Earth Day Group Plants 1M Trees With Help From 'Avatar' Sales

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Earth Day Network says it has exceeded its goal of planting one million trees worldwide, including several here in Los Angeles.

The Washington-based group announced Wednesday that 1,006,639 trees were planted on six continents last year by 31,000 individuals with 17 partner organizations. The network says the plantings were made possible with support from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and its Avatar Blu-ray and DVD.

"Avatar" director James Cameron planted the first tree in April in Brazil. The effort also included planting more than 500,000 trees in Haiti to help reforest degraded hillsides, provide fruit and biodiesel fuel. Trees were also planted in New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles, providing urban tree canopies to improve air quality and provide cooling, energy-saving shade.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)