Beyond Tree Planting: Pitod & Rainforest Foundation UK’s Mission to Nurture the Planet’s Most Vital Ecosystems

Sustainability isn’t just about planting trees—it’s about protecting the ecosystems that sustain life on Earth. That’s why Pitod is proud to announce its partnership with Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK). Through our Rainforest Collection, 10% of sales will go directly toward RFUK’s efforts in protecting and restoring tropical forests—one of the most effective ways to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.

For years, tree planting has been promoted as a solution to deforestation and carbon emissions, but emerging research shows that protecting existing forests is far more effective than planting new ones. In this post, we’ll explore why safeguarding rainforests is crucial and why Pitod is moving away from conventional reforestation efforts in favour of a science-backed, holistic approach to planetary restoration.

The Myth of Tree Planting as a Climate Solution

Tree planting projects have gained popularity as an easy-to-implement climate solution. However, scientific studies have repeatedly shown that tree planting alone is not enough to combat climate change and, in some cases, may cause more harm than good.

1. Tree Planting vs. Carbon Sequestration

While trees do absorb CO₂, newly planted forests take decades to centuries to match the carbon sequestration ability of mature forests. A study published in Nature (2019) found that protecting existing tropical forests can sequester up to 40 times more carbon than newly planted forests over the same period.

2. The Problem with Monoculture Tree Plantations

Many large-scale tree planting efforts use monocultures—planting a single tree species—which do not support biodiversity. Research in Global Change Biology (2020) found that monoculture tree plantations store up to 50% less carbon than diverse, natural forests and provide little to no habitat for wildlife.

3. Ecological Disruptions Caused by Mass Tree Planting

A 2021 study published in Science warned that tree planting in inappropriate areas—such as grasslands and savannas—can disrupt local ecosystems, worsen water scarcity, and degrade soil quality. In other words, planting trees in the wrong places can do more harm than good.

Why Nurturing Rainforests is the Best Climate Solution

Instead of focusing on planting new trees, Pitod and RFUK are prioritizing the protection of existing forests, which offer immediate and irreplaceable environmental benefits.

1. Mature Forests Store More Carbon

Tropical rainforests, like those in the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia, are the most efficient carbon sinks on the planet. A study in Nature Climate Change (2017) found that intact tropical forests remove 1.1 billion tons of CO₂ annually, making them the most powerful natural tool for climate mitigation.

2. Protecting Rainforests Prevents Carbon Release

When forests are destroyed, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change. The IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land (2019) estimates that deforestation contributes 10-15% of global carbon emissions annually, making it one of the largest drivers of climate change.

3. Rainforests Support 80% of Terrestrial Biodiversity

Tropical forests are home to more than 80% of all terrestrial species, including thousands of endangered plants and animals. Deforestation is the leading cause of biodiversity loss, with research in Science Advances (2020) showing that species extinction rates are now 100 to 1,000 times higher than natural background levels due to habitat destruction.

4. Rainforests Provide Life-Sustaining Ecosystem Services

Beyond carbon storage, rainforests regulate global and regional rainfall patterns, prevent soil erosion, and support over 1.6 billion people who depend on them for food, medicine, and livelihoods.

How Pitod and RFUK Are Making a Difference

1. Direct Funding for Protecting

Through the Rainforest Collection, 10% of all sales will go directly to RFUK’s protecting programs, ensuring long-term forest protection rather than short-term tree planting initiatives.

2. Strengthening Indigenous Land Rights

Indigenous communities manage 80% of the world’s biodiversity, yet they receive less than 1% of global climate funding (Rights and Resources Initiative, 2021). RFUK helps secure land rights for Indigenous and local communities, empowering them to continue protecting their forests.

3. Preventing Illegal Deforestation

Using advanced satellite technology and real-time monitoring, RFUK detects illegal logging and deforestation in real time, enabling rapid response actions. It's a system based on the on-the-ground reality and enables rapid response actions by detecting illegal logging and deforestation in real time.

4. Supporting Sustainable Livelihoods

Instead of relying on harmful deforestation-driven industries, RFUK helps local communities develop sustainable alternatives, such as agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and non-timber forest products like cacao, wild-harvested nuts, medicinal plants, and shade-grown coffee.

Why This Partnership Matters

By working with RFUK, Pitod is reinforcing its commitment to real, measurable environmental action. Instead of promoting the false promise of mass tree planting, we’re investing in the long-term protection of the most valuable ecosystems on Earth.

What You Can Do:

• Support the Rainforest Collection—10% of every purchase goes directly toward protection.

• Learn about the real science of sustainability and challenge greenwashing narratives.

• Advocate for forest protection policies and responsible sourcing.

Together, we can redefine sustainability, protect our planet’s last great forests, and create a future where both people and nature thrive.

Final Thoughts

Sustainability is about preserving what we already have rather than simply trying to replace it. The partnership between Pitod and Rainforest Foundation UK is a step toward a future where fashion doesn’t just reduce harm but actively restores the planet.

This isn’t just another campaign. This is a movement.

Will you join us?