As Ant Group Co., Ltd. celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Ant Forest initiative, a public letter has been released expressing gratitude to the 700 million users whose dedication transformed an initially doubtful concept into a nationwide environmental movement. The letter highlights how this decade-long journey has successfully engaged a vast community while planting over 700 million trees, turning a seemingly unrealistic idea into a concrete reality. With the arrival of the AI era, the company has pledged to leverage advanced technology to gain a deeper understanding of nature, continuing to pursue innovative approaches for conservation.
The core innovation of Ant Forest lies in its ability to bridge individual participation with ecological philanthropy through the internet. Users accumulate "green energy" points by adopting eco-friendly habits such as using public transportation, walking or cycling, reducing paper and plastic usage, handling affairs online, and promoting recycling. Once sufficient energy is gathered, individuals can submit applications that trigger funding from Ant Group Co., Ltd. and other corporate donors. These funds are then managed by public welfare organizations and specialized agencies to carry out tree planting and ecological restoration projects across various regions.
Statistics reveal the program's substantial impact over the past decade. More than 700 million people have participated online, with 160 million of them applying to plant over 700 million trees. These trees have taken root in more than 150 counties across 13 provinces, including Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Ningxia, and Xinjiang, covering a total area of 4,713 square kilometers—an expanse equivalent to half of the Ulan Buh Desert, China's eighth-largest desert. Notably, over 90% of these trees are located in the core areas targeted by the "Three-North" shelterbelt program, which focuses on combating desertification in northern China.
During these ten years, Ant Group Co., Ltd. has invested over 5.1 billion yuan through Ant Forest in contractual donations to support ecological construction across 26 provinces. Partnering with more than 90 public welfare organizations and professional institutions, the initiative has involved 5.17 million person-times in planting, maintenance, and patrolling efforts. Local residents participating in these projects have earned an additional 776 million yuan in labor income from Ant Forest's charitable contributions, providing significant economic benefits to communities in these regions.
Looking ahead to the next decade, Ant Forest is posing profound questions about humanity's relationship with deserts and nature. The initiative asks whether we truly understand these landscapes or if technology can help us cooperate with nature rather than merely fight against it. As we enter the AI era, new possibilities are emerging, prompting exploration into how we can learn to coexist with the natural world. These forward-thinking considerations were central to the letter released on the same day the 2026 Inclusion·Outer Temple Conference opened in Shanghai, where the finals of the "Earth Partner Program" green technology innovation competition also took place. This competition, co-organized by Ant Group Co., Ltd. and the Green Technology Bank, attracted 210 youth teams from around the globe, all contributing innovative solutions to challenges in desertification control and efficient water resource utilization.
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