In the early 1970s, Dave and Grace Deppner served as volunteers in the Philippines, where they witnessed the human tragedy brought on by illegal logging and unsustainable land management systems.

Working with community leaders in nearby villages, the Deppners found ways to offer hope. They revitalized degraded lands by providing farmers with tree seed, technical training, and on-site planning assistance. People responded enthusiastically, and entire villages joined in, making great sacrifices to save their homes and way of life.

After returning from their overseas assignments they continued what they had started, communicating by mail with rural community leaders and providing information, seeds, and training materials.

After many years of informal operations, Trees for the Future was incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) public charity in Maryland on August 14, 1989. Over the years TREES has assisted thousands of communities in planting millions of trees, which have restored life to land that was previously degraded or abandoned. The trees provide food, fodder, fuel, fertilizer, and medicine for the farmers as well as biodiversity for the landscape.