Tend the web of interdependence

Support an earth friendly Dharma by funding community-led reforestation in the Himalayas.

Tendrel (རྟེན་འབྲེལ་) is the Tibetan word meaning “dependent and connected.” The Tendrel Forest Project connects practioners with community-led reforestation projects in the Himalayas.

Everything occurs because of causes and conditions. At this moment, we are facing severe climate and ecological crises, caused by our collective behavior. As practitioners we have a responsibility to not only practice seeing interdependence but also be sensitive to how our actions impact the biosphere and the communities which depend on it.

The Himalayas are one the most vulnerable regions to climate change in the world.


Nepal and the broader Himalayan region face accelerating glacial retreat, disrupted monsoons, glacial lake outburst floods, increased landslide risk, and the degradation of high-altitude forests. The Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau are also warming 1.5 times faster than the rest of the world. These impacts threaten communities and make them some of the most vulnerable to climate change in the world.

Long-haul flights to receive teachings are among the most carbon-intensive activities individuals can engage in. A return flight from New York to Kathmandu emits roughly 5.4 tonnes of CO₂ per passenger — more than most households produce in a month.

Community-led reforestation offers benefits to ecosystems, climate, and local resilience.

  • Biodiversity Native species restoration supports wildlife and the full ecological community of Himalayan forests.
  • Soil health & flood resilience Forest cover stabilises slopes, reduces landslide risk, and regulates water flow through valleys.
  • Carbon sequestration Mature native forests are significant long-term carbon sinks.
  • Local ownership The land, the work, and the long-term stewardship remain with the communities of Nubri Valley through a community forest user group (CFUG).

Understand your connection. Choose your contribution.

Flight Emissions

Enter your origin airport code and destination to see the carbon footprint of your journey to teachings.

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Enter a 3-letter airport code to get started.

Support Reforestation in Nubri Valley

Each tree planted supports biodiversity, soil health, and the communities of the Nubri Valley. $3 per tree covers planting and first-season care.

Donate to Tendrel Forest Project

Donations processed through the Yongey Foundation's H.E.L.P. programme.

Nubri Valley, Nepal

Yongey Foundation H.E.L.P, Nubri Valley

The Himalayan Environment and Life Protection (H.E.L.P.) programme works with communities in Nubri Valley to restore native forest on degraded slopes. The work is led by local knowledge, guided by biodiversity goals, and owned by the communities who will tend it. You can learn more about H.E.L.P. here.

Nubri is a high-altitude valley in Gorkha District, Nepal. It sits within a landscape that has supported contemplative practice for centuries and now faces accelerating ecological pressures due to climate change.

30000+
trees planted
100%
Native species
100%
Community-led stewardship
68 KG
CO2 sequestered per tree over 10 years
Support this project

Frequently asked questions