are providing work and increased household income for the communities we support in these locations through our large-scale tree planting and long-term forest conservation projects … And that’s only the beginning of the good news for the community members concerned!
On top of helping villagers meet immediate food and healthcare needs, the household income boost from our forestry projects provides important ancillary benefits for local families. Recent employee surveys from Madagascar report positive changes in families’ access to schools, resources to pay off debts, and even the ability to start micro-enterprises.
In addition, we should not forget the entire continent of Africa has been responsible for less than 3% of total global emissions, yet it is now most likely to endure the worst impacts of climate change. Indeed, the populations of Madagascar and Tanzania have already endured the impacts of one of the world’s first climate-induced famines, and the climate resilience scores for both countries, as you will see below, are among the lowest on the continent.
So, at the same time as we are supporting improved livelihoods and increased household income for local families, the overall project objective of restoring vital ecosystems is also playing a vital role in helping to protect our vulnerable communities from the future impacts of climate-related land erosion, rising seas, flooding and extreme weather events.
4-in-1 Environmental Action: Restoring nature & biodiversity
Forests are home to more than 80% of all terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects and alarming evidence tells us that biodiversity is declining faster than at any other time in human history. In broad terms, 1-2% of forests across the globe are cut down each year and around 30,000 species are being driven to extinction.
Africa itself has one-fifth of the planet’s remaining forests but is losing them faster than anywhere else on earth, so the selection of the two ReWrite Our Story project locations on the continent were made with these key factors in mind and, with a particular emphasis on the protection of critical biodiversity hotspots.
Madagascar: Due to deforestation, more than 90% of the primary forests on Madagascar have already been destroyed. This devastating environmental loss has an even greater impact on the island because it is home to a distinct ecosystem and extraordinary wildlife — both evolved since its split from the African continent an estimated 160 million years ago. As a result, approximately 95% of its reptiles, 89% of its plant life, and 92% of its mammals exist nowhere else on Earth!
Tanzania: The mountains of the Greater Mahale Ecosystem rise sharply from the Tanzanian shore of Lake Tanganyika. Lush forests provide a haven for wildlife — including 90% of the country’s endangered chimpanzees. An “inland ocean” holding nearly 20% of the world’s fresh water, the lake teems with brightly colored fish found nowhere else. This landscape is also home to more than 500,000 people living in remote villages who farm and fish to feed their families. However, much is at risk.
Ready to take the “Race Against Time” Quick Quiz.
What would you score on Why’s Biodiversity Important?
Find out here!
The ReWrite Our Story program represents a holistic approach that immediately benefits global communities and ultimately the ecosystems we will all depend on for our planet’s future health. The restoration of forests and habitats is especially critical to the preservation of biodiversity in an ecological hotspot like Madagascar. The mangroves that we restore are vital fish breeding habitats because their complex root systems provide shelter from predators and a rich food source for juveniles, effectively acting as nurseries for a huge number of species. In addition, mangroves shed leaves and branches that disperse and transfer essential nutrients into the marine environment, supporting intricate marine and terrestrial food webs.
On the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania, agricultural and sediment runoff can threaten the sensitive fish breeding areas, and that’s why the forestry effort is so relevant. Planting the right trees in the right places reduces loss of topsoil that is essential for farm productivity, thereby reducing pressure for clearing more forest for farming. Keeping soil on slopes also keeps it out of rivers that people rely on for household water needs, and fish breeding habitat in the lake. With climate change driving more intense and unpredictable storms, stabilizing soil is an essential tool in building climate resilience for people and biodiversity.
4-in-1 Environmental Action: Efficiently removing CO2
Nothing is more critical to the global climate-change mitigation than removing CO2 from the air as effectively and swiftly as possible. Recent studies tell us that trees planted in tropical or subtropical regions generally sequester more CO2 than those planted in other regions. Why? The trees in this region grow faster than in other places, and also release more biomass into the soil, thus sequestering higher volumes of CO2. Plus, the existing tropical-forest tree cover absorbs solar radiation more effectively, which means it fast-tracks photosynthesis and sequestration.
Mangroves are native to a limited band of global locations, including Madagascar. By focusing on the restoration of mangrove forests, we are mobilizing one of the world’s most effective natural means of carbon emission control. Compare these types of forests to terrestrial ones: Studies indicate that mangroves sequester up to 5 times the CO2 equivalent of a mature tropical rain-forest!
