Plant a Virtual Tree

Whether you sign a petition to support forest preservation, buy a membership in an organization working on forest issues or buy a product from a company that pledges to plant trees or donate 1% of sales to charity, there are countless little ways you can support tree-planting and other initiatives to protect the world's forests. With 2011 being the United Nations-designated International Year of Forests, the options may be greater than ever.

On Arbor Day 2011, for instance, Timberland is planting up to 1 million trees in Haiti, one for every Facebook fan that plants a virtual tree with its app.

The Nature Conservancy is continuing its Plant a Billion Trees campaign with donations helping to re-plant forests in Brazil's Atlantic forest.

American Forests pledges to plant a tree for every dollar donated.

Conservation International will protect an acre of forests for every $15 donated.

And, of course, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant 10 trees in U.S. forests for each member that signs up (you can also get those 10 trees to plant yourself, if you want.)

These are only a few of the options available for people who want to plant a tree without getting their hands dirty. Look for those opportunities, and take them!