A tree for every Pencil
The Beirut RiverLess Forest: trees and shrubs first planted in 2019 (left) and fifteen months after planting (right)
How D&AD Pencil-winners are helping grow forests in Beirut and Australia
Since 2019 D&AD have planted a tree for every pencil winner. By planting a tree for each winner, we are acknowledging not only creative excellence that inspires change but also the responsibility to contribute to a more sustainable future. Each tree planted represents a commitment to restoring ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and reducing the carbon footprint of our industry. Through this initiative we have planted thousands of trees, restored hectares of forestry, and sequestered significant carbon across vulnerable landscapes in Australia and Lebanon.
Projects supported
2025 — everclime, ReForest Now
Based in Byron Bay, ReForest Now delivers science-led reforestation across some of Australia’s most vulnerable environments. Partnering with ecologists, landholders and Indigenous custodians, the organisation is dedicated to restoring biodiversity, rebuilding habitats and sequestering carbon to create lasting ecological and community impact.
Through our partnership, each tree planted as part of the D&AD Awards will help regenerate subtropical rainforests in northern New South Wales. These efforts will support the restoration of habitats for endangered species such as the koala and promote the growth of resilient native species that strengthen ecosystems for generations to come.
2023–24 — everclime, AirSeed
In 2023 we partnered with everclime. Through this partnership we planted an average of four trees per Pencil winner, amplifying the environmental impact of our awards program.
AirSeed is transforming how the world restores degraded landscapes, using autonomous drones, data driven intelligence, and custom-engineered seed pods to accelerate reforestation and biodiversity recovery. By integrating cutting-edge technology with ecological expertise, we deliver faster, more efficient, and scalable solutions for land restoration, carbon sequestration, and habitat rehabilitation.
After the 2022 Northern Rivers floods and landslips, steep, hazardous slopes became inaccessible to conventional planting. AirSeed used drone-deployed, species-matched seed pods to stabilise landslips, rebuild soils, and support koala habitat recovery. D&AD Pencil winners supported two annual deployments of 5,000 seed pods (total 10,000), targeting steep, hard-to-reach sites where traditional crews couldn’t operate - accelerating early-stage regeneration.
The first phase of 'The & Forest' began in November 2021 and is located in the Chiyah area of Beirut
2019–22 — the OtherDada, the OtherForest
D&AD Future Impact winner Adib Dada’s the OtherDada, innovative afforestation project theOtherForest is located in the Chiyah region of Beirut, the project has been rewilding dense urban areas into lush native forests and providing green spaces for the local community to thrive.
During our partnership with The OtherDada, we planted over 1,300 trees in Lebanon.
“Importantly, the forest will become completely self-sufficient in less than three years, requiring no water nor maintenance after that initial period,” explains Dada. Rita Tawil of the Chiyah Municipality adds, "I think the trees will be very helpful because they will replace the hot asphalt and shade the park, which will have a positive impact on the park and for those who come to walk."