Trees 4 Livelihoods is focusing on the links between access to trees and women’s livelihoods strengthening the capacity of women to develop sustainable and profitable businesses trading in non-timber forest products (NTFPs).

Twelve months on from the launch of the Trees 4 Livelihoods project in Mali we are taking a look back at the progress made so far.

Trees 4 Livelihoods will support local people in 29 villages address and reverse the downward spiral of deforestation, land degradation and food insecurity.

The project’s core activities included tree planting on public land, water catchment areas, dispensaries and community farms. Since the project started May 2011,  50,000 seedlings have been raised and planted on various sites.

As well as supplying tree seedlings to local villagers, the project provides training and education so that it will have a lasting legacy beyond its initial funded phase.

The project has established nurseries in which a range of tree species are grown can be used by beneficiaries as a source of income (for example by selling fruits or other sustainable tree-based products).

We recently received a final project report from our in-country partner SUNARMA and we are very pleased to report that the Forest Conservation Project in the Wof Washa Forest, Ethiopia has been a great success.

We received a very encouraging mid-term report from the Mt. Bamboutos Montane Forest Reforestation project which confirms the scheme is making excellent progress.

In response to the problems posed burning wood for fuel and charcoal production, several African nations and international bodies are searching for appropriate solutions that can be widely applied. One solution that shows a lot of promise is the use of bamboo charcoal as bioenergy.

ITF have received a mid-term report from Trees for the Future on the development of the Kaffrine agroforestry project and we are delighted to announce that the initiative has already made great progress.

The project, based in the London Borough of Redbridge, aims to transform an overgrown and unused woodland area into an interactive space that is accessible to all ELHAP users.

A note from Ted Green M B E – ITF Vice President.

We are delighted to announce that the project has made excellent progress in it’s first six months which looks set to continue as the scheme moves forward.

The main aim of the Wof Washa project is to demonstrate sustainable land use practice whilst encouraging sustainable livelihoods.

Over 9,000 new trees have been planted in Lilongwe since the start of the project.

This project has had an impact on the wider community as well as the immediate beneficiaries as knowledge has been shared with community members which has encouraged more tree planting in the area.

A big part of this project has been focused on training: agroforestry training for local farmers, environmental conservation awareness training for community members, sustainable land use and nursery establishment to name but a few.