Our partner Ecologi plants a tree for every Natusan order—but they also do so much more for the planet. Ecologi supports climate projects across the globe, from restoring forests in the South American Andes to creating wildflower meadows in Scotland.
We love to keep you updated on the exciting climate projects that you, our Natusan customers, are helping to support, and this month there are two new reforestation projects to tell you all about: one in Kenya, and another in Tanzania.
Planting Forests in Tanzania
Tanzania: Facts & Biodiversity
Tanzania in East Africa is home to some of the natural world’s most amazing sights, including Mount Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti. With a mix of low plains in the east, cool highlands in the north and south, and coastal areas rich in marine life and ecosystems, Tanzania has an impressive degree of biodiversity, but this is in decline.
It’s estimated that Tanzania has lost at least a third of the biodiversity and ecosystems within its forest areas over the last few decades. This is down to agricultural expansion and increased urbanisation, along with overexploitation, land degradation and deforestation.
The Project
Iringa is a region in the south of Tanzania, and it’s where Ecologi’s planting partner, Trees For The Future, are focusing the project. Farmers in Iringa tend to operate individually, and plant just one or two crops—which leaves them vulnerable to pests, weather, and fluctuations in the market, and lacking in wider support.
Trees For The Future (TREES) will utilise their “Forest Garden Approach” in Iringa, with a training programme that teaches farmers how to plant trees to protect their land and bring nutrients back to the soil, helping to improve the size and quality of crop yields.
The Iringa Forest Garden Project started in May 2022 and will continue until December 2023, working together with 600 local farmers and planting 1.8 million trees. It will not only revitalise the local landscape, but also create new opportunities for farmers, allowing them to be more resilient to climate change and diversify their income.
Planting Trees & Supporting Water Security in Kenyan Forests
Kenyan Forests: Facts & Biodiversity
Sitting just north of Tanzania is Kenya, the location for yet another Ecologi project. Kenya has an equally diverse mix of ecosystems, but this incredible biodiversity is at risk: Kenya is losing both plant and animal species at an alarming rate, due to a combination of environmental degradation, unsustainable management of natural resources, and poor land-use practices.
Kenya is home to a huge range of ecological zones and habitats, from mountain forests to grasslands and coastal ecosystems. Kenya’s Nakuru County is home to the Dundori Forest, a Key Biodiversity Site. Its waters feed into the country’s three major lakes—making it vital for water security.
The Project
Ecologi’s partner, The International Tree Foundation, aims to restore 200 hectares of degraded forest in the Dundori Forest through a process of sustainable, community-led reforestation.
The project aims to rehabilitate and restore watershed function and soil quality and stability. By planting local tree species, the project will also support the Dundori Forest’s biodiversity.
The newly planted trees require aftercare for three years, so to ensure the survival of the trees planted during the project, ITF collaborates with the Kenya Forest Service and local communities. ITF involves local communities, training them in fire prevention and also working with local schools to plant trees and engage younger generations in environmental stewardship.
Ecologi & Natusan
If you’d like to find out even more about their work, take a look at Ecologi’s projects. You can even keep track of just how many trees have been planted through our cooperation, and see how many climate projects have been funded, here.18/07/2022 by NatuTeam