About Us
Transforming Landscapes in Partnership with Communities
Eden: People+Planet works with communities to co-design and implement ecosystem restoration initiatives that strengthen resilience for both people and the planet. Our approach fosters healthy relationships between communities and the land on which we all depend through landscape restoration and conservation.
Our Vision
and Mission
Our mission and vision are grounded in our foundational philosophy that human thriving and the well-being of our planet are inseparable and interdependent. We believe the social foundation of basic human needs can be met for all people within Earth’s ecological limits and aim to prove this through our work.
Our Vision
A world where communities thrive in healthy and restored environments.
Our Mission
To foster healthy relationships between communities and the land on which we all depend through landscape restoration and conservation.
Our Values
Our core values guide how we work and partner with communities around the world…
Trust + Collaboration
We work as a team, partner with others, and do it together. We recognize that landscape restoration cannot be achieved alone and requires deep collaboration with communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
Integrity + Openness
We do the right things and invite others to participate. We maintain transparent processes and communications while upholding ethical standards in all operations and partnerships.
Learning + Growth
We embrace the need to adapt and change to pursue our best. We commit to continuous improvement through monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation of approaches based on evidence and experience.
Empowerment + Impact
We promote ownership and agency for lasting benefits. We facilitate community-driven landscape restoration that builds local capacity and creates sustainable positive impacts.
Our Evolution
Eden began in 2005 near Hawassa, Ethiopia, at the request of President Hailemariam Desalegn with an initial focus on employing local villagers to plant trees. Since then, we’ve transformed into a global landscape restoration organization working across multiple countries including Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Nepal, Honduras, and the Philippines.
In 2024, we rebranded from Eden Reforestation Projects to Eden: People+Planet to reflect our philosophical shift from tree planting to comprehensive landscape restoration. This transformation includes:
- Reformed operating procedures with stronger safeguards and policies
- Expanded technical capacity in landscape-scale restoration
- Adoption of science-backed, evidence-based methodologies
- Geographic consolidation strategy to maximize impact
- Long-term commitment model with 40-year timeframes for carbon projects and 15+ year commitments for philanthropic projects
Our Team
Eden: People+Planet is led by a diverse team of experts with extensive experience in natural resource management, landscape restoration, and international development.
Our leadership team brings together complementary skills and backgrounds:
- Bryan Adkins, CEO: Experienced natural resource executive with extensive background in nature-based solutions, ecosystem services, and carbon markets.
- Glen Prior, COO: 25 years of experience building economic engines and sustainable systems for mission-driven organizations.
- Jeff Arensen, Chief International Operating Officer: Over 20 years of experience in non-governmental organizations supporting community development across East and Southern Africa.
Supporting our executive leadership is a global team of technical experts, regional directors, and country-level implementation staff who work directly with communities to implement our landscape restoration approach.
Our Approach
Eden has evolved from a tree-planting organization to a comprehensive landscape restoration leader. While tree planting remains an important tool, we now implement diverse restoration strategies tailored to each landscape’s unique ecological and social context.
Key elements of our approach include:
Community-Centered Implementation
Working in partnership with local communities to co-design and implement restoration activities
Comprehensive Landscape View
Addressing multiple ecological and social factors rather than focusing solely on trees
Long-Term Commitment
Maintaining engagement for 15+ years for philanthropic projects and 40+ years for carbon projects
Science-Based Methods
Applying evidence-based restoration techniques appropriate to local contexts
Continuous Learning
Monitoring outcomes and adapting approaches based on results
Our Impact
Since our founding in 2005, Eden: People+Planet has:
- Worked with communities to plant over 500 million trees
- Employed thousands of community members in restoration activities
- Expanded operations to multiple countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America
- Developed comprehensive landscape restoration projects covering thousands of hectares
- Established Compassionate Carbon to develop large-scale carbon projects
Today, we’re focused on implementing high-quality landscape restoration projects that create lasting environmental and social benefits. Our current project portfolio includes implementation-phase initiatives like the Chimanimani Landscape Restoration Project in Mozambique, as well as projects in various stages of development across multiple countries.
Transparency and Accountability
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID 95-4804581), Eden: People+Planet is committed to financial transparency and accountability. We maintain the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid and make our financial information publicly available.
Our current financial breakdown shows our commitment to maximizing program impact:
- Program services: 70.7% of expenses
- Management and general: 22.9%
- Fundraising: 6.4%
We receive 99.66% of our funding from public support, demonstrating the broad community that believes in our mission and approach.
Join Our Mission
There are multiple ways to support Eden’s landscape restoration work:
For Individuals
Become a monthly supporter to help communities restore their landscapes and create sustainable livelihoods.
For Corporations
Partner with Eden to support landscape restoration while meeting your sustainability goals.
For Foundations
Fund comprehensive landscape restoration initiatives aligned with your mission.
For Carbon Buyers
Invest in high-integrity carbon projects that deliver verified climate benefits alongside biodiversity and community development.