The energy was high and the purpose was clear on Friday morning at Osceola History’s Pioneer Village, as Chairwoman and District 2 Commissioner Viviana Janer joined Experience Kissimmee to plant over 200 trees in honor of Earth Month. But this initiative is about more than just trees—it’s about promoting unity, sustainability, and a long-term vision for a greener, healthier Osceola County.
“As Osceola County continues to grow, so does the demand for housing and infrastructure,” said Chairwoman Viviana Janer. “But we are equally committed to ensuring that progress doesn’t come at the cost of our environment. Today, at Osceola History’s Pioneer Village, I’m proud to represent the county as we plant trees from our very own tree farm—an effort rooted in sustainability and our vision for a greener future.”
The tree planting is part of Osceola County’s Urban Forest Management Plan, adopted in 2022, which includes planting along roadways, expanding the county’s tree farm, and offering tree giveaway programs. The trees planted at Pioneer Village are grown locally—more than 10,000 are currently being cultivated at Osceola County’s own tree farm.
As part of the day’s event, Experience Kissimmee shared details of its ongoing partnership with Trees4Travel, a global initiative that helps offset carbon emissions generated by travel. Through this program, Experience Kissimmee commits to planting trees based on actualized paid room nights booked through its meeting incentive program.
“This program helps create future forests, restore ecosystems, increase biodiversity, and support local communities,” said Jason Holic, Chief of Destination Stewardship for Experience Kissimmee. “Visitors—especially from international points of origin—want to ensure the destination takes the environment seriously, and we have a strong track record of doing that here in Osceola County.”
“We’ve got one of the fastest-growing counties population-wise,” said Jason Hickson, Osceola County Director of Parks and Public Lands. “That means a lot of construction and a lot of houses. What we’re trying to do is reforest the county to give people that quality of life you see in places that have had trees for a long time.”
Trees play a crucial role in sustaining life. They purify air, release oxygen, reduce urban heat, and create habitats for wildlife—an urgent need as development spreads across Central Florida.
In addition to planting trees, Trees4Travel also invests in United Nations Certified renewable energy carbon credits, which help reduce a portion of carbon emissions generated by visitors and organizations hosting events in the area.
“Only 50 percent of the world’s forests remain, and since the 1960s, we’ve lost 73 percent of our wildlife,” said Trees4Travel CEO Nico Nicolas. “This is about reversing that trend.”
Since the Experience Kissimmee–Trees4Travel partnership began in 2023, more than 100,000 trees have already been planted, and as you can see, they are not slowing down the iniative!
The county’s environmental vision also includes the Environmental Lands Conservation Program (SAVE), which aims to preserve ecologically vital areas. Funded through a dedicated millage, SAVE has already helped protect over 3,300 acres of land in Osceola County—safeguarding water resources, wildlife habitats, and public green spaces for future generations.
Science continues to support these efforts. A study published in Science in May 2020 concluded:
“To combat carbon emissions, forest restoration is one of the most effective solutions to fight climate change.”
Dr. Thomas Crowther, Chief Scientific Advisor to the UN’s Trillion Tree Campaign, believes the planet has space for 1.2 trillion additional trees. If protected and restored, forests—combined with emission reductions—could reverse current climate change trends and help build a safer, healthier, and more equitable world.
