Want to do what you love online and support reforestation? Every time you interact with E-tree on Microsoft Edge or Weather from Microsoft Start, you'll earn points to grow a virtual seed into a virtual tree. Once the virtual tree is fully grown, a real tree will be planted in Kenya.
This program is free to join and play. You don't have to be signed in to your Microsoft account to participate. But in order to combine the points you earn in Microsoft Edge and the points from Microsoft Weather, you will need to sign in—plus you'll earn more points if you do. Please note: You are required to sign in to your Microsoft account before a real tree will be planted in Kenya. (If you don't have a Microsoft account, you can sign up for one for free.)
You can earn water points by visiting and completing daily tasks on Microsoft Edge, and energy points by visiting and completing daily tasks on Microsoft Weather. When you've reached a total of 10,000 points (water or energy points or combined), a real tree will be planted in Kenya.
Earn water points for your virtual tree in Microsoft Edge
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Go to the Microsoft Edge sidebar and select E-tree.
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Select Start planting trees to start the program and receive a seed to water.
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Complete daily tasks—such as search for an environmental topic or check out sustainable items—to earn water points.
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When you've reached level 10 (earned 10,000 points), sign in to your Microsoft account and a real tree will be planted in Kenya.
Earn energy points for your virtual tree in Microsoft Weather
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Go to Weather from Microsoft Start. (You can also play on MSN Weather.) Select the E-tree seed in the left margin and then Get started.
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Complete daily tasks—such as find a sunny location or a severe weather alert on a weather map—to earn energy points.
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When you've reached level 10 (earned 10,000 points), sign in to your Microsoft account and a real tree will be planted in Kenya.
The only way to ensure your points are saved is to sign in to your Microsoft account. You'll also earn more points and can track your progress on all your devices.
Microsoft has partnered with Eden Reforestation Projects to plant the trees. This organization has already planted more than 900 million trees across 11 countries. Eden Reforestation Projects works closely with local communities to restore native forests on a massive scale while creating jobs, protecting ecosystems, and helping mitigate climate change. Eden Reforestation Projects has received high ratings on Charity Navigator. For more details, visit their website (only available in English).
When done using a scientifically informed methodology, planting trees results in positive environmental impacts, such as ecological restoration and carbon sequestration. Supporting reforestation through a partner like Eden Reforestation Projects also provides local communities with new opportunities for economic self-sufficiency.
The trees will be planted in Kenya, which is located on Africa's eastern coast and is famous for its diverse wildlife and wide range of forests. In recent decades, these forests have experienced widespread environmental degradation as the result of logging, charcoal burning, and illegal farming. A consequence of these human-related activities has been an increase in poverty coupled with severe drought. To combat these developments, the Kenyan government has committed to restoring 10% of its land to forest cover, and our partner Eden Reforestation Projects is working closely with them to help accomplish this goal.
You need to earn 10,000 points (energy or water or both) to plant a tree. Points earned on Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Weather can be combined to reach 10,000 points.
It depends. If you complete all the tasks daily, it takes about a month to earn 10,000 points.
Initially, there will be up to 400,000 trees planted as part of this pilot program.
No, it is free to join the program and play.
Microsoft Edge: The program is currently available in the UK, India, South Africa, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, and Singapore.
Microsoft Weather: The program is currently available in many countries and regions. It is not available in mainland China at this time.
Notes:
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There is no correlation between Microsoft Edge product usage, the number of water points collected, and the planting of a tree to any environmental benefits.
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Any environmental benefits associated with the trees planted as part of this program are not included in Microsoft's corporate environmental accounting.
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E-tree data will expire if you don't open the Eco tree feature for 18 months.
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By signing in to your Microsoft account, you can combine the E-tree points you earn on Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Weather. Your E-tree progress will be saved to your account.
