Waldfreunde gGmbH

Waldfreunde gGmbH is a non-profit social impact startup founded by Jürgen Graf. The company’s mission is to restore climate-resilient forests in Germany through community-driven reforestation projects, actively involving businesses, municipalities, and citizens. The business model combines hands-on nature experiences—such as tree-planting events—with digital tools for site identification, project management, and environmental education. Core target groups include B2B clients (CSR and teambuilding events), educational institutions, and public funding bodies. Waldfreunde leverages Earth Observation (EO) and GIS technologies to identify suitable reforestation sites, plan climate-smart land development, and monitor long-term biodiversity impact. The use of Copernicus satellite data enables a scalable, data-driven approach and ensures environmental effectiveness. By combining environmental restoration with space-based insights, Waldfreunde creates a novel, technology-enabled model to tackle climate change—locally grounded, yet digitally scalable.