International Tree Foundation (ITF) is an international, non-profit, non-political, conservation organisation. It is involved in

planting Sowing is the process of planting seeds. An area that has had seeds planted in it will be described as a sowed or sown area. Plants which are usually sown Among the major field crops, oats, wheat, and rye are sown, grasses and legumes are ...

, maintenance and

protection Protection is any measure taken to guard something against damage caused by outside forces. Protection can be provided to physical objects, including organisms, to systems, and to intangible things like civil and political rights. Although ...

of trees. It was founded in

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

on 22 July 1922 by Richard St. Barbe Baker as Men of the Trees. It operates in several countries in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

and in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. There have been chapters in over 100 countries. By some estimates, organizations he founded or assisted have been responsible for planting at least 26 billion trees, internationally.

History

ITF was founded in 1924 by Richard St. Barbe Baker. Following his work in Kenya creating Watu wa Mitu (People of the Trees) with Chief Josiah Njonjo, he returned to the United Kingdom with the goal of raising awareness about the benefits of

reforestation Reforestation is the practice of restoring previously existing forests and woodlands that have been destroyed or damaged. The prior forest destruction might have happened through deforestation, clearcutting or wildfires. Three important purpose ...

around the world by creating the charity Men of the Trees.The Men of the Trees
The Glasgow Herald - Jun 18, 1929. In 1929, a branch was opened in Palestine. In 1992, Men of the Trees was renamed to the International Tree Foundation, and has continued to work around the world in local communities on a variety of projects centred around reforestation, environmental protection and community-building. In Australia there is currently still a small organization that goes by the name Men of the Trees, although in England, where the charity originated, the original charity has now been fully rebranded as the International Tree Foundation.

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1924 establishments in England Foundations based in the United Kingdom Forestry in the United Kingdom Forest conservation organizations Organizations established in 1922