Ant Forest, a green initiative by Ant Group, has announced the planting of its 600 millionth tree on Earth Day 2025. The milestone was celebrated in Xiaobazi Township, Hebei province, underscoring the program’s nine-year commitment to reforestation and climate action.

The initiative converts users’ eco-friendly activities, such as biking and reducing paper usage, into “green energy” that funds tree planting. More than 90% of the trees planted are in arid regions targeted by China’s Three-North Shelter Forest Program.

Over 90% of the trees funded through Ant Forest are located in China’s arid northern regions, including Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Xinjiang, aligning with the national Three-North Shelter Forest Program to fight desertification.

To date, Ant Group has committed more than 4 billion yuan (US$552 million) to the project, partnering with NGOs and forestry experts for on-the-ground execution.

The program has also aided rural development. In Inner Mongolia, one of the local cooperatives have rehabilitated over 26,000 mu (approximately 4,300 acres) of land. This has boosted household incomes through eco-friendly crops and sustainable activities. Ant Forest reports creating over 4.2 million jobs and distributing more than 600 million yuan (US$82.8 million) in wages to workers.

This year’s initiatives include a “spring planting” drive across seven provinces, with major efforts in Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Xinjiang, and Hebei. In Hebei alone, users have applied to plant over 2 million forsythia and 50,000 pine trees within a week.

🔗 Source: Caijing

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