Forests, not Freebies

Plant-for-the-Planet drives climate action by combining youth empowerment, forest conservation and restoration, and advocacy. These elements are closely connected and reinforce each other to fight the climate crisis and support a liveable future.

We empower children and young people worldwide through climate education, training, and opportunities to take action as Climate Justice Ambassadors. They raise awareness, mobilize others, and advocate for climate solutions, including forest restoration, while leading their own initiatives.

In parallel, we practice the restoration and protection of biodiverse forests with our own projects and act in close collaboration with restoration organizations and local communities. Our work focuses on long-term ecosystem recovery.

To strengthen this work, we develop open-source digital tools that increase transparency and help monitor and scale forest restoration globally. These tools support both restoration organizations on the ground and partners, including donors, who want to understand their impact.

At the same time, we advocate for policies that enable forest conservation and climate justice, because lasting climate action requires both local engagement and systemic change.

Plant-for-the-Planet is a global movement driving climate action that turns local impact into global change. We empower children and youth with education, skills, and opportunities to act. In close collaboration with restoration organizations and local communities we drive the restoration of biodiverse forests and provide digital tools for this purpose. We advocate for policies enabling forest conservation and climate justice.

Plant-for-the-Planet doesn’t define itself as a tree-planting organization. We drive climate action by combining youth empowerment and forest restoration and conservation.

In restoration, we work with science-based methods to bring back biodiverse forest ecosystems. We share our knowledge and expertise with forest practitioners to strengthen the efforts of the international restoration community.

We work with nature by supporting natural regeneration and planting diverse, native species to create forests that are resilient and can sustain themselves over time. This approach goes beyond short-term tree planting and aims for long-term ecosystem restoration.

In addition, we combine restoration with a global youth movement that gives children a voice in climate negotiations and politics. Children and young people are not only participants, but active drivers of change who raise awareness, lead initiatives, and contribute to climate action worldwide.

We also increase transparency in restoration through open-source digital tools that allow projects to monitor progress and share their impact, and we advocate for forest protection, which is as important as restoration.

Together, these elements shape a holistic approach to forest restoration that focuses on long-term impact, transparency, and global collaboration.

Plant-for-the-Planet’s restoration work is guided by ecological science and focuses on restoring resilient, biodiverse forest ecosystems. Whenever possible, we rely on natural regeneration, allowing forests to recover on their own. If conditions are right, ecosystems can regenerate naturally and we support this process rather than replacing it. When active restoration is needed, we carefully match tree species to the specific conditions of each site, such as soil, climate, and local disturbances. We only use native species that are adapted to these environments.

A key principle of our work is biodiversity. By planting a wide range of species, we make forests more resilient. Different species respond differently to stresses such as drought or flooding, which reduces the risk of large-scale loss. At the same time, diverse forests create conditions that allow even more species to establish over time. This approach helps restore forests that are not only growing, but are stable, self-sustaining, and able to adapt to changing conditions.

Our team of experts selects tree species based on the specific conditions of each restoration site, using native species that are adapted to the local environment. Rather than planting a single species, we focus on restoring biodiverse forests. By combining different species with complementary characteristics, we create ecosystems that are more resilient to environmental changes such as drought or extreme weather.

Where possible, we also support natural regeneration, allowing additional species to establish over time, increasing biodiversity further. Our restoration work is guided by clear standards that help ensure ecological quality, including the use of native species and the promotion of biodiversity across all projects.

Yes, protecting existing forests is a key part of our work.

We support conservation areas that include mature forests, helping to protect them through measures such as patrols and fire prevention. Protecting these forests is essential, as they already store large amounts of carbon and support rich biodiversity.

We also work to address the main drivers of deforestation in the regions where we are active. This includes supporting more sustainable land-use practices, such as agroforestry and silvopasture, as well as creating alternative livelihood opportunities for local communities.

In addition, we have developed restoration and conservation standards that projects must meet to be part of our restoration platform. We also advocate for policies that strengthen forest protection globally and support long-term conservation efforts.

Restoration success is defined at the project level, as it depends on the specific goals of each project. Some projects aim to restore forests that are as close as possible to natural ecosystems, while others focus on increasing tree cover through approaches such as agroforestry.

In all cases, we monitor progress using indicators that are relevant to these goals. These include ecological indicators such as tree survival and growth, natural regeneration, and changes in canopy cover and overall forest cover.

In addition, we also consider broader impacts. Depending on the project, this can include improvements in local livelihoods, such as increased income or more diverse sources of income for local communities involved. By combining ecological and social indicators, we can better understand whether restoration efforts are leading to healthy, resilient ecosystems that also support people in the long term.

Plant-for-the-Planet ensures transparency by making restoration progress visible and traceable. When you donate for trees, you choose a specific project and restoration area. You receive a tree certificate with access to your personal profile, where you can see in which region your trees are being planted.

Tree planting is carefully planned and does not always happen immediately. Restoration follows ecological conditions such as seasons, rainfall, and site preparation to ensure the best possible survival and long-term impact. Progress is documented through our digital tools and restoration platform, where restoration areas can be monitored over time. In addition, our transparency reports provide detailed information on restoration activities, including how many trees have been planted and where.

No. But through therestoration platform, you can monitor the areas where trees are planted and see how they develop over time. Using satellite imagery and monitoring tools, you can explore restoration areas (“planting polygons”) and track how forests grow and recover. Instead of focusing on individual trees, this approach shows the bigger picture: how entire ecosystems are being restored and the role your contribution plays in it.

In yourpersonal profile, you can view all your contributions across projects worldwide and see the forests you are helping to bring back.

Yes, you can dedicate your donation to someone and give it as a meaningful gift. When donating through the online donation form, you can choose to dedicate your donation and receive a certificate via email to share with the recipient.

Yes, donations to Plant-for-the-Planet are tax-deductible, and we issue official tax receipts for your donation. For donations up to 300 euros, a bank statement is usually sufficient for tax purposes, depending on local regulations.

You will automatically receive your tax receipt by email in the first quarter of the following year. You can also download your current and past tax receipts at any time from your personal profile. If needed, we can also send you a copy by email: please contact us at [email protected].