Ecologists are (rightly!) concerned that too few original native trees are being planted in the Netherlands. They estimate that only 2 to 3 percent of Dutch forests consist of native wild trees and shrubs. The rest are cultivated in the Netherlands or imported. Let’s all protect these last bits of native greenery. Or rather, let’s protect all existing nature and all old trees. And let’s use these pieces of nature as starting material for new nature. More Trees Now collects seedlings in places where they are shaded, too close together, too close to paths, at demolition sites and other places where they are undesirable. The seedlings then go in a diverse and native mix to farmers and citizens who plant them again. What we collect is 90% native and comes from places where it is rampant. We don’t know if it’s all indigenous. We can’t determine that, because that would require genetic research and we don’t have time for that. We are in an ecological as well as a climate crisis. Every native healthy tree that has grown up in nature (and thus without poison or fertilizer) and that we can give a better chance elsewhere, offers added value. Added value for insects, soil, birds, planet and people. So we are working very hard! 10% of what we transplant is not native. This is not a bad thing, because food forests want to plant exotics, and exotics can do little harm in urban gardens as well. And even the best wood for the sustainable homes of the future often comes from exotics. We pull out invasive exotics when we do collect native species. That way we have a win-win. Because the only thing worse than a cultivated hawthorn or birch is no hawthorn or birch just concrete. We keep talking to see what we can do even better together. What is paramount is that we need more forest and more nature! NB: Native means that the genetic material of the tree originates in the country. Native means that the tree can thrive in our climate and grows here naturally. Native trees are always native, but native trees are not always autochthonous.