Terms of Service

Last updated: March 24, 2026

1. About TreeCodex

TreeCodex ("the Service") is a mobile application and website operated by TreeCodex ("we," "our," or "us"). The Service enables users to calculate their carbon footprint, fund GPS-verified tree planting projects, and track the lifecycle of planted trees in real-time.

2. Eligibility

• You must be at least 13 years old (or 16 in the EEA) to create an account
• If you are under 18, you must have parental or guardian consent
• You must provide accurate and complete registration information
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials

3. User Roles

TreeCodex supports multiple user roles, each with specific responsibilities:

• User: individuals who track carbon and fund tree planting
• Planter: field team members who physically plant trees and submit GPS-verified proof
• NGO: verified organizations that create planting projects, manage field teams, and verify planting proof
• Enterprise: organizations that purchase trees in bulk for ESG compliance and team offsetting
• Ambassador: community advocates who run campaigns and tree pools, earning referral commissions

4. Tree Planting and Payments

4.1 How Funding Works

• Tree prices are set by the NGO managing each project — TreeCodex does not set prices
• Multiple users may co-fund a single tree (crowdfunding model)
• A tree is assigned to a planter only after it is 100% funded

4.2 Revenue Split

• 90% of each payment goes directly to the NGO and their field team. The NGO is responsible for compensating planters at fair wages (minimum 20% above local market rates)
• 10% is retained by TreeCodex to maintain and operate the platform

4.3 Payment Processing

• All payments are processed by Stripe. TreeCodex never stores your card details
• Payments are made in fiat currency only — no cryptocurrency
• All transactions are final. Refunds are issued only if a funded tree cannot be planted due to project cancellation, in which case funds will be credited to your account or refunded to your original payment method

4.4 Tree Verification

• Each planted tree is verified through GPS-tagged photographic proof submitted by the planter and reviewed by the NGO
• Verified trees receive a unique identifier (e.g., TC-2026-XXXXX) and a permanent public page
• TreeCodex facilitates verification but does not guarantee the long-term survival of any individual tree, as trees are subject to natural conditions

5. Carbon Calculations

• Carbon footprint calculations are based on publicly available data sources including ICAO flight emission factors and DEFRA vehicle emission data
• Calculations are estimates and provided for informational purposes. They should not be used as the sole basis for regulatory compliance or carbon credit certification
• CO₂ sequestration estimates for individual trees are based on published scientific research for the relevant species and are approximations

6. User Conduct

You agree not to:

• Provide false or misleading information in your account or planting proofs
• Use the Service for fraudulent, illegal, or unauthorized purposes
• Submit fake GPS data, manipulated photos, or false verification claims
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users through the social feed or any communication feature
• Attempt to reverse-engineer, copy, or interfere with the Service
• Use automated bots or scripts to interact with the Service
• Circumvent security measures or access restrictions

Violations may result in account suspension or permanent termination.

7. Intellectual Property

• The TreeCodex name, logo, design, and underlying technology are owned by TreeCodex
• User-generated content (posts, photos, comments) remains yours, but you grant TreeCodex a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to display it within the Service
• Tree planting data (GPS coordinates, CO₂ metrics, verification records) is considered public environmental data and may be shared publicly

8. NGO and Planter Obligations

8.1 NGOs

• Must provide accurate project information including location, species, pricing, and capacity
• Must verify planting proofs honestly and in a timely manner
• Must compensate field planters at a minimum of 20% above local market wages
• Must comply with local environmental regulations and obtain necessary permits

8.2 Planters

• Must submit authentic GPS-tagged photographs as planting proof
• Must plant trees at the designated GPS coordinates provided by the NGO
• Falsified proof submissions will result in immediate account termination and may be reported to relevant authorities

9. Disclaimers

• The Service is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied
• TreeCodex is a platform connecting donors with NGOs and planters. We do not directly plant trees or guarantee planting outcomes
• We are not responsible for the actions or omissions of NGOs, planters, or other users
• Carbon calculations and CO₂ sequestration data are estimates and not certified carbon credits
• We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation of the Service

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, TreeCodex shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Service, including but not limited to loss of data, revenue, or environmental outcomes.

11. Account Termination

• You may delete your account at any time through the app (Profile → Settings → Delete Account)
• We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms
• Upon termination, your personal data will be deleted in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Anonymized tree records remain as part of the public environmental record

12. Dispute Resolution

• We encourage you to contact us first at uynghiem@earthsama.com to resolve any disputes informally
• If informal resolution fails, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with applicable rules, unless prohibited by local law
• Nothing in these Terms limits your right to bring claims in small claims court or to seek injunctive relief

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which TreeCodex is incorporated, without regard to conflict of law principles. For users in the European Union, nothing in these Terms affects your rights under mandatory consumer protection laws of your country of residence.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via in-app notification or email at least 14 days before the changes take effect. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

15. Open Source and Third-Party Software

TreeCodex uses open-source software components. Applicable licenses are available within the app under Settings → Licenses. Third-party services (Stripe, Supabase, Sentry) are governed by their respective terms of service.

16. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

17. Contact

For questions about these Terms:

• Email: uynghiem@earthsama.com
• App: Profile → Settings → Contact Support