The Power of Trees Impact Report 2025
About ITF
We believe in the power of trees; when they’re planted properly, they transform landscapes and lives. We focus our efforts where they’re needed most – places with threatened ecosystems, endangered tree species and climate vulnerable communities. Together through tree planting we tackle social, economic and environmental challenges.
Community-led
It takes a community to restore a forest. That’s why we’re community-led. That means that local people, who depend on their local forest, lead the restoration. Communities identify their needs and ideas. And together we implement practical, locally-driven solutions that include everyone – especially women, young people and vulnerable groups.
It’s how we’ve done it for over 100 years and with your help, it’s what we’ll be doing for 100 more.
Multiple impacts
Our mission goes beyond planting trees. We’re helping communities thrive with better livelihoods, stronger economies and healthier ecosystems.
We’re the world’s oldest tree planting charity. We started in the foothills of Mount Kenya in 1922.
Our mission
To work with local communities to plant trees and restore forests in places where, together, we can make the fastest, most lasting impact for communities and the future of our planet.
Our approach ensures an impressive 80% or higher tree survival rate.
Endangered trees
We combine indigenous knowledge and scientific methods to propagate and grow endangered trees. The trees are then planted back into the forest, increasing resilience and ensuring we don’t lose any of these vital species.
Livelihoods
Teaching people to grow trees and create their own nurseries provides a new income source, while the trees themselves produce nuts, fruit and other resources which can be sold, creating sustainable livelihoods which will grow as the trees do.
Gender justice
In many communities where we work, women have little agency over land while carrying the burden of tending it. Through education and training, forest restoration helps advance gender justice.
Wellbeing
Time in nature is proven to boost physical and mental health. Our work helps people, who might not otherwise have the opportunity, to spend time in green spaces and connect with nature.
Climate crisis
Trees capture carbon, cool our planet, they bring rain, fill rivers, combat drought, clean the air, keep soil stable, stop natural disasters and restore landscapes.
We plant trees that:
• Combat the devastating effects of climate change
• Improve soil and yields
• Provide shelter and food for people and wildlife
• Restore or protect existing forests
• Restore ecosystems and help biodiversity to flourish
• Improve access to vital resources like food and medicine
• Help advance gender justice
• Equip people with sustainable livelihoods.
Forest services
Thousands of communities depend on forests for food, medicine and fuel. Planting trees on homesteads and farms improves access to these vital resources while protecting old-growth forests.
Biodiversity
By planting trees and rewilding, we restore habitats, help species to return and ensure nature and biodiversity can flourish once again.
Agroforestry
When trees are planted on farms, they improve the soil which leads to higher yields. Trees also give shelter and food for families and livestock.
Inclusion
Through tree planting we equip marginalised communities to access nature and enhance their wellbeing, dignity and economic independence.
SDGs
Our work in East Africa is making a real difference, driving progress on 8 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
From boosting social and economic development to managing natural resources sustainably and tackling climate change head-on, we’re creating fast and lasting impact where it makes the biggest difference.
A note from our CEO
The events of 2025 have shown starkly that we are living through a climate and nature crisis that is pushing the planet to the brink. Rising temperatures, more frequent floods and droughts and accelerating biodiversity loss are placing unprecedented pressure on both ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
At the International Tree Foundation, planting trees is central to our response to the climate crisis. Trees stabilise soils, regulate water, capture carbon and provide habitats for wildlife. Working alongside communities to grow and plant the right trees, in the right places, remains at the heart of our mission and has done for more than a century.
But trees rarely deliver their full potential in isolation. Across our programmes, tree planting is integrated into a wider set of activities designed to strengthen livelihoods, build resilience and restore ecosystems in ways that endure. Community-run nurseries generate income and local ownership. Agroforestry improves soil health while increasing food production and farm incomes. Fruit and fodder trees support nutrition and livestock. In drylands and degraded forests, water harvesting, soil restoration and careful site management underpin long-term survival.
