Gisele Bündchen to Plant 40,000 Trees for Her 40th Birthday: 'Wanted to Celebrate in a Meaningful Way'

Georgia Slater
Updated ·5 min read

Gisele Bündchen is hoping to give back to the planet for her birthday this year.

On Saturday, the supermodel shared her vision for celebrating her upcoming 40th birthday, which includes planting 40,000 trees in the Amazon rainforest.

"As some of you know, my birthday is coming up on July 20th. And it's not just any birthday! I can't believe I am turning 40!" the mother of two shared on Instagram. "I feel like a whole new chapter of my life is starting, and I wanted to celebrate it in a meaningful way, so I decided to plant 40,000 trees."

In her inspiring post, Bündchen included several photos of herself planting trees from both past and present projects. The model's husband, NFL star Tom Brady, and their two kids, Benjamin Rein, 10, and Vivian Lake, 7½, are also featured in the photos as they help.

Bündchen also explained that she has been "planting trees for different projects for years" and believes it is "the best way [she] knows to give back to Mother Earth."

RELATED: Gisele Bündchen Says Her 'Little Yoga Partner' Daughter Vivian, 7½, Is 'Growing So Fast'

View this post on Instagram

As some of you know, my birthday is coming up on July 20th. And it’s not just any birthday! I can’t believe I am turning 40! I feel like a whole new chapter of my life is starting, and I wanted to celebrate it in a meaningful way, so I decided to plant 40,000 trees. I have been planting trees for different projects for years, as I feel that this is the best way I know to give back to Mother Earth. This year, to celebrate my birthday, my family and I had planned to plant trees in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil but, as we all know, that is not possible right now. Then I had another thought! What if I could come up with a way for others to help me plant trees there? I've already talked to my family and my friends—and they will all turn their gifts into trees. That way, we can all help give something back to our planet. In case you also feel inspired to give back to the Earth, you can join me and plant a tree in the Amazon rainforest. Just go to www.vivaavida.gift to donate (link in bio). #vivaavidagb40 🌳🙏🏼💚 Talvez alguns de vocês já saibam, meu aniversário tá chegando, dia 20 de julho. E não é qualquer aniversário. Nem acredito que vou fazer 40 anos! Sinto que um novo capítulo está começando na minha vida e queria comemorar de um jeito especial, por isso decidi plantar 40.000 árvores. Há anos venho plantando árvores em diferentes projetos, pois sinto que essa é uma forma de retribuir a mãe Terra e, este ano, para celebrar meu aniversario tinha planejado ir como minha família plantar na Amazônia. Mas como sabemos, isso não é possível neste momento. Então, já que não dá para ir, pensei: que tal criar um jeito para que qualquer um possa me ajudar a plantar árvores lá? Já falei pra toda minha família e amigos: quem quiser me presentar pode me dar árvores. Desse jeito, nós todos podemos retribuir de alguma forma ao nosso planeta. Se você também se sentir inspirado e quiser contribuir com a ideia, pode se juntar a nós e plantar árvores. O link está lá na minha Bio! Viva a Vida! #vivaavida

A post shared by Gisele Bündchen (@gisele) on Jul 18, 2020 at 7:20am PDT

Bündchen originally planned to celebrate her milestone birthday planting trees with her family in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, however, the coronavirus pandemic uprooted their trip, she said.

"Then I had another thought! What if I could come up with a way for others to help me plant trees there?" the star shared. "I've already talked to my family and my friends—and they will all turn their gifts into trees. That way, we can all help give something back to our planet."

Bündchen has long been an advocate for sustainability, recently opening up to Marie Claire about how she teaches her kids about the importance of giving back to the planet.

RELATED: Gisele Bündchen Says Her Son Does 'Not Want Presents' on His Birthday but Donations to Charities

“As a family, we also each have our reusable water bottles, and the kids understand single-use plastic is really hurting our planet,” Bündchen said of her family’s efforts. “I see them talking with their friends about it and showing them their water bottles in hopes they might join them and use them too.”

She also makes a point to “teach [her] kids the three Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle.”

“When we go grocery shopping, we always bring our own bags, and by buying from local farmers we reduce packaging waste,” Bündchen said. “We do our best, but it can be challenging when it comes to living completely green — and that’s okay. I always remind my kids that every choice we make has an impact on our planet and that we always need to try our best; that’s what matters.”

Some of the moments Bündchen loves the most “as a mother,” in fact, are the ones “we get to spend in nature and learn together by doing. I love seeing my kids get excited when they find fresh eggs in our chicken coop or harvest the vegetables from our garden.”