In northern Thailand, Trees4All is connecting smallholder farmers and thousands of donors to restore degraded forests

Every donation to Trees4All is linked to a tree planted by a farmer in Nan province. Through the project's online platform, donors can follow its progress over three years – from the species planted to the tree’s location, its growth and the farmer caring for it. This transparency gives donors confidence that their contributions are linked to visible restoration outcomes.

For smallholder farmers restoring degraded landscapes, access to finance is often a major barrier. Trees4All provides payments for the long-term work of planting, monitoring and maintaining trees while creating a connection between donors and the landscapes they support.

Connecting farmers and finance

Between 2022 to 2025, two crowdfunding campaigns on the Thai platform Taejai.com raised approximately USD 155,000 (THB 5 million) from 2,622 donors. Donations flow directly to the Trees4All Community-based Enterprise, established by RECOFTC and the Santisuk community group to contract farmers, disburse payments and verify results.

The model has also attracted support beyond individual donors. In July 2025, Planeterra Foundation provided around USD 54,000 (THB 1.8 million) directly to the Trees4All Community-based Enterprise, supporting around 200 additional farmers to plant 40,000 trees across a further 64 hectares. In May 2025, Thailand’s Office of Insurance Commission mobilized more than 40 insurance companies to contribute around USD 70,000 (THB 2.3 million) to the project’s second crowdfunding campaign, recognizing the value of its data-based monitoring system, which provides evidence of restoration outcomes.

The funds support farmers to plant and monitor native tree species such as Yang Na (Dipterocarpus alatus), teak and rosewood on land managed under Thailand’s Kor Tor Chor programme. In Nan province, where decades of maize monoculture have degraded hillsides and watersheds, the project provides farmers with an income while supporting a transition towards more diverse and resilient landscapes.

Growing forests and livelihoods

By October 2025, 291 smallholder farmers had planted and monitored 43,270 trees across 69 hectares of degraded land, with a 96 per cent survival rate. Farmers have integrated over 40 native species alongside livestock and other farm enterprises, helping diversify income while improving soil health and ecosystem function. Eleven farmers are now raising stingless bees; others are growing mushrooms beneath maturing Yang Na. The saplings – each linked to a donor – are beginning to yield.

The restored forests also protect one of Thailand’s most important watersheds. Much of the water feeding the Chao Phraya River originates in these hills, where healthier forests help regulate water flows, reduce erosion and lower the risk of floods and landslides downstream.

Each tree planted through Trees4All represents a connection between a donor, a farmer and a recovering landscape. By making restoration measurable and transparent, the model has helped unlock finance from both individuals and institutions while keeping communities at the centre of the work. For farmers, these investments provide both a pathway to restore degraded land and a new source of income from caring for the landscape.