September 2015 £3.50 ➺VOLUME 72 INTERNATIONALTREEFOUNDATION.ORG

FREETO ITF SUPPORTERS

JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL TREE FOUNDATION

BRINGING ELM NEW HOPE FOR UGANDA’S TREES BACK TO DISPLACED RURAL BRITAIN PEOPLE

TREE POWER INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE ALBERTA’SDIRTY TAR OIL: SANDS WOMEN LEAD UN’S BLUEPRINT FOR WAY TO A A BETTER WORLD BETTER FUTURE Will it work? in Mali

 20 MILLION TREES FOR KENYA’S FORESTS  CONTENTS A VOICE FOR TREES PATRON His Royal Highness the This 2015 issue of the Trees IN THIS ISSUE Prince of Wales journal comes at a time of ever FOUNDER 5 20M TREES Dr Richard St Barbe more accurate information It is ITF’s most ambitious and Baker OBE on the state of planet Earth’s exciting initiative ever. To mark PRESIDENT Professor Sir Ghillean forests. Both the number of our centenary we are planning Prance trees and the rate at which they to plant 20m trees in Kenya’s VICE PRESIDENTS are being lost. forests. Professor Julian Evans Edward Green MBE The Earth currently has 3 8 ELM TREE REVIVAL Susan Hampshire trillion trees. A lot. But nearly Can elm trees be brought back The Earl of Lindsay half have been lost since human William E Matthews OBE to the British Countryside? beings started cutting down CHAIR With ITF’s support, elm Timothy Hornsby forests. The rate of deforestation saplings taken from disease- VICE CHAIR is starting to fall, with natural Professor Roger Leakey free, mature trees are being TRUSTEES forest loss falling from 8.5m David Gore planted in Sussex. Maria Grecna hectares per year in the 1990s Jamie Holloway to 6.6m this century. But we are 10 CYCADS Mardi McBrien still losing trees at the net rate of They were a favourite food for Philip Tamuno Bland Tomkinson 10 billion per year and the rate the dinosaurs but now they are CHIEF EXECUTIVE of deforestation in the tropics is under threat. A new initiative to Andy Egan increasing. Andy Egan, ITF Chief Executive conserve an ancient group of EDITOR Richard Sadler This is leading to an array plants known as cycads. DESIGN of disastrous consequences for life on Earth: biodiversity and species Rather Fine Design loss, soil infertility, land degradation, reduced water catchments and 12 DIRTY OIL PRINT The world’s major oil Newman Thomson desertification – while also contributing to climate change. The stark companies are scrambling to International image on the front cover is a graphic illustration of how our current exploit Alberta’s tar sands. Tree Foundation economic system rewards the destruction of the natural environment. Mayfield House The damage to boreal 256 Banbury Road As our founder Richard ‘St Barbe’ Baker put it so graphically “If a man forests, wildlife and people is Oxford OX2 7DE loses one-third of his skin he dies; if a tree loses one-third of its bark, it too Telephone: incalculable. 01865 318836 dies. If the Earth is a ‘sentient being’, would it not be reasonable to expect Email: that if it loses one-third of its trees and vegetable covering, it will also die?” 15 NEW HOPE FOR UGANDA info@international treefoundation.org It is encouraging therefore to see greater recognition of the critical The inspiring story of a youth- www.international relationship between trees and forests and human well-being by led movement that is helping treefoundation.org governments of the world. Firstly the new Sustainable Development Goals people rebuild their lives in Registered Charity number 1106269 are being agreed this month at a UN summit in New York. And then in once war-ravaged Uganda. Like us on Facebook December a key UN climate summit will take place in Paris – COP21 - with International Tree the aim of finally agreeing effective action on climate change. 17 TREES 4 LIVELIHOODS Foundation A pioneering initiative by ITF This issue of Trees therefore considers some of the critical issues Follow us on Twitter partner Sahel Eco to improve @ITF_Worldwide and key questions. Will this recognition lead to effective action to end women’s lives in rural Mali is deforestation and support for large-scale reforestation and afforestation? Trees is published already yielding results. by International Tree Will the communities that depend on and care for the world’s natural forests Foundation (ITF), a be given the rights and resources to enable them to manage the natural registered charity (no. 20 SUSTAINABLE 1106269). The opinions environment sustainably? Will some of the most destructive extractive DEVELOPMENT GOALS expressed in it do not projects, like the vast tar sands mines in Alberta, Canada, be outlawed? The aim is to unite the worlds’ necessarily reflect ITF policy and ITF does not We also present some of the positive action being taken by communities countries in a common cause hold itself responsible across the world. We hear from two ITF partners in Mali and Uganda on their for a fairer society and truly for any of those vital work with local communities to improve environmental sustainability sustainable forestry policies. opinions. Trees is printed on recycled paper. and people’s livelihoods. And we look at a project in England (with one of But can it really change the way the lowest rates of tree cover in Europe) to restore the elm tree. we do business?

