Bonus Episode: Earth Day as a Means to an End with Louis Lagoutte, Branch Manager at One Tree Planted

This episode features a conversation between Phil Dillard, Founder of Thruline Networks, and Louis Lagoutte, Branch Manager at One Tree Planted, a non-profit working worldwide to plant trees, restore ecosystems, protect biodiversity and create sustainable economic opportunities.

A graduate of United World College and Jacobs University Bremen, Louis’ interests involve environmental sustainability and the discourse that ensues, exploring difficult questions around the trade offs needed to make the vital changes much needed in our world. He's passionate about rewilding and views tree planting as the solution to many of humanity's problems. In his current role, Louis builds strategic partnerships from the private sector to enable impact and scale up critical work helping plant trees all over the globe.

In this episode, Louis talks about defining impact within the non-profit sector, planting trees as a means to an end, and how one can individually contribute towards a better future.

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Guest Quote

“Planting trees is a means to an end. It's not the goal of the project itself. We're planting trees in order to, for example, restore the wildlife corridor. We're planting trees in order to diversify the incomes of smallholder farmers, prevent soil erosion on their lands, and help their other crops. We're planting trees to prevent flooding. So, planting trees as a means to an end. And that is looking at the ecosystem, planting the right trees in the right place, involving the communities, and also planting trees where there's meant to be. Some places are meant to be forests, and that's where we want to do restoration. But some places are also meant to be wetlands. Some places are meant to be grasslands, and we understand that what we are doing is one piece of the puzzle of a very complex, multifaceted puzzle, which is all of the work and restoration which we need to do on our planet.” - Louis Lagoutte

Episode Timestamps

(02:18) Louis’ current role

(09:44) Getting involved in One Tree Planted

(15:52) Defining impact within the organization

(21:54) One Tree Planted as a non-profit

(29:50) Longitudinal data on the impact of projects

(34:30) Why people choose One Tree Planted

(37:08) Quick hit questions

Links

Louis Lagoutte’s LinkedIn

One Tree Planted

Phil Dillard’s LinkedIn

Thruline Networks