Reforesting the world with Max Renaudin, Founder & CEO of Tree-Nation

Our platform is designed to maximise positive impact across three key areas: trees planted, biodiversity, and social welfare. This approach allows us to embrace a wide variety of projects, rather than focusing solely on high-volume tree planting in a few locations.

To ensure we select the right projects, we have developed a requirements-based methodology to evaluate them fairly. We focus on three main categories: environmental impact, socio-economic benefits for local communities, and the quality of project management.

We’ve seen the most significant positive impact from tree-planting in regions like North and South America, Africa, and Asia, where we manage 52 reforestation projects. In Bolivia, trees are used as “windshields” to protect crops, improve soil health, and reduce the need for deforestation. In Tanzania and Uganda, agroforestry projects provide free fruit trees, training, and income opportunities for local farmers, while also restoring forests. These efforts not only enhance ecosystems but also improve local livelihoods by creating sustainable agricultural practices and economic opportunities for communities.

At Tree-Nation, innovation is central to making reforestation more accessible and impactful. Two key initiatives we’re excited about are the recently launched Tree-Nation Pledge and the Tree Feed, which is still in preparation. The Pledge is a subscription model that allows individuals and businesses to automate monthly tree planting and carbon offsetting, making climate action easier and more consistent. The Tree Feed is an interactive feature, much like a social media feed, where users can explore trees planted by others and even plant alongside them. Both initiatives aim to enhance user engagement and empower our sponsors to amplify their impact.

A great way for luxury travellers to contribute is by adopting the habit of planting trees as part of their trips. Through our #1Trip1Tree planting habit, for example, we recommend planting at least one tree, per person, per day, for every journey taken. This simple approach offsets emissions from flights, transport, and hotel stays without complex calculations, turning travel into a climate-positive action.

In addition to reforestation efforts, travellers can support sustainable practices by prioritising low-impact activities. This means choosing nature-based experiences like visiting local parks or natural reserves, rather than just focusing on popular cultural attractions. When travelling with children, it’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with the natural beauty of the destination, fostering an appreciation for local ecosystems while minimising your environmental footprint.

Every city I visit or revisit, I usually end up walking through their parks and gardens. While we sometimes get caught up in checking off famous landmarks, we overlook the quieter, green spaces. Yet, whether it’s the El Retiro Park in Madrid, the English Garden in Munich, or the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris, these are the places where locals gather to relax whenever there is a bit of sunshine.

For me, cities can feel claustrophobic, so I’ve always tried to live near a park or a forest. The simplest way to maintain a connection with nature is to have it nearby.

Rather than ticking off the usual Instagram bucket list of overcrowded spots like Venice, consider visiting lesser-touristic places that allow for deeper connections with nature and local culture. Instead of picking a destination, you can pick an experience. Discovering a boutique, family-run stay with Small Luxury Hotels, then finding out what to visit around it, is an interesting way to do it.