New Scientist - USA (2020-07-18)

For communities in the African drylands,
the climate crisis is not a future threat but a
daily reality. The effects of deforestation,
desertification and a changing climate are
widespread. There is clear evidence that
temperatures are rising. A shorter rainy season
is now a reality, and droughts and floods are
becoming more frequent and severe. Forest
resources are depleting faster in the drylands
of Africa than elsewhere in the world.
Our strategy lays out ambitious plans to
grow over 8 million trees in 5 years and to
support 2.5 million people through poverty-
alleviating initiatives.
These initiatives are rooted in the power of
trees. The trees we grow enhance soil quality,
improve harvests, protect from wind and
flooding, support ecosystems and increase
biodiversity. We provide people with essential

training on Farmer Managed Natural

Regeneration. They can utilise this training to

encourage tree growth from degraded land and

shrub vegetation. Additionally, we train

communities in soil and water conservation

techniques. This means that families can

increase their land’s resilience to drought and

climatic stresses. In one project in Ghana last

year, we worked with local communities to

plant 898,368 trees along the Daka River.

Local small business enterprise has a vital

role to play in combating climate poverty. We

support people to form Village Tree Enterprises

(VTEs). The members of these VTEs protect

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trees and work together to turn the tree

products into nutritious food and goods,

such as shea butter and moringa powder.

By providing training, processing equipment

and access to new markets, we can empower

families and communities to grow their way

out of poverty. These groups are particularly

important to women, who often have limited

access to resources.

Since 1987, TREE AID has planted more

than 18.5 million trees. But there are significant

challenges facing the people we work with, and

we need your support to fight the climate crisis

and poverty together.

Want to help?

Your support will help to build resilience to a changing climate, reverse the

growing desert and empower communities to reclaim the land for themselves

and their future generations. Visit treeaid.org.uk/support-us/donate

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