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Reforestation isn’t the only solution for reducing greenhouse gases that we have, but it is a natural and valuable one. Trees planted today can draw down massive amounts of carbon in the long-term, and there are a whole range of other benefits from reforesting areas with native flora.

It’s good for the environment

Planting trees helps restore animal habitats, from the insects on leaves to the monkeys swinging from the branches. With increased biodiversity, ecosystems become more resilient. Trees also contribute to the natural water cycle and the presence of hardy root systems helps prevent landslides and flooding, slows soil erosion and improves soil quality.

It’s good for humans too

With better soil, communities can increase their agricultural yield to support their health and livelihoods. Seed collection and tree planting provide fair and decent employment for local people, especially women who may have limited employment opportunities in the area. It also creates jobs for rangers who protect from illegal activities and ensure long-term sustainability for the forest, both during the planting stage and for years afterwards.

With the help of Eden Reforestation Projects, we’re planting our very own Intrepid forest in Kenya. Just a short drive northwest from Nairobi is the Kijabe Forest, which covers 5,500 hectares in the country’s central highlands. Our trees will be planted in a dedicated section of the forest so that we can watch our impact grow.  

While the cost of tree planting varies from country to country, trees in our Kijabe Forest cost US $0.10 each. Included in this price is a fair wage for local employees to collect and plant seeds, the necessary materials and a forest ranger to look after the site. The surrounding communities have relied on the forest for firewood, building materials, charcoal, and grazing for their animals over the years. With the help of Kijabe Forest Trust, they’re seeing the importance of forests and playing an active role in restoring them.

As a leader in the travel industry, we have a big responsibility for carbon emissions. We’ve been carbon neutral since 2010, offsetting everything from our trips to our offices. As part of our journey to become climate positive by 2020, we continue to consider the footprint of our trips: removing unnecessary flights, taking public transit where possible, and opting for less convenient – but lower impact – transport options. Learn more about Intrepid’s carbon management principles.

Offsetting your emissions and planting trees aren’t the only answers to the climate crisis – but they’re part of the solution. For our unavoidable emissions, we can offset them while we transition to new technologies. But we also have to reduce our footprints, and for most of us, that means making some pretty inconvenient changes. From air drying your laundry to composting your food waste, there are plenty of small steps to take. If we work together, we can create change on a much larger scale. Carbon offsetting isn’t a replacement for action, but it’s a powerful way to vote with your wallet. Read some of our tips for reducing your footprint below.

We believe in the power of travel to open minds and inspire people, but there’s no denying the other effects: the travel industry accounts for about eight per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. We’ve been carbon offsetting our trips since 2010 and starting next year, we’ll be offsetting flights to and from destinations for travellers that book with us. Offsetting isn’t enough, so we’re also focusing on reducing the impact of our trips by removing flights when possible, opting for local public transport, tweaking our routes and exploring innovative technologies like electric overland vehicles.

As an individual, there are travel choices you can make to help reduce your footprint too. You can travel with a responsible tour company or explore somewhere closer to home. You can see a destination by bike or take a long hike. You can stay in local communities or sustainable accommodation. If you’re flying, non-stop is better than multiple legs, but consider other options like trains and buses where possible.