The unsettling sight of men walking around with half a beard may, for a while, become the norm. That's because BeardsOn for Conservation, an Australian charity, is calling on men to grow a beard and then cut half of it off to raise awareness about worldwide deforestation.

"We're Movember for the environment," James Stanton-Cooke, 30, founder of BeardsOn, told Fairfax Media.

BeardsOn for Conservation hopes to raise awareness and funds to plant trees by enlisting men to grow a beard ... and then cut half of it off. Credit:James Brickwood

Cooke says far from being a charity for "greenie hipsters" BeardsOn attracted volunteers from all walks of life.

"We have one family group who have three generations represented this year, a grandfather, son, and grandson. The community response has been amazing."