International Tree Foundation (ITF) is a charity working with local communities to plant trees and restore forests in places where, together, they can make the fastest, most lasting impact for communities and the future of our planet.
“Since 1922, ITF has existed to plant, protect and promote trees. Over the last 5 years, they have supported over 150 community projects, planting over 200,000 trees across the UK.”
ITF supports ecosystem restoration and climate action through a community-led, landscape-based approach to tree planting. Importantly, its work goes beyond simply putting trees in the ground. Instead, it aims to restore functioning ecosystems while strengthening the resilience and livelihoods of the people who depend on them.
The ITFs core aims are to:
- Plant trees: creating community woodlands, orchards and hedgerows using native species.
- Put communities at the heart of tree planting: giving local people a meaningful say in their environment and supporting grassroots groups to develop their own projects.
- Create lasting connections between people and nature: encouraging people not only to plant trees, but to return, care for them and become long-term custodians of their local environment.
- Restore biodiversity and connect habitats: creating and improving habitats and wildlife corridors.
- Improve access to and enjoyment of green spaces: ensuring projects benefit communities by planting on public or publicly accessible land.
- Support wellbeing through trees and nature: help people experience the physical and mental wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors.
- Make sure trees survive and thrive: by supporting aftercare and monitoring.
onboard:earth channels donations from the live events industry to ITF through our Canopy & Coast environmental programme.
Canopy and Coast is designed for events who want to demonstrate their commitment to nature and tackle travel related environmental impacts by adding a ‘Climate Levy’ donation to tickets or car parking passes. onboard:earth channels these donations to supports the protection and restoration of habitats in the UK and around the world.
Every £20 donated goes to fund four brilliant projects, including ITF, as well as supporting onboard:earth to deliver travel carbon reduction resources to the UK live event industry. This multi-pronged approach to climate action means that event organisers and event-goers can be sure their donations are having tangible impact.
Partnering with ITF for the Canopy & Coast programme is a huge milestone for onboard:earth because our work together supports our network of event organisers to plant trees local to their event site through ITF projects, as well as funding environmental restoration in ecosystems hardest hit by climate change.
- 1 tree planted in the UK in a community project with ITF – this can be directed to a project local to event
- 1 acre of threatened rainforest protected – preserving vital habitat for endangered wildlife and protecting biodiversity in perpetuity.
- 3 trees planted by communities living on the frontlines of climate breakdown, these trees not only restore degraded landscapes; they also provide long term livelihood options for women and communities.
- Seagrass plugs planted to restore marine ecosystems on the UK coastline.
- onboard:earth supported to enable live events to tackle their travel emissions and create a collective legacy.
The Climate Levy can be added directly to tickets on any ticket platform but onboard:earth have partnered with Humanitix to integrate the Climate Levy to make the process and impact reporting simple.
ITF’s work supports these Sustainable Development Goals:
