The philanthropic arm of Atlanta’s United Parcel Service Inc. announced on Oct. 4 a series of grants to plant trees in urban and rural areas of the U.S. and four other countries and implement greenhouse gas reduction programs.

The UPS Foundation is to distribute about $2 million in grants to environmental groups and government agencies to manage and preserve forests in Belgium, Brazil, Canada and China.

The Washington-based Earth Day Network will receive $235,000 to plant trees in U.S. urban areas and European forests.

The Nature Conservancy of Arlington, Va., will get $500,000 for reforestation in Brazil and China, as well as conservation in Canada.

Nebraska City, Neb.-based National Arbor Day Foundation will receive $150,000 to plant 50,000 trees in the provinces of Manitoba and Alberta, Canada.

Washington’s National Park Foundation will get $200,000 toward planting trees at the Flight 93 Memorial Project in Pennsylvania dedicated to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

The Washington-based World Resources Institute will receive $300,000 for programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and Keep America Beautiful will get $225,000 to distribute among local affiliates.

Additional grants are going to environmental initiatives by public schools association DonorsChoose.org, the National Council for Science and the Environment, the Student Conservation Association, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the World Wildlife Fund.