Be My Tree

Be My Tree 🌳

🌱 Inspiration

What we do today affects our future. Every minute spent thinking about how we can make our environment better is valuable. Be My Tree is designed to involve ourselves and others in environmental conservation, inspiring action to give back to nature, which has given us everything.

🌍 What It Does

Our mission is to provide people with an easy way to contribute to nature. Here's how it works:

📲 Download the app
📍 Select a nearby location from a list of parks, non-profits, or private citizens who have partnered with us
🌳 Choose a tree from a curated selection that best suits the local environment
📅 Schedule an appointment with the location manager
💳 Pay for the visit and receive all necessary planting equipment upon arrival
🏷️ Plant your tree and tag it with your name, making it a lasting memory

This process connects people who want to make a meaningful environmental impact with a simple tool, supporting local organizations and creating jobs in the process.

🛠️ How We Built It

🎨 Design: Valeriia, our team’s designer, created a user-friendly interface
💻 Development: I built an interactive app for iPhone, iPad, and MacOS
🔍 Research: We studied government programs and environmental policies to ensure the feasibility of the idea

🚧 Challenges We Ran Into

1️⃣ Finding Locations

It was difficult to identify sites that would allow public tree planting.
However, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has programs like “New York’s 25 Million Trees”, which provide funding and support for tree planting efforts.
- 🌿 Expanding tree seedling production
- 📚 Educating people about deforestation
- 💰 Offering funding for private & public landowners
DEC also launched the Regenerate New York Forestry Cost Share Grant Program, making it easier to collaborate with investors and landowners.

2️⃣ Tree Selection Constraints

Initially, users could plant any tree they wanted.
However, after mentorship sessions with Shitangshu Roy, we realized that only location-appropriate species should be planted to prevent invasive species and maintain ecological balance.
We now follow DEC recommendations to ensure sustainability.

3️⃣ Cloud & Sustainability Concerns

Scaling the app will require cloud infrastructure.
Hosting servers may not always run on green energy, which we need to address in future updates.

🏆 Accomplishments That We're Proud Of

Teamwork: We complement each other’s skills well.
Workshops & Mentorships: Gained valuable insights through sessions and industry experts.
Market Research: Learned about positioning our project for real-world impact.
Aiming for a Greener Future: We’re making a small but significant impact on our planet. 🌎

📚 What We Learned

We gained valuable knowledge from 4 workshops and 2 mentorship sessions:

🌍 Climate Change Solutions: Learned about global environmental issues.
🏛️ Systems Thinking: Discovered how to design projects that fit into existing systems.
🤔 Critical Thinking: Mentorship with Shitangshu Roy enhanced our ability to refine our project.
🎯 Pitching & Feasibility: Developed clear, logical responses to project-related questions.
🤖 AI Integration: Learned ways to introduce AI technology from Alexandro Acha.
⚖️ Environmental Justice: Understood the deeper implications of sustainability.

🚀 What's Next for Be My Tree

🌳 Align with NYC’s 25 Million Trees Program
🤝 Reach out to investors willing to buy land and apply for NYC DEC reimbursement
📜 Sign contracts with investors to ensure long-term tree conservation
🔧 Continue app development, refining location-based tree selection
📢 Launch and market the app to engage a larger audience

🌿 Join us in making the world a greener place—one tree at a time! 🌿