Timeline Photos

While it might not seem immediately obvious, there are actually powerful links between reforestation and supporting people in need. Over the course of this week, we’ve been sharing four ways trees lift people our of poverty. #4: Planting Project Salary The reforestation projects we support also reduce poverty in a very direct way: by paying locals a fair wage for their tree-planting efforts, irrespective of their gender or social status. Actively involving local communities isn’t just essential to the ethical integrity of our projects, but also to their long-term success. Our reforestation program led by Eden Projects in Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest countries, deliberately focuses on a region where stable jobs and reliable employers are scarce. The income local villagers receive for working on the project has helped them escape the vicious cycle of poverty by enabling them to buy land, improving their health, and helping them send their children to school.

7,000,000 trees planted. A message for you from the communities, Ecosians. (Turn your volume up!)

Timeline Photos

While it might not seem immediately obvious, there are actually powerful links between reforestation and supporting people in need. Over the course of this week, we’re sharing four ways trees lift people our of poverty. #3: Climate Change Adaptation Climate change hits poor communities hardest, even though they least contribute to it. The unpredictable rain, the heatwaves and the cyclones that are the consequence of our warming planet devastate the crops and incomes of those who cannot afford any such thing to happen. It is widely acknowledged that the planting of trees helps mitigate climate change. As they grow, trees remove carbon dioxide from the air and in turn release oxygen, the common currency of all life. But trees also help farmers adapt to climate change on a more local level. Surrounding a field with trees creates a microclimate that protects the crops against irregular rainfall and temperature extremes. This tree superpower – creating a climatic buffer zone – has clearly manifested itself on our tree-planting site in the San Martin region, Peru, an area that was heavily deforested in the 80s. Before the trees were planted, the local cocoa harvest suffered from unpredictable weather and from a lack of shade. Today, the cocoa fields are increasingly surrounded by Pino Chuncho trees, Cedro Rosado trees, as well as many other shade-givers, and the cocoa yields — many farmers’ sole source of income — have started to improve.

Timeline Photos

While it might not seem immediately obvious, there are actually powerful links between reforestation and supporting people in need. Over the course of this week, we’re sharing four ways trees lift people our of poverty. #2: Forest Products The forest provides an abundance of products to its human residents, ranging from nuts, berries, fruits, mushrooms, herbs and spices to biofuel, gums, oils, cork, peat and rubber. In Peru, where we support the Pur Projet reforestation programme, these forest products yield a higher net revenue per hectare than timber harvest would. After these forest products are processed, their value multiplies. That is why we are currently supporting the Indonesian Gunung Saran Lester Foundation. Our shared aim is to build the zero-waste Tengkawang Nut Factory, which produces a sustainable alternative to palm oil. A second part of the project will focus on establishing the communitarian Village Hub, which produces valuable sugar syrup. Being able to put these products up for sale means that poor communities will no longer be forced to sell their land to palm oil multinationals.

Timeline Photos

Some of you have asked us ‘why don’t you help people in need instead of planting trees?’ Thankfully, that’s not a choice we ever had to make. While it might not seem immediately obvious, there are actually powerful links between reforestation and supporting people in need. Over the next four days, we’ll share four ways trees lift people out of poverty. #1 Agriculture Trees regulate the water cycle and prevent erosion. They regulate the temperature of the air and earth, and make moisture available to crops. They prevent soil salinization, shield crops from violent winds, and produce nutrients for all that grows around them. By providing a habitat for bees and other pollinating animals, they also contribute to crop fertilization.

They have lived on Madagascar for 40 million years. Here's how we're protecting their habitat today.

This lemur is looking for a mate. Let's protect his habitat by planting forest corridors.

media.giphy.com

We have a new favourite animal! Scientists have discovered the world’s first known fluorescent amphibian — the South American polka-dot tree frog. Yale Environment 360​ has all the details: http://ecosia.co/frog

How Reforestation Helps People in Need

By using Ecosia to plant trees, you don’t just help the environment. You also sow the seeds of a safer, healthier future for those who need it most 😇

CO2 emissions stay same for third year in row – despite global economy growing

A reason to be cautiously optimistic: CO2 emissions from energy have not increased for three years in a row even as the global economy grew.

A present to you for #InternationalForestDay: A message from Siles, one of the cocoa farmers planting trees with our partners in #Peru.

Photos from Ecosia's post

Fresh pictures from our partners in Madagascar! The saplings grown in the nurseries are planted into the earth during the rainy season, to make sure they get their first sip of water. For more details about this project: http://ecosia.co/MadagascarProgram

Can anyone suggest tree planting projects to Ecosia?

Can anyone suggest tree planting projects to Ecosia? (More interesting with VOLUME):