What We Do
We are convinced that reforestation means more than just planting trees. Our approach strives for an ecologically, socially and also economically sustainable solution that benefits everyone.
The Challenges
Our Approach
1. Build Relationships
Smallholder farmers in the tropics are at the center of our work. They are indispensable for sustainable rainforest conservation. We build long-term relationships with the local communities and identify the individual needs of the people in order to help them in the best possible way through our joint activities.
2. Empower Farmers
In so-called Farmer Field Schools, the experiences and knowledge of smallholder farmers are supplemented with knowledge from expert foresters. In the courses, participants learn basic concepts and techniques of agroforestry and apply them in workshops in the field.
3. Distribute Seedlings
Every year, our nurseries and those of our partners’ raise hundreds of thousands of seedlings that are distributed to smallholder farmers free of charge for the planting season. In order to provide the participants of the programs with the appropriate seedlings for the conditions in their fields, we establish our own test fields to expand our knowledge year after year.
4. Establish Responsible Value Chains
An important part of our holistic approach is the development of sustainable value chains. We link smallholder farmers with the wood processing industry to provide a sustainable source of income to them. We also explore new uses for the planted lightwoods. For instance, we aim to introduce them in the construction sector, where they can replace emission-intensive materials such as concrete.
5. Monitor Impact
Transparent and responsible action is one of the guiding principles of our work. That’s why we developed TREEO – an app that makes it easy for smallholder farmers to independently collect data from their fields. TREEO allows us to track the growth of trees and record the CO2 stored as biomass. With the help of the data, we can continuously optimize our activities and provide advice and support that is tailored to smallholders.
Desired Outcomes
The Sustainable Development Goals are at the core of the United Nation’s political agenda. They are intended to ensure sustainable development worldwide on an economic, social and ecological level. In our reforestation projects, we combine these three aspects in a holistic approach.
Smallholder farmers in Indonesia and Uganda are reforesting degraded land. The agroforestry approach generates short-term income from nuts, vegetables, and cocoa, while also offering long-term financial prospects through the trees that are planted.
We regularly organize “Farmer Field Schools,” where we teach smallholder farmers about our agroforestry system and aim to facilitate an open exchange of knowledge. This includes theoretical and practical training on growing, harvesting, and selling products from agroforestry systems. This process not only conserves natural resources but also ensures a secure long-term income and local jobs for smallholder farmers.
Sustainable production is based on cultivation and manufacturing processes that conserve resources as much as possible. We are constantly working to develop sustainable and fair value chains—from smallholder farmers, through the processing industry, all the way to consumers.
Reforestation is a proven means of climate protection and adaptation to climate change. Growing trees store carbon over the long term. Even where trees are harvested for construction or firewood, they replace trees that would otherwise be taken from natural forests for such purposes. At the same time, smallholder farms that also include trees (so-called agroforestry systems) have a better microclimate and are thus better protected against droughts. Trees also prevent erosion and stabilize slopes against landslides.
Newest Impact Report
Read our annual Impact Report to find out what we have achieved together for the environment, climate and people in Indonesia and Uganda.
Our Partners
Working closely with many great partners around the world makes us more impactful and drives change.
About Us
Good Forests as Climate Solutions: We combine forestry and modern technologies to reforest degraded land in the tropics.
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