Bringing Forests Back: how reforestation can fight climate change
At MORFO, we believe in real solutions for a healthier planet. Climate change is an urgent challenge that we can’t ignore. Rising greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and the degradation of natural ecosystems are heating up our planet, causing extreme weather, and putting countless species at risk. Among the many solutions, reforestation stands out as a powerful way to turn things around — not only helping to combat climate change but also restoring the health of ecosystems and their valuable services.
Every year, we lose around 5 million hectares of forest — an area about the size of Costa Rica, or slightly larger than Denmark. This loss isn’t just a threat to our environment; it’s also responsible for up to 20% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. Forests do much more than absorb carbon dioxide; they filter our water, clean our air, support biodiversity, and prevent soil erosion.
Adrien Pages, Co-Founder and CEO of MORFO, recently joined the Hardware to Save a Planet podcast by Synapse to talk about our mission to restore one million hectares of land by 2030. During the episode, Adrien delved into the importance of reforestation, the challenges we face, and how MORFO is using innovative technology to make large-scale forest restoration a reality.
Why Reforestation Matters
Reforestation is all about intentionally replanting trees where forests have been lost. This simple act has a huge impact: trees take carbon dioxide from the air, store it in their biomass, and help slow down climate change. By reforesting, we’re boosting the Earth’s ability to absorb greenhouse gasses, giving us more time to tackle global warming.
Carbon Capture and Beyond
The potential here is enormous. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that reforestation and afforestation could remove around 1.5 gigatons of CO2 from the atmosphere every year by 2030. But reforestation isn’t just about carbon capture. Forests also make ecosystems more resilient to climate change, acting as natural barriers against floods, storms, and droughts. They protect soil, regulate water cycles, and provide vital habitats for countless plant and animal species.
Restoring Habitats, Saving Species
Reforestation isn’t just about fighting climate change; it’s also about restoring homes. Many species depend on forests for food, shelter, and breeding. By replanting trees, we’re giving these species a second chance. Healthy forests create corridors for wildlife to thrive and can help endangered species recover, promoting biodiversity and stability within ecosystems.
Ecosystem Services We Depend On
Forests offer countless services that we, as humans, depend on. They maintain water quality, support pollination and nutrient cycling, and contribute to agricultural productivity and food security. Beyond these essentials, forests also offer recreational opportunities, cultural value, and sustainable economic benefits. Reforestation is key to ensuring these services continue for generations to come.
Challenges in Reforestation
Of course, there are challenges. Finding land for reforestation can be tough — competition for land, whether for agriculture or urban expansion, is real. Clear land ownership and tenure rights are also critical for making reforestation projects work long-term. Plus, reforestation isn’t cheap. It requires financial resources, technical expertise, and commitment. That’s why partnerships are so important—governments, organizations, and individuals need to come together to support these efforts and make reforestation a success.
A Collaborative Path Forward
At MORFO, we know that addressing these challenges is vital. We believe that the future depends on us working together to prioritize reforestation as a key strategy for fighting climate change and driving sustainable development. The time to act is now, and reforestation gives us a real, effective way forward.
Get to Know Adrien Pages
Adrien Pages holds a Master’s in Business Management and a Double Diploma in Strategy and Innovation from the Maastricht University School of Business and Economics. As MORFO’s Co-Founder and CEO, Adrien is leading the charge in developing unique technology for large-scale ecological restoration. Before founding MORFO, he co-founded Fairbird, a company committed to providing plastic-free, environmentally friendly products.
Listen to Hardware to Save a Planet
The Hardware to Save a Planet podcast explores the technical innovations that are giving us hope in the fight against climate change. Each episode dives into a specific climate challenge and showcases the emerging technologies that can make a real difference.
To learn more about how reforestation can help us address climate change, check out the latest episode featuring Adrien Pages, brought to you by Synapse.