This issue’s Contributors

PAUL CHANKOMA PROF HUGH PRITCHARD NAOMI HOPE RICHARD SADLER Paul is founder and chief Hugh is a senior research leader Naomi is ITF’s Programme Richard is ITF’s new executive of Friends in comparative seed biology Support Officer. She is studying Communications Officer. of Environment for at the Royal Botanic Gardens, for an MA in International He is a freelance Development (FED) a Kew. He is principal investigator Affairs, specialising in environment journalist dynamic new youth-led of a Darwin Initiative project on project management and and former BBC environment organization in Uganda. cycad biology. development studies. correspondent. Front Page: Open-Pit Mining of Tar Sands. Photo: John Woods/ Greenpeace Sands. Photo: John Woods/ Page: Open-Pit Mining of Tar Front

2 trees September 2015 www.internationaltreefoundation.org A Message From Our President CRUCIAL TIME FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR PLANET I am delighted to write the foreword to this year’s edition of Trees. As your president and a long-term admirer of the work of the International Tree Foundation, I am pleased to see that 2015 is proving to be such a good year for the Foundation. Trees have been my life ever since I studied in the Forestry Department of Oxford University and began to work with tropical trees. There has never been a more important time in the brief history of humankind to be planting trees to remedy the deforestation and environmental change that our species has caused. I have travelled extensively in the Amazon region over the past fifty-two years on thirty-nine botanical expeditions - and so have witnessed the loss of huge areas of tropical rainforest. Consequently the work of any organization that is planting trees is dear to my heart. I am particularly pleased that the ITF is engaged in tree planting in Africa, where trees are desperately needed because the forests have suffered the same fate as those of the Amazon. Consequently local people are suffering from the loss of the trees upon which their livelihood depends. We are approaching a crucial event for the future of our planet, the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) of the Convention on Climate Change that will take place in Paris in December. It is my hope that this will result in definitive action to curb the emission of greenhouse gases. One of the many remedies for reducing climate change will be the restoration of forests and the planting of trees to fix back the carbon from the atmosphere. It is so vital to act on this because not only are we losing trees, but we are also starting to see effects on the world’s remaining intact forests as a result of climate change. As world climate changes and warms, there is increasing evidence of the adverse effect this is having on trees and other organisms. Amazon ecologist Philip Fearnside predicts that much of the Amazon forest is in danger of die-off from the combined effects of drought, heat and fires within the current century. Some of the area would be transformed into savanna or some type of low-biomass woody vegetation, with greatly reduced biodiversity. All this will be the result of climate change if we do not do something to stop it. The very trees that ITF plant could be in danger if we do not address the broader issue of reducing the effects of climate change. This does not mean that we should reduce the work of ITF. We need more trees busy photosynthesising to fix the carbon and to provide for the needs of local peoples. Keep up the good work of ITF and plant as many trees as possible this year.

