Special to the Times Free Press
To celebrate Earth Day, FIFA announced its support for reforestation and community tree planting projects across all 16 FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host Cities in North America, delivered in collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation. As part of this initiative, Boston joined the effort with a local planting event held on April 18, 2026, at Constitution Beach in East Boston.
In partnership with Tree Eastie, volunteers and community members planted 28 trees, contributing to a growing movement focused on creating a lasting environmental legacy across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Since launching in 2025, the initiative has emphasized long-term environmental benefits while strengthening civic engagement and local investment in green spaces.
To date, more than 250,000 trees have been planted through reforestation projects across North America, alongside community planting events led by the Arbor Day Foundation and its network of local partners. In total, the initiative will deliver 19 forest projects and 20 community planting events, supported by 24 local partners. The reforestation work is expected to span more than 2,000 acres—roughly equivalent to 1,000 football pitches.
Boston’s project focused on neighborhoods with low tree canopy coverage, where additional trees can make a meaningful difference. The planting at Constitution Beach addressed key priorities, including community engagement, air quality, environmental justice, and the urban heat island effect—issues that often disproportionately impact lower socioeconomic communities.
By expanding green space along East Boston’s waterfront, the newly planted trees will help reduce urban heat, improve air quality, and better manage stormwater runoff, supporting broader community resilience goals aligned with the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Sustainability and Human Rights Strategy.
The overall initiative combines large-scale reforestation with community-based efforts, aiming to plant one million trees across North American forests while adding more than 12,000 trees in parks, school campuses, trail systems, and other public gathering spaces in Host Cities like Boston. Community planting events will continue through the summer, connecting FIFA World Cup 2026™ with local environmental action through the Arbor Day Foundation’s extensive partner network.
Since 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has led efforts to restore forests and increase urban canopy in more than 60 countries, helping plant more than 600 million trees through its global network of members, supporters, and partners like Tree Eastie. This project is another example of how local organizations and community members can help drive environmental resilience through the power of trees.
To learn more about the Arbor Day Foundation’s work, visit: www.arborday.org