SECOND CHANCE TREE ISLAND -- A Second life sim is celebrating Earth Day on April 22 by letting residents plant a virtual tree, and help preserve the world’s rainforests without ever leaving SL.

The Second Life Second Chance Trees Project, located on Second Chance Trees island opened one week ago, and gives residents the option to purchase one of ten rainforest trees in SL for the cost of L$300. For every one purchased in-world, Plant-It 2020 will plant a real tree in its native rainforest, bringing reforestation into the virtual world. The island also has information on the different trees and environments they live in while exploring the island and viewing the various multimedia presentations, helping to educate residents on these endangered areas as well as working to preserve them.

The Second Chance Trees Project is a joint project between Plant-It 2020, the non-profit reforestation organization founded in 1992 by legendary musician John Denver and Converseon, a social media company which works to help brands to become socially responsible. Both organizations have contributed their own funding to this project; Converseon covers island and tier fees, and Plant-It 2020 covers the costs of planting the trees in-world, so that every linden invested in the environment is spent on it. Plant-It 2020 has reforestation projects operating in 12 U.S. locations close to 40 international locations, and in the virtual world as well. Rob Key, Converseon's chief executive officer, (known as Robman Crosby in SL), said in an e-mail that the project has two purposes, the first being to give people interested in conservation a more immersive and interesting experience.

“Not many people will get to Brazil to plant a tamarind tree – but they can have the closest approximation of the experience through SCC and in the process have an educational and entertaining experience that hopefully sparks word-of-mouth to others who engage as well.”

Converseon's other purpose for the project is to demonstrate the power of doing good in the community. Key said Converseon believes that doing good in SL without any intent of commercial gain, is what Key calls “karmic communication.”