Professor Sir Ghillean Prance FRS, VMH

www.internationaltreefoundation.org September 2015 trees 3 ITF NEWS INTRODUCING THE NKHATA BAY NBNW Field officers receiving NATURAL WAY mountain bikes This July ITF and partners TEMWA A total of 3,300 direct beneficiaries finance and institution-building, and and Deki Ltd launched a new four are being selected. They will be chosen share a deep understanding of the year project in Malawi - The Nkhata from large households with eight or more challenges faced by the local community. Bay Natural Way. Set to benefit dependants, orphan-hosting and female- “They have made an excellent start. marginalised groups in 110 villages, headed households, families with a On my visit I met local community the project will improve health and member who is HIV positive, and young members who are already raising nutrition and increase income through people aged 18-35. A total of 56 per tree seedlings and making plans for forest-friendly businesses and micro- cent of participants will be women. community woodlots. enterprises. Local governance of Over four years Nkhata Bay Natural “It was my first visit to northern forests will be strengthened through Way, which is funded by the Big Lottery Malawi, and I look forward to learning community stewardship of forest Fund and JJ Trust, will directly impact more.” conservation. the lives of 24,640 people. Nkhata Bay North District, is one Paul Laird, ITF’s new Programmes of the most underprivileged regions Manager, who visited the project for the in Malawi, itself one of the poorest first time in August said: “Temwa have countries in the world. More than 60 per put together a great team of experienced cent of the population live below the field workers for this ambitious integrated poverty line and 16 per cent of 15-49 programme. The field staff have skills year-olds are HIV positive. ranging from agro-forestry to micro

REMEMBERING EXCITING NEW ERA FOR ITF

There have been some exciting CATRIONA BAKER changes for ITF this year. Most Catriona Baker, widow of ITF founder recently, we have moved our offices Richard St Barbe Baker, sadly passed from Three Bridges to Oxford, away last November at the age of 97. recognised internationally as a hub for Catriona’s interest in tree planting conservation, research and forestry stemmed from her upbringing in Mount related organisations. Cook Station in New Zealand, where The last few months have also her father planted over 600,000 trees. seen the team expand. We welcome She married Richard in 1959 and lived Paul Laird as Programmes Manager with him for the remainder of his life. for our expanding portfolio of projects Before her health failed her, Catriona in Africa. Richard Sadler has joined fulfilled her long-held ambition to write a us as Communications Officer, to book about Richard Baker’s life and work, spearhead our 20 Million Trees centenary entitled “The Man of the Trees, and other However she encouraged ITF campaign. Rodah Owaka Okeyo is dedicated environmental guardians”. The supporters not to give up hope, saying, our new Fundraising Officer, starting richly documented work covers the life “please keep going with your efforts. mid-September. They join Executive and ideas of Dr Richard Baker and those Involve your family and friends and their Director Andy Egan and Finance and who supported his ideas, as well as those friends as well – bring as many people on Office Manager Anne Mattison. ITF continuing to keep his vision alive around board with ITF as you possibly can. Keep will be sharing new office space with the world today. planting trees and remember to protect Earthwatch, one of the top international In an interview for Trees last year, and care for the trees you already have.” conservation organisations in the world. Catriona said she was extremely worried A special edition, published for ITF’s 90th We are also hoping to forge links with about climate change and the state of anniversary, is available at £42 including Oxford University as well as the local Mother Earth. p&p and a £10 donation. community in and around the city.

4 trees September 2015 www.internationaltreefoundation.org ITF CENTENARY 20 MILLION TREES FOR KENYA’S FORESTS

