Tree Planting 🌳
The co-operative's large-scale tree planting initiative has successfully planted 493,000 trees across Kisoro District, combining exotic and indigenous species to restore ecosystems while promoting biodiversity. This transformative program not only combats deforestation and rehabilitates degraded lands, but also establishes sustainable sources of timber, fruit, and forest products. Through strategic partnerships with WWF and UNHCR, the initiative leverages technical expertise and additional resources, creating lasting environmental and economic benefits for local communities.
Impact of Reforestation Program
Impact on Members:
- Diversified Income: Members benefit from the planting of both exotic and indigenous species, which offer diverse products such as timber, fruit, and non-timber forest products like honey or medicinal plants.
- Enhanced Skills: Through hands-on experience in tree planting and forest management, members enhance their environmental stewardship and gain expertise in sustainable land use practices.
- Long-Term Economic Benefits: As trees mature, they will provide a continuous source of income for members, contributing to financial security and stability for their businesses.
Impact on the General Public:
- Environmental Restoration: The planting of 493,000 trees helps to restore degraded ecosystems, improve soil fertility, prevent erosion, and enhance local biodiversity.
- Climate Change Mitigation: Trees help to sequester carbon, which mitigates the impact of climate change, benefiting the broader community by reducing extreme weather events, such as flooding or drought.
- Healthier Ecosystems: By improving the forest cover and increasing the availability of resources like water, the local environment becomes healthier and more resilient, supporting agriculture and other community activities.