Carbon modeling reports have shown a similar level of sequestration per hectare at The Tuungane Project at Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania to those that are being attained in Madagascar. Over the last decade, the forestry program that we support has delivered an exceptional 86% first-year survival rate, thanks to the community-led stewardship that underpins all the work at this location.
Take the “Race Against Time” Quick Quiz.
Are you really able to Acclimate to Climate Change?
As a whole, The Tuungane Project is a unique collaboration between local government, communities and non-profits, including Purpose on the Planet, led by The Nature Conservancy. It has already expanded protected areas to cover more than 50% of Mahale’s total forest area and created the foundation for carbon enterprises that pay villages for protecting their forests. In fact, TNC is currently supporting work to replicate a carbon enterprise model that is already generating benefits for 8 villages in the Ntakata Mountains area. If all the verification phases can be successfully completed, this process would enable the local people and the Tree Planting Associations of The Tuungane Project to earn a sustainable income through carbon credits earned from protecting their trees. The very same trees that supporters of the ReWrite Our Story are helping to plant and protect today!
It takes just a $20 donation to create a full day of work to plant 45 trees at the locations adopted by the ReWrite Our Story program. This not only means fair income for participating families and community members, but also an incredibly efficient level of carbon sequestration from every dollar contributed.
4-in-1 Environmental Action: Reducing emissions at home
At this point, we’ve yet to mention the final element of the ReWrite Our Story Environmental Action Plan. Many view it as a key ingredient of any program aimed at promoting a sustainable future: It’s about educating and inspiring people everywhere to act!
In fact, generating this voluntary willingness to embrace personal change is simply vital to conquering two of our biggest environmental threats: reducing emissions and getting to a sustainable global consumption rate. Perhaps the most exciting (while challenging) aspect of this operating principle is that it needs to happen — through “behavioral contagion” at scale — at the level of local communities and households themselves!
That’s why Purpose on the Planet provides anyone who supports the ReWrite Our Story program with a free, one-year subscription to a monthly series, Sustainable Solutions, that provides an easy-to-digest roadmap for creating your own low-carbon lifestyle. It’s a digital collection highlighting 12 practical contexts that heighten carbon sensitivity in our daily lives — like the principles of a Circular Economy, the critical importance of water, emissions reduction through home-life choices, the impact of travel, food waste…and much more!
Take the “Race Against Time” Quick Quiz
How much do you think you actually know about The 21st Century Revolution in Renewables?
Find out here!
Through this great tool, everyone who contributes as little as $10 to the ReWrite Our Story program will not only be restoring nature and removing CO2 at two locations in Africa, but will ALSO receive carbon-certified insights focused on reducing emissions through simple lifestyle changes at home, too!
In fact, taken as a whole, the ReWrite Our Story program offers 10 levels of impact as a climate change strategy, which is centered around removing CO2 but also addresses several aspects of climate adaptation, justice, mitigation and resilience.
In all, you will also be advancing 12 of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals for future prosperity. Starting with No Poverty (SDG #1) all the way to Life on Land (SDG #15), the Sustainable Solutions series also shares monthly insights on how your support helps create this great progress for people and planet.
Three meaningful options for participating in the ReWrite Our Story Environmental Action Plan
Create Work & Income by Restoring Nature
Give monthly & we’ll plant 60 extra trees
Impacts start at $10
Support 12 of the UN’s 2030 Global Goals
We share monthly insights on your impact
Impacts Start at $20
Be Climate Positive by Removing CO2
Economically offset your CO2 footprint
Only $20/month
DAF Donations: Learn More About Using Donor-Advised Funds to Make a DAF Donation or Nonprofit Grant in Four Simple Clicks
pRIVACY and SECURITY
Top 1% in Transparency
Our founders cover 100% of our general operating expenses with a very specific purpose: This means our donors confidently trust that 100% of every donation they make goes directly toward the environment and the positive humanitarian outcomes that our nonprofit programs have been created to deliver.
The Platinum Seal of Transparency is a rating that puts Purpose on the Planet in the top 1% of charities nationally in terms of transparency. It means that we have shared clear information with the public about our goals, strategies, capabilities, achievements and progress indicators for our nonprofit programs.
Measurable Deliverables
Our program is structured around tangible and measurable result requirements that are rigorously maintained for every donor dollar received. Likewise, all of our donors are updated on the collective, documented progress toward stated program goals via our annual Nonprofit Programs Impact Report.
To better understand the challenges our work addresses, as well as the benefits delivered on the ground by our nonprofit programs, donors can expect to receive continuous insights and tips into the tangible (and “do-able”) ways they can contribute to more effectively ensure a prosperous future.