Learn why our approach to managing forests is good for the planet’s climate and biodiversity.
There are serious threats facing the world's forests today. But we're seriously optimistic we can reduce the risks together, with our new way to think about sustainable resources.
Stopping deforestation in its tracks
80%
of the world's original forests have been destroyed.¹ We work every day to restore them and for every tree we cut in our forests, we plant three more.
Reducing the pressure for resources
21%
of greenhouse gas emissions come from producing plastic, steel and cement.² Our quality timber is a sustainable alternative that looks much nicer too!
Joining the fight against climate change
11%
of global greenhouse emissions that drive climate change are a result of deforestation.³ Our verified carbon capture calculations show how our trees reduce that impact.
Protecting the forest's plants and animals
60%
of the planet's land animals have been wiped out since 1970.⁴ Forests are home to 80% of those that are left. ⁵ We create vital space and shelter for biodiversity to thrive.
Sources: ¹WWF, ²GatesNotes 2018, ³IPCC 2018, ⁴UN 2019, ⁵Greenpeace
Stopping deforestation in its tracks
80%
of the world's original forests have been destroyed.¹ We work every day to restore them and for every tree we cut in our forests, we plant three more.
Reducing the pressure for resources
21%
of greenhouse gas emissions come from producing plastic, steel and cement.² Our quality timber is a sustainable alternative that looks much nicer too!
Joining the fight against climate change
11%
of global greenhouse emissions that drive climate change are a result of deforestation.³ Our verified carbon capture calculations show how our trees reduce that impact.
Protecting the forest's plants and animals
60%
of the planet's land animals have been wiped out since 1970.⁴ Forests are home to 80% of those that are left. ⁵ We create vital space and shelter for biodiversity to thrive.
Sources: ¹WWF, ²GatesNotes 2018, ³IPCC 2018, ⁴UN 2019, ⁵Greenpeace
Agricultural soil
OR
Poorly maintained forest
Our foresters examine the soil
Develop a forestry plan
Trees are planted
After 2 years, the dead trees are replaced by new ones
Maintain forest
Clear cuts have three major consequences.
Soil erosion
Soil contained and enriched by deep roots is suddenly exposed. Without protective litter and a supply of nutrients, it loses strength. Water starts to run off the soil, which is no longer aerated by roots and microorganisms. The erosion caused makes any form of natural regeneration or planting very difficult. Pioneer tree species may be possible, but they are the least interesting for biodiversity and producing wood. It takes a long time to recover a rich ecosystem after clearcutting.
A change in climate
Soil is one of the planet's main carbon reservoirs, along with oceans and forests. When soil is exposed by clearcutting, carbon previously stored in organic form is released into the atmosphere as CO2. That’s just one reason the process is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Weakened biodiversity
Clearcutting is a brutal and devastating disruption of a forest’s ecosystem. For its birds, insects, mammals, fungi and plants, living without shelter and food quickly becomes impossible. They all need a stable environment to thrive and maintain that strong biodiversity our planet desperately needs.
Natural monoculture forests feature just one tree species and can be beautiful, but planting them is rarely a good idea. At EcoTree, we plant a mix of species to create sustainable, uneven-aged forests that are more resilient and can fight off harmful pathogens.
Uneven-aged forest management is exactly what you might think – a silviculture method where trees in a forest are different ages. They grow at separate heights to create ‘floors’, which is great for biodiversity. It also means we can cut the oldest trees when they mature and leave the younger trees to grow – so no clear cutting. Managing uneven-aged forests can lead to natural regeneration, where seeds from those mature trees are allowed to bloom and the trees that grow are about the same age. In all cases, our forestry experts adapt to and work with nature.
EcoTree does not use any pesticides or chemicals. Here’s how we protect our young plants.
We build temporary fences and put them in place for a few years until the young trees are big and strong enough to resist big game attacks.
We develop dead or dry hedges – dead roots and branches that are long and thick enough to create an effective shelter or barrier. They often come from thinning or branches that fall by natural pruning.
We use trico, a natural emulsified solution of sheep's fat that we put on the trees. The grease repels deer that would happily graze on our young plants.
We build temporary fences and put them in place for a few years until the young trees are big and strong enough to resist big game attacks.
We develop dead or dry hedges – dead roots and branches that are long and thick enough to create an effective shelter or barrier. They often come from thinning or branches that fall by natural pruning.
We use trico, a natural emulsified solution of sheep's fat that we put on the trees. The grease repels deer that would happily graze on our young plants.
We do not use chemicals, which means some young plants may die within a year of being planted. That's why we always schedule one or two replanting phases to replace those young plants that do not survive.
Our newsletter is for anyone who wants to ensure the future of forests, for the good of the planet, the wildlife, and humans on it.
Learn more about the forest, biodiversity, news, our partners, new projects, our foresters and co-founders speaking out.
