Europe

From the Black Forest of Brother’s Grimm lore to the historic Leiria Pine Forest, Europe’s woodlands are deeply tied to its culture and history. Eight thousand years ago, before the first Agricultural Revolution, much of the continent was blanketed in forest. Today, only fragments remain; under pressure from centuries of farming expansion, industry, conflict, and more recently, the impacts of pests, diseases, and climate change.

In the UK, where woodland cover is among the lowest in Europe, millions of ash trees are succumbing to Chalara dieback. Across the continent, record-breaking heatwaves, floods in Italy, and fires in Greece highlight how fragile Europe’s ecosystems have become.

At The Planet Earth Foundation, we see this challenge as an opportunity to reconnect people, farms, and forests. By working with farmers and landowners, we plant dense Miyawaki native forests on degraded or underutilised land. These forests:

• Grow 10× faster than conventional plantations
• Capture 30× more carbon
• Support pollinators and biodiversity that strengthen farm ecosystems
• Improve soil health, reduce flood risk, and cool the landscape during heatwaves

Our vision for Europe is not just to restore trees, but to weave thriving native forests back into farmland and communities, creating living landscapes that balance livelihoods with climate resilience.

From the rugged highlands of Scotland to the rolling hills of England and the lush woodlands of Wales, the United Kingdom’s landscapes are rich and varied. Its ecosystems – from ancient woodlands to heathlands and wetlands – once supported vast biodiversity. But centuries of deforestation, driven by agriculture, industry, and urban expansion, have left the UK one of the least wooded countries in Europe, with fragmented habitats and declining wildlife populations.

At The Planet Earth Foundation, we believe the UK’s ecological recovery requires more than planting trees – it requires restoring resilient native forests that integrate with the communities and farms that shape the landscape. That’s why we work with farmers, schools, and local landowners to plant Miyawaki micro-forests:

• Growing 10× faster and becoming self-sustaining within decades
• Capturing 30× more carbon than monoculture plantations
• Providing shelter, cooling, and natural flood protection in the face of climate extremes
• Reviving pollinators and biodiversity that benefit agriculture and ecosystems alike