At tentree, we plant ten trees for each item purchased. Whether you go for some Bamone Sweatpants, InMotion Leggings or Atlas Sweats, ten trees get planted.
One of the most common questions we hear is:
Does tentree actually plant trees?
And it’s a fair question to ask! Is our tree planting for real? And where do we plant anyway?
Well to answer your question simply: yes, we do. The long answer: we’ve partnered with local non-profit organizations in countries around the world to benefit planet, people and local wildlife. We’ve planted in Madagascar, Indonesia, Haiti, Senegal, Nepal, Canada, the US, Cambodia, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Peru, and Brazil.
We pick the locations of our planting sites based on the environmental and economic needs of the country and local communities. The nations we plant in have experienced some of the worst impacts of global deforestation. Your trees don’t just help the natural environment, but they improve the lives of people around the world. Here’s a snapshot of some of our planting projects.
Planting Projects
Madagascar
More than 80% of Madagascar’s forests have been clear-cut in the past few decades. Not only has that had terrible consequences for people, but many species on the island have been lost as a result. Because Madagascar is an isolated island, there are a lot of very unique species that have become endangered and extinct as the natural ecosystem has been destroyed. Desertification from deforestation threatens farmers further inland, and the destruction of the coastal mangroves has made erosion from storms worse and ruined the livelihoods of fishers.
To date, we’ve planted over 25 million trees in Madagascar — it’s our largest planting project. These trees help counteract desertification and erosion, provide food, fuel, building materials, and jobs to locals, and restore crucial ecosystems for native species. Our hope is that, with time, we will fully restore the nation’s mangrove forests and eventually reverse desertification.
Learn more about our Madagascar planting project and its impact.
Indonesia
Our primary planting site in Indonesia is Biak Island, which is located on the northern coast of West Papua. Biak Island was chosen due to how prone it is to natural disasters, like flooding from tsunamis and storms. Replanting mangrove trees is essential to reducing the impact of this flooding, and as mentioned above, creates a safe nursery for schooling fish and improving the livelihoods of local fishers. We’re planting mangroves, fruit trees, and replanting the rainforest — we’ve planted over 1 million trees!
Learn more about our Indonesia planting project and its impact.
Haiti
Haiti is, unfortunately, best known for internal strife and natural disasters. It has suffered civil conflicts, earthquakes, and hurricanes with little relief. Deforestation has exacerbated the poor circumstances of the country, leading many not to have the resources needed to keep their homes warm and cook food.
To date, we’ve planted over 700,000 oak, avocado, orange, pine, and eucalyptus trees in partnership with various small villages and towns. We’re working to educate people about sustainable harvesting for lumber and how to not repeat past mistakes. Many of these trees are producing additional income for families, meaning children can attend school instead of working to keep their families afloat.
Learn more about our Haiti planting project and its impact.
Senegal
Senegal is a highly agrarian society, relying on farming and agriculture to make ends meet. Peanuts are one of the most commonly grown crops in the country, but it is backbreaking work that pays poorly, often leading once prosperous farmers into a life of crushing, inescapable poverty. We’ve partnered with over 200 farmers to plant what are called “agroforests,” forests that produce fruits and vegetables, which better nourishes communities and pays farmers.
Learn more about our Senegal planting project and its impact.
Nepal
Nepal is one of the poorest countries on Earth, and contributing to that is the fact that the country has lost a quarter of its forests in just 20 years. This deforestation made the impact of the 2015 earthquake considerably worse.
Working alongside our partners, we’ve planted thousands of trees in Nepal, particularly the mountainous areas in the Nawalparasi region, and grasslands close to Jhapa. In conjunction with planting, we’re helping educate villagers on how to sustainably harvest lumber and care for their trees.
Reforesting prevents mudslides in the future from both earthquakes and rainstorms.We hope eventually that these trees will help stabilize the soil and help limit the devastating impacts of future earthquakes.
Learn more about our Nepal planting project and its impact.
Peru
The Amazon rainforest is drying out. Major cities in Peru that surround the Andes mountains are facing seasonal drought conditions and an overall decreasing water supply.
Why? 70 percent of the world’s tropical glaciers are in the Peruvian Andes and 40 percent of their surface area has been degrading since the 70’s. As the water from these melting glaciers flow down the mountains, it erodes away the top layer of soil in the Amazon, causing extremely dry conditions. So when the fires burn each year, the fires burn bigger and hotter. The smoke rises creates a feedback loop which causes the glaciers to melt even faster.
By planting trees in high altitudes in partnership with our local planting NGO, ECOAN, more water can be retained from the glaciers, and slow down the flow of water in the rainy season and help produce rain in the dry seasons. The moisture retention also helps moderate temperature and water tables.
Our project in South America’s Andes Mountains will help indigenous communities plant native forests that store carbon, provide water, and protect biodiversity. It will also improve livelihoods by bringing food security and healthcare to villagers growing and planting trees.
Learn more about our Peru planting project and its impact.
Canada
tentree is proud of its Canadian roots, so of course we do tree planting here at home in Canada! We’ve done urban planting in Sudbury, Ontario, wildfire restoration in La Ronge, Saskatchewan and Elephant Hill, BC, boreal forest reforestation in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and have even partnered with Parks Canada to plant disease-resistant White Bark Pine in the National Parks in the Canadian Rockies.
Learn more about our Canada planting projects and their impact.
Mexico
Every fall, the Monarch butterfly population travels up to 3000 miles to spend the winter in the Oyamel fir forests located on the tops of 12 mountains in central Mexico. These ancient forests are the winter nesting grounds for the butterflies, and are designated as the Monarch Butterly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR). Unfortunately, the trees in their migration zones are being cut down by illegal loggers, putting the entire population of monarchs at risk.
We’re working with the Monarch Butterfly Fund to plant on previously farmed privately owned land along the buffer zones of the MBBR. Doing this reduces human pressure on old growth forests, and revitalizes and protects the monarch butterfly habitat. We’re also helping educate locals on the importance of sustainable forest management, instilling a sense of stewardship and pride for the forests within the MBBR, and ensuring a prosperous future for the monarch butterfly population.
Learn more about our Mexico planting project and its impact.
The trees you’ve planted are all around the world! Make sure you create an Impact account and register your trees using the QR code on your product hangtag, so you can see exactly where your trees are and the communities they’re uplifting. If you’d like to learn a little more about our planting projects and see tons of photos of our nurseries, check out our planting projects page.
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Mt. Kilimanjaro: Our Newest Planting Site
By planting ten trees for every item you purchase, it’s our mission to plant 1 billion trees by 2030. Head to our website to learn more and get 10% off your next purchase.
