The Forest Makers:
A Free Online Tree Planting Course
Learn how to create the
forests of tomorrow
The Forest Makers is a free online course to help individuals, landowners, communities and institutions plan, fund and implement effective tree planting and reforestation projects.
Launching September 2026, the course will be available in English, Spanish, French and Italian.
Developed through the Erasmus+ More Trees Now project, funded by the EU.
A practical course for people ready to restore landscapes
The Forest Makers course has been created to support people and organisations who want to lead local reforestation projects with confidence.
Developed by a pioneering group of partners in the restoration field, this documentary-style course combines structured lessons with storytelling and practical, real-world examples from the field.
The course will guide participants through the full process of creating a tree planting plan — from understanding the landscape and choosing the right methodology, to mobilising support, finding funding and caring for trees after planting.
Whether you are planting in your local area, restoring part of your land, supporting a community project or working within an institution, this course will help you move from good intentions to a practical plan.
Who is this course for?
Individuals and climate activists
For people who want to take practical action in their local area.
Farmers and landowners
For those looking to rewild, restore or reforest parts of their land.
Community organisers and project leaders
For people who want to create or support reforestation projects across different sites.
Institutions and educators
For local authorities, schools, universities and organisations interested in ecosystem restoration.
What you’ll learn
By the end of the course, you will understand how to:
- Analyse environmental, social and economic conditions before planting
- Choose appropriate tree planting and restoration methodologies
- Understand when planting is needed — and when natural regeneration may be more appropriate
- Select species suited to the landscape and climate
- Explore different approaches including seeds, nursery trees, transplanted saplings and rewilding
- Plan for funding, permissions and community involvement
- Create a practical tree planting plan
- Understand why long-term tree care matters just as much as planting
Inside the course
Module 1: Introduction to Reforestation
Understand why we plant trees, what successful reforestation requires, and the different roles people can play in restoring landscapes.
Lessons include:
- Why plant or reforest?
- How to approach a reforestation plan
- You as a reforester
Module 2: Landscape Analysis
Learn how to assess the environmental, social and economic context before choosing a planting method.
Lessons include:
- Climate, geology and geography
- Native and adapted species
- Land ownership, legal context and social stakeholders
- Cost analysis and sources of funding
Module 3: Tree Planting Methodologies
Explore different approaches to reforestation and learn how to choose the right method for your site.
Lessons include:
- Choosing a methodology for your context
- The More Trees Now method
- Dry climate approaches
- Natural regeneration, seeds, nurseries and transplanted saplings
- Tree care after planting
Module 4: Practical Tree Planting Plan
Bring everything together by creating a tree planting plan based on your own context, goals and landscape.
Tree planting is not just about putting trees in the ground
Healthy forests begin with healthy planning
Planting trees without understanding the land, climate, species, people and long-term care needs can lead to poor survival rates and missed opportunities for restoration. The Forest Makers is designed to help people make better decisions before they plant — so that more trees survive, more landscapes recover, and more communities are equipped to take meaningful climate action.
Created through the Erasmus+ More Trees Now Project
The Forest Makers course is being developed as part of the Erasmus+ More Trees Now project, funded by Erasmus+. The project brings together a pioneering group of partners in the restoration field to share practical knowledge, strengthen community-led ecosystem restoration, and make effective tree planting education more accessible. The project is focused on ecosystem restoration, climate change mitigation and practical education, with a particular emphasis on innovative tree planting methodologies and community-led action.
Through The Forest Makers course, the project is helping make practical reforestation knowledge accessible to more people across Europe and beyond.
Course details
Format: Online
Access the content online from anywhere in the world. Complete it at your own pace.
Cost: Free
This course is 100% FREE. There are no hidden charges or up-sells.
Language(s): Multiple
This course is available in: English, Spanish, French and Italian.
Be the first to access The Forest Makers course
Pre-register now and we’ll let you know as soon as the free course becomes available.