Alongside this, our work brings in practical solutions that improve daily life while reducing pressure on forests. These include fuel-efficient ecostoves that need less firewood and improve air quality. Kitchen gardens that strengthen food security. And enterprises such as beekeeping and coffee nurseries that create new income streams. In some of the most marginalised communities, including those working with people living with disabilities, trees are part of a broader pathway to dignity, inclusion and economic independence.
Care and quality underpin all of this work. We invest in appropriate species selection, good site preparation, post-planting care and ongoing monitoring, using both communityled approaches and new technologies. This allows us to learn continuously and adapt in the face of a changing climate.
As climate impacts intensify, the need for restoration that is thoughtful, locally led and built to last has never been greater. Our work tells the story of trees planted with purpose, alongside the practical actions that help them grow, bringing lasting prosperity for people and nature.
James Whitehead, CEO
Our impact in 2025
542,255 trees planted
50 community organisations increased forestry and agroforestry capacity
1,454 young people learned about our environment and conservation
31,156 women and girls benefiting from trees
25 projects increased biodiversity or ecosystem services
759 hectares of forest conserved or restored
15,588 families increased their household income
42,348 people reached through awareness campaigns
“Following the large-scale planting campaigns of 2024, this year focused on intensified monitoring, reporting and verification. Our efforts concentrated on maintaining trees, boosting survival rates and assessing long-term impacts.
“Canopies are forming just four years after planting in Dundori Forest. Rivers in Irangi Forest have been recharged, increasing water supply for local communities. Birdsong and insect activity have intensified. Elephant populations in Meru Forest are rising. And small animals such as dik-diks, antelopes, hares and worms are thriving in Ndaragwa Forest. These indicators demonstrate a clear revival of biodiversity across restored ecosystems.”
Mercy Kimani, Kenya Programme Manager
Kenya
300
beehives have been given out and 40% of recipients have already harvested honey, creating sustainable, nature-based livelihoods that complement restoration efforts
A clean cooking project is helping protect forests while improving daily life for local families. The project introduced 308 ecostoves to households living near Malava Forest, Kakamega. These stoves use a third less firewood and produce less smoke, creating healthier homes while reducing pressure on the forest. The initiative has also trained 34 local eco-preneurs to build and install the stoves, creating green jobs and strengthening community ownership of forest conservation.
“We have planted about 10 species in the forest, some of them are medicinal. These are beneficial for our health and even for animals.”
Josephine Wangari, Kamuyu
Our partner MEFECAP, planted 16,000 indigenous trees, including 2,800 of threatened species, helping to rehabilitate 10 hectares of degraded forest in Upper Imenti. For Edith Karimi, the opportunity to work during the planting season has already made a difference. With the wages she earned, Edith bought her first goat and now produces three litres of milk each day. “I can count myself as a person with an income,” she says. “I sell some milk and use the rest for my family. Thank you to ITF for this project.”
In Kitui County, teacher Lilian Motovi has inspired her whole community to plant trees. Her school received seedlings for students to plant. Watching them grow sparked Lilian’s own passion, and she began planting trees at home, which in turn sparked the passion of her neighbours.
“Even my neighbours were inspired to plant trees when they visited my home,” she says. “I contacted KDC who gave us 3,000 trees which I gave to my neighbours to plant in their farms. The trees are doing very well.”
“In 2023 I received and planted 200 trees on my farm near the road. Since then I have been nurturing the trees. They are doing really well. My trees have been attracting passersby who take pictures, admiring them and posting them on social media, which is a good way of creating awareness on the importance of trees. Through the trees I’ve planted, many people have seen the benefits. And they have started to plant trees on their farms too.”
39% women’s representation in the Community Forest Association in Iloro up from 14% giving more women a voice in managing local forests
In Meru, members of the Community Forest Association harvested beans and potatoes grown through intercropping with newly planted trees, creating both food and income. They generously donated a tenth of their harvest to orphanages and homes supporting people living with advanced disabilities. The remaining produce was sold, providing vital income for the farmers.
26 different species planted in just one project in Kakamega
Jeremiah Kitili, Kitui County
In Kobujoi Forest, a restoration project is helping forests recover while creating new opportunities for local people. So far, 35,051 seedlings have been planted to restore forest and farmland. The project has also created employment for 178 community members who work as forest scouts, nursery staff and tree planters.
