Deforestation is a huge problem in the rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. People need to use wood to survive but there is no culture of replacing trees. Deforestation for agriculture is also an issue in many areas.
To make up for the world’s loss of trees in the past decade, we would need to plant 1.3 million km2, an area as large as Peru. Accomplishing that would mean planting about 14 billion trees every year for 10 years in a row ~ UNEP
• Create carbon sinks to sequester carbon dioxide
• Reduce environmental degradation
• Instil a culture of replacing trees
• Assist rural communities with adaptation to climate change
• Create employment opportunities for local community members and provide valuable skills development
• Create economic value for communities – fruit to eat or sell; some indigenous trees provide protection for crops; certain trees prove organic fertiliser for crops; property values increase and lots more.
In June 2011, Greenpop hosted a reforestation festival at Platbos Forest. We managed to plant 1000 trees in 1 day and a total of 1324 over the weekend. This was the single largest reforestation push that the ancient forest of Platbos had ever seen. Watch the video here
For three weeks July 2012, we are hosting an exciting reforestation project in Livingstone, Zambia; the country with the second highest deforestation rate in the world. We will be planting 5000 or more indigenous and fruit trees within the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site, Dambwa Forest, and at schools around Livingstone. In addition, we will set up workshops at schools and with local farmers on sustainable living and conservation issues. This will be the start of an ongoing campaign to make Livingstone a greener and more sustainable environment. Read more here
© 2011 Greenpop