Our Story
Working Together for Thriving Landscapes and Communities
Eden: People+Planet has evolved from our beginnings as a tree-planting organization to become a leader in community-centered landscape restoration. Our journey reflects a growing understanding that ecological health and human well-being are deeply interconnected—the foundation for our name and our approach.
Our History
2005-2014
Origins & Early Years
Eden began near Hawassa, Ethiopia in 2005, at the request of President Hailemariam Desalegn. Our initial focus was reducing extreme poverty by employing local community members to plant trees—a direct approach to addressing immediate environmental and economic needs.
During these formative years, we measured our impact primarily through two metrics: trees planted and people employed. This simple model proved effective for immediate intervention but revealed the need for more comprehensive restoration strategies as we expanded.
2015-2023
Growth & Expansion
As Eden expanded to multiple countries including Nepal, Haiti, Indonesia, Mozambique, and Kenya, we developed deeper partnerships with local communities, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations. By 2023, we had planted over 500 million trees and employed thousands of community members in restoration work.
During this period of rapid growth, we began recognizing the limitations of tree planting alone. We saw that true ecological restoration required addressing the root causes of environmental degradation while building community capacity for long-term stewardship.
2024-Present
Strategic Transformation
In 2024, Eden Reforestation Projects became Eden: People+Planet, reflecting a significant philosophical shift from tree planting to comprehensive landscape restoration. This transformation included:
- Reforming operating procedures with stronger safeguards and policies
- Expanding technical capacity in landscape-scale restoration
- Adopting science-backed restoration methodologies
- Concentrating efforts on fewer, more impactful landscapes
- Committing to 40-year timeframes for carbon projects and 15+ year commitments for philanthropic projects
As part of this evolution, we established Compassionate Carbon as a carbon project development subsidiary focusing on large-scale ARR and REDD+ projects that meet the highest standards for both climate impact and community benefit.
Looking Forward
Our transformation continues as we implement six strategic objectives for 2024-2028:
- Complete the organizational transition to landscape-scale restoration by 2026
- Refine and document a standards-based approach for restoration and conservation
- Strengthen internal processes and staff capacity
- Complete 10 launch-ready landscape restoration profiles by mid-2025
- Increase annual gross revenue from $20 million to $65 million by 2028
- Position Eden as a globally recognized leader in nature-based solutions
This strategic direction builds on our history while adapting to meet the complex challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and community development. By focusing on landscape-scale impact, we aim to demonstrate how ecological restoration can transform both environments and communities.
Join Our Journey
Since our founding, Eden has evolved significantly, but our commitment to both environmental restoration and community well-being remains constant. As we continue our transformation, we invite you to join us in creating a world where communities thrive in healthy and restored environments.
Whether as a monthly supporter, corporate partner, or foundation collaborator, your participation helps advance landscape restoration that benefits both people and planet for generations to come.