One of them is Kelvin Lagat, who has used the income from his work to buy a calf and begin building a more secure future. He has also gained new skills, working as a mason to help construct water infrastructure for the community tree nursery. “If it were not for this project, I would not be where I am now,” says Kelvin.
Protecting threatened trees
Kenya is home to around 1,100 native tree species. Yet today, nearly 10% of them are threatened with extinction.
Losing even a single tree species can trigger a dangerous chain reaction of ecosystem collapse: forests are more vulnerable to fire and disease, habitats shrink, countless wildlife and microorganisms are pushed to extinction and tree-dependent communities are plunged into crisis. Once a species is extinct, it’s lost forever.
That’s why we’re working with local communities and partners across the country to identify, grow, plant and restore threatened native trees so that none of these precious species go extinct.
Finding and protecting mother trees
Restoring threatened species begins in the forest itself. With training from specialists at Botanical Gardens Conservation International and the National Museums of Kenya, we’re equipping community members to identify and monitor “mother trees”.
Mother trees are often the largest and oldest trees in the forest. They play a vital ecological role, connected to surrounding plants through underground fungal networks that allow trees to exchange nutrients and signals.
Once identified, these trees are carefully monitored to understand their flowering and fruiting cycles. Participants track seasonal flowering and fruiting patterns so seeds can be harvested when they are fully mature and most likely to grow.
From seed to seedling
Once seeds have been collected, they are nurtured in community nurseries. Local partners receive training in careful seed handling and nursery management so that as many seeds as possible germinate. Seeds must be cleaned, stored and sown correctly and seedlings carefully tended to so that they develop strong roots and stems.
These nurseries are centres of learning and opportunity where local people develop practical skills and create new sources of income.
“Through training programmes, I have acquired skills in seed collection, the propagation of both threatened and native trees and nursery management,” says Simon Kairu, who now works as a forest scout caring for newly planted trees.
“The income generated from this initiative has significantly contributed to my ability to finance my son’s university education,” he says. “This project has profoundly transformed my life and career trajectory.”
Restoring forests and supporting livelihoods
After about nine months, the seeds have grown into seedlings which are now ready to be planted back into forests such as Kakamega tropical rainforest, alongside other indigenous trees to rebuild healthy, diverse forests.
Ruth Kimunto plays a vital role ensuring that the trees reach their new home, “The initiative employs my donkeys to transport trees to locations inaccessible to tractors,” she explains. “Through the income generated from this service, I have been able to fulfil essential obligations such as paying rent and paying for my three children’s education.”
Securing the future of Kenya’s forests
By identifying threatened species, nurturing seedlings and restoring them to the landscape, communities are helping secure the future of Kenya’s remarkable tree diversity. On top of protecting biodiversity, these restoration projects are also creating sustainable employment for local people who are working as forest scouts, nursery managers and planting and monitoring teams.
Trees are the lifeblood of our planet. Together we can ensure that none of Kenya’s precious trees go extinct while growing healthy, resilient forests for the next generation. Thank you for supporting this vital work.
“In Tanzania, ITF is proud to have reinvigorated flagship projects in the vital landscapes of Usambara and Katavi. We have planted a total of 45,760 diverse trees, contributing to the restoration of important land, including school grounds, public spaces and smallholder farms.
“This progress has been made possible through the substantial support of our donors, tripartite partners and stakeholders, all of whom contributed to making this year noteworthy.”
Wycliffe Matika, Africa Programme Manager
Over the last three years, we’ve planted trees in Wamweru water catchment, an important ecosystem for communities in Wamweru and neighbouring villages. “It provides clean water to over 1,000 households,” says Emmanuel Chrispin from Mirumba village water committee. “The ecosystem also provides habitat to many animals including primates.
“In the last three years since the tree planting project started at Wamweru, the water table has risen, enabling us to access water throughout the year.”
Tanzania
“Our school environmental club has 35 members. We started by potting 1,000 seedlings which we later planted. Since then we have grown over 11,900 trees in our nursery. These trees will provide different fruits to the students. And they will enhance our school. We will enjoy shade during the dry season and also earn income from the sale of seedlings to the community.”
