Why We Plant Trees — And Why It Matters More Than Ever

When we started the Altaïr Foundation in 2023, one of our first commitments was simple: plant trees where they've been lost. Three years later, we've planted over 19,000 trees across Eastern Europe — but the story behind that number is far more complex than it appears.

The Scale of the Problem

Illegal deforestation in Eastern Europe destroys an estimated 8,000 hectares of forest annually. These aren't just trees — they're entire ecosystems. When a forest disappears, so do the species that depend on it, the soil stability it provides, and the carbon it captures.

Each mature tree absorbs approximately 22 kilograms of CO2 per year. Our 19,000 trees, once fully grown, will collectively remove over 400 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every single year.

Our Approach

We don't just plant saplings and walk away. Our reforestation method involves careful site selection based on ecological vulnerability assessments, native species selection for climate resilience, and long-term monitoring to ensure survival rates remain high.

We work with small, dedicated teams — often just 4 to 6 people — who can cover significant ground in intensive week-long planting sessions. This lean approach means more of every donated euro goes directly into the ground, literally.

What's Next

In 2026, we're expanding our reforestation efforts to new sites facing the greatest threat from illegal logging. We're also developing partnerships with local forestry authorities to strengthen enforcement and create wildlife corridors connecting fragmented forest areas.

If you'd like to support this work, every donation goes directly to program costs — we take zero overhead.