Trees are well known for their environmental benefits such as improving air quality and water infiltration. For those who live far from natural forests and green spaces, urban trees are especially necessary. Urban trees help reduce heat, beautify neighborhoods, sequester carbon, and much more.
São Paulo, Brazil ranks among the top 10 greenest cities in Latin America as of 2026. However, as South America’s most populous city with over 20 million residents, many neighborhoods lack adequate tree coverage. This lack of greenery is especially notable in areas with lower incomes.
Random Acts supporter Daniel Finney is familiar with many of these neighborhoods that could do with more plant life. With the help of Random Acts funding, he joined others in his community to plant over 20 fruit trees around São Paulo.
Increasing Tree Survival and Preventing Thieves
Daniel’s father works in environmental protection, so he grew up hearing a lot about the topic. Naturally, he became drawn to do good for the environment, as well. He decided to plant trees to benefit the people of São Paulo. But first, he had to figure out what kind of trees to plant and how best to plant them.
While native trees provide food and shelter for local wildlife, fruit trees can provide free nutritious, fresh food for both wildlife and people. Since Daniel’s primary focus was on what could help the people of poorer neighborhoods, he decided to plant fruit trees.
Daniel originally planned to surround each tree with a small flower garden and a sign. However, after some research, he learned that flowers and signs tend to draw attention to newly planted trees, which are at high risk of theft. He also discovered that tinier seedlings have a high mortality rate, so planting flowers would not be sustainable anyway.
Additionally, fruit trees are considered high value trees, which are frequently stolen shortly after being planted.
To both increase their chance of survival and decrease their chance of theft, Daniel decided to purchase larger seedlings between 4 and 7 feet tall.
Along with his father and sister, Daniel spent three days planting trees in various places, including greenspaces and sidewalks outside local schools and businesses. The types of fruit trees they planted include lemon, tangerine, mango, persimmon, atemoya, strawberry guava, heart-of-palm, jabuticaba, and lychee.
The Impact of Trees Throughout Urban Communities
Although Daniel’s focus was on larger trees, he did not hesitate to team up with fellow community members who were planting smaller trees. Trees in general benefit cities, so Daniel loaned his digging tools to a school group doing a tree planting day. He also helped plant some of the group’s smaller seedlings in other parts of the city.
“I planted several trees in semi-abandoned greenspaces, and then spent an afternoon driving through an impoverished neighborhood near my house, planting trees wherever I found a suitable place,” said Daniel. “This was satisfying because I met a few people who were very happy to see a tree planted next to their school or business.”
While planting the persimmon, atemoya, and mango trees, a guard who works on that street said he was happy there would be more shade. He offered to water the seedlings, and when Daniel came back the next day, the guard had already improved the stakes holding the mango seedlings up.
They also met a local man planting trees near his home. The man was concerned about erosion. Daniel’s father offered his expertise and advised him how to increase groundcover to lower the risk of erosion.
On their third day tree planting, they met a man planting trees near his shish-kabab stand. He was slowly planting the whole space, hopeful that once it is landscaped, his business will be more successful. Knowing that trees often lead to thriving businesses, Daniel contributed by planting a lemon tree.
Urban Tree Planting Creates Community Connection and More
Along the way, Daniel connected with even more likeminded people, including a teacher, a former municipal employee, and a neighborhood activist. He also found evidence of recent plantings by other volunteers.
The project helped Daniel feel more connected to his community, but he felt something more, as well.
“I believe what I felt more than anything was pride,” said Daniel. “Proud of the lives I’d help, the communities that would benefit from my act, and the environmental effect of the seedlings’ presence.”