Issa Mohammed Abdi, Usevya Secondary School
651
households affected by climate change have been supported thanks to the power of trees
“This project has improved my life as I have been employed at the tree nursery. Thanks to this opportunity i earned some money to buy school uniform for my fourth child.”
Saumu Juma, Lushoto
Lazaro Mkwama is a farmer in Mirumba Village. He grows trees among his crops to increase yield and provide a range of produce. “I have planted over 200 fruit trees, including oranges, guavas, avocados, bananas and pawpaw. I have also introduced herbs.”
Some of his trees are only three years old, but they are already providing food. “I have benefited from fruits and shade. Every year the trees produce more fruits so every year I get more benefits from the trees. Not just income, but improved nutrition.”
His system of mixed farming is circular, maximising his results at no extra cost to him. “I also feed my chickens with vegetables I grow with manure from the chickens. This system is why my environment is changing positively.”
886 climate change advocates trained in schools. Their hard work has planted fruit orchards, edible gardens, woodlots and green belts, enhancing biodiversity and creating greener, more positive learning environments
“We have planted and nurtured many trees in our school. From the trees we have planted we are getting good shade and fruits. When we leave school, we will continue to being environmental ambassadors in our homes and in the communities, telling them about the importance of conserving our environment.”
Baraka
Msunga Mageti, Mirumba Secondary School
42 hectares of land restored across schools, farms and vital water catchment areas, helping communities rebuild the landscapes they depend on
36,080 agroforestry trees planted with Changamoto Youth Development Organization
“In Uganda, we exceeded our tree planting goals, planting 57,134 trees and restoring 44 hectares of degraded land in the Rwenzori, Bwindi and Mount Elgon regions. On top of this, we’ve enhanced food security for marginalised communities and supported village savings, micro-businesses and financial literacy. Community enterprises at the permaculture centre also continued to grow, with fish farming, poultry management and other sustainable initiatives.”
Wycliffe Matika, Africa Programme Manager
3,505 women and girls supported through gender-focused interventions
Uganda
In Kasese District, tree planting is helping families rebuild both their environment and their livelihoods. Through the project, 22,709 trees have been planted and cared for by local communities. Nziabake Eunice from Mbunga Village received several tree seedlings, including jackfruit. “My jackfruits are growing well and have started showing signs of fruit.” She is hopeful that as they mature, they will provide both income and food for her family while improving the surrounding environment.
A pilot project planted 100 Hass avocado trees in Nyanamo Town Council to support future livelihoods and resilience. Hass avocado, which are drought resistant, were given out to community members, marking the first time this variety has been grown in the area. The pilot is helping assess how well the trees adapt to local soils, with the aim of scaling up planting in the future. If successful, the project could provide both improved nutrition and a reliable source of income for families across the community.
“A big change is coming to my village in the near future. This change will come if everyone works hard in planting trees and protecting the environment. I’m playing my part and I encourage everyone in my village to also play their part.”
Sezonga Gilido, Bwindi
50 young people living with disabilities have been upskilled through sustainable livelihood training
19 different species planted in Bwindi Forests with the Center for Research Uptake in Africa
Muhindo Salome from Kasika Village was given 116 seedlings, including fruit and agroforestry trees, as part of a project led by Alpha Women Empowerment Initiative. She also received training in how to plant and care for trees. “I planted these trees and managed them well. I started harvesting pawpaws. They are earning me good income. The 28 grafted mangoes which I also received are also doing well and giving hope to also start yielding fruits in the near future.”
This income has helped Salome buy school supplies for her children and meet household needs. She expects that even more harvests and opportunities lie ahead.
Restoration projects are creating new opportunities for people who are often left behind. Binyinyi Tereza received training in sustainable farming thanks to Karambi Group of People with Disabilities. “It was a turning point for me. I gained valuable skills in sustainable farming and started my own backyard garden,” she said. “Which has been truly life-changing. Not only have I improved my access to nutritious food, but my self-esteem has also soared. I’m now passionate about sharing my knowledge with my neighbours, teaching them how to grow their own vegetables. My dream is to expand my garden into a thriving business, inspiring others in my community and beyond.”
UK and Ireland
“In 2025, we worked with community groups across the UK and Ireland. It has been a privilege to discover new partners and projects and also to work again with our long-standing partners –watching their knowledge and skills grow in the arena of community engagement and tree planting has been inspiring. One example of this is that we planted a further 2,200 trees across eight sites with our partners Community Trees Milton Keynes. It has been heartening to see their ambitions grow over the last five years and we look forward to continuing our partnership in the future.”
Sam Pearce, UK and Ireland Programme Manager
Through our Garden Tree Giveaway project we gave out 5,000 free trees to 3,000 households. The trees were distributed by volunteers, food banks and local community networks in Oxfordshire. The project has helped local people take local climate action in their gardens while helping to increase tree cover across the county.
4,000 trees planted at Huntingdon Racecourse with local community group Creating Nature’s Corridors
It was an extremely hot and dry summer in 2025 and many newly-planted trees were struggling to survive across the UK. But volunteers from Oxford Economics were on hand to help out at a site in Ealing, London, where they were able to complete a full day of tree maintenance and care to help ensure the trees got the water they needed. Recent survival rate estimates were at 87% which is highly encouraging in these difficult circumstances.
31 community partners equipped to plant and protect trees
Volunteers spent a hot day weeding, mulching and watering trees planted three years ago at the Blue Cross in Burford. Their tireless work helped the young hedgerow thrive in the dry conditions, protecting it for generations to come.
A biodiversity study of two urban planting projects revealed a 250% boost in insect life compared to unplanted neighbouring fields. The trees were planted in 2019 and are now attracting 77 different species of insects, pollinators and other invertebrates.
24,000 trees were planted at the Lowther Estate on the edge of the Lake District. These trees are part of a large scale assisted ‘re-wilding’ scheme that ITF have been supporting for two years. Thorny trees, such as hawthorn and blackthorn were planted around native broadleaf species to create a nature defence, keeping the trees protected in their youth from grazing animals in the landscape.
Alongside tree planting, this multi-faceted project has seen the introduction of beavers, the restoration of rivers and the re-naturalising of meadows – all in a bid to rebalance the needs of nature and sustainable farming in the region. Our annual monitoring of the project found a 91% survival rate. This is a testament to the quality of the planting by the community.
80 community members came out to plant trees and restore the landscape in West Lothian
“We’ve been able to plant wildlife-friendly hedging and an orchard within the school grounds at Saint Leonard’s School, Banbury. We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to create outdoor spaces that inspire a deeper connection with nature. While the orchard will eventually provide fruit, for now, the children will learn about the seasons and engage in naturebased activities. These experiences not only nurture their appreciation for the natural world but also support their mental wellbeing.”
Caroline Debus, Headteacher
Join the restoration movement
Across the world, but especially in the places we’re planting trees, natural disasters are intensifying. Countless species are threatened with extinction. And the health, safety and livelihoods of millions of people are at risk.
It’s not too late. But we need to act now. Trees are food-growers, shade-givers, crophelpers and incomeearners. They are drought-stoppers, flood-fighters, aircleaners and planetcoolers.
We can harness the power of trees to protect our future. By planting more trees in places where they make a fast and lasting impact, we can safeguard our planet for generations to come.
“In the symphony of sustainability, each tree planted is a note of hope.” Wise words from our Kenya project officer Joshua Mutambuki.
internationaltreefoundation.org/donate
Donate today and help more communities to restore their local landscape and transform their lives through the power of trees.
This impact has been made possible thanks to the backing of our supporters and donors, the tireless work of our community partners and the dedication of our trustees and volunteers who gave their time. Thank you also to Botanical Gardens Conservation International, Cyril Hugh Kleinwort Foundation, Ecologi, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust, Fondation Franklinia, Green Impact, Just One Tree, National Lottery Community Fund, Ofenheim Charitable Trust, One Tree Planted, States of Guernsey, The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust, The Tresanton Trust, TreeSisters, UPS Foundation and VIA Foundation. Together, we are creating lasting change and moving towards a greener future.