To celebrate our centenary we are launching our most ambitious plan ever – to plant 20m trees in Kenya. This campaign is the biggest in our long history and it has the full support of our Patron, HRH the Prince of Wales. The launch is scheduled for next spring and a target has been set to raise £800,000 between now and ITF’s centenary year in 2024. To mark this milestone in a fitting way we are focusing on Kenya, the country where ITF forerunner, People of the Trees, was founded in 1922 by Richard “St Barbe” Baker and Chief Josiah Njonjo. Kenya is one of the least-forested countries in Africa, with less than seven per cent of the land covered by trees. MOUNT KENYA One of three water towers targeted for tree-planting Some of the worst affected areas are the so called “water towers” - Mount Kenya and other once densely-forested INITIAL TARGET AREAS mountains seen as crucial for conserving Mount Kenya Forest rivers and water supplies. Mount Kenya Environmental Conservation (formerly Save Mount Plan of Action Kenya Forest Group) has been working Thousands of hectares of deforested with local communities living near Mount land are being identified and surveyed Kenya forest since it was formed in 2007. for for replanting in three of five of the The group is currently formalising an key water towers. We are now working agreement with Embu county and the on the details with the Kenya Forestry Kenya Forest Service to lead the next Research Institute and community-based phase of reforestation. A key part of the project partners. agreement is that local people must be In keeping with ITF’s philosophy, involved at every stage - experience A total of 22m trees will be planted community groups will be involved shows that this is the most effective way to allow for losses from the start. Systems are being put of achieving long-term success. in place for setting up community tree nurseries and training villagers in tree- Mount Elgon Forest Aberdare Forest planting techniques. Over many years the Mt Elgon ecosystem The Aberdare Forest lies in the lower Volunteers including women and has been depleted as trees have been slopes of the Aberdare Mountains, an children will help raise and plant some cleared for timber and fuel wood. ITF isolated volcanic range that forms the five million indigenous trees to reforest is partnering with local community easternmost wall of the Great Rift Valley. mountain areas, in the process helping organisation, the Sustainable Mobilisation Three quarters of the southern Aberdare to conserve water supplies for millions of Agricultural Resource Technologies Forest has been lost since the 1970s and of Kenyans. (SMART) to address these problems. They it now covers less than 1,000 hectares. Crucially, local smallholder farmers will be working with 1,000 households ITF is supporting the Kangema Youth will be given a stake in the success of to plant 30,000 trees. They will focus on Group to change this by involving the the project. The plan is for a further agroforestry techniques which integrate community in managing the forest and 15m trees to be planted on farms and crops with tree-planting, as well as planting 65,000 trees, including 10,000 smallholdings, creating a buffer zone planting of indigenous trees to restore sycamore figs, in the forest and on around natural forests. natural forests. neighbouring farms.

www.internationaltreefoundation.org September 2015 trees 5 AROUND THE WORLD

SRI LANKA’S GOVERNMENT FIRST IN THE WORLD TO PROTECT ALL MANGROVES

In May this year, Sri Lanka’s government government hopes other countries will backed a project to protect the entirety use the project as a model for mangrove of the island’s mangrove forests. Over the protection. These remarkable species of past 100 years, the country has lost an trees are capable of growing on shores estimated 76% of mangrove cover. The and in salt water, and have many benefits project is being implemented by local to local communities including acting organisation Sudeesa and international as a buffer against storms, sequestering NGO Seacology, with the help of local large amounts of carbon and the roots Mangroves photo David Burkowitz fishing communities. The Sri Lankan serving as “fish nurseries”.

ANCIENT FOREST CLEARED BREAKING FOR KOREAN WINTER OLYMPICS TREE PLANTING An international protest movement RECORDS is building to try to stop Olympic organisers in North Korea from clear A world record for the most trees planted cutting primeval forests to make way in a day has been set by Ecuador. for new ski facilities. In May 44,000 people in Ecuador Pyeongchang, South Korea, won the planted 647,250 trees in one day, bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics and to breaking the previous record held by hold just two downhill ski events they Clear felled trees, Mt Gariwang Guinness Books of Records. are clearing hundreds of ancient trees on photo Games Monitor This follows a succession of recent tree the slopes of Mount Gariwang. planting records. The world record for the Parts of the forest have already been felled including 150 Mongolian oak most trees planted in an hour was broken cleared to create ski slopes, destroying (Quercus mongolica) on the upper slopes. last July by Men of the Trees, Australia, habitats for Eurasion otter, leopard cat Activists believe there is still time to which traces its origins to ITF founder, and the flying squirrel. stop plans for further forest clearance Richard St Barbe Baker. Volunteers After an initial felling in August last now being planned. planted 100,450 seedlings, beating the year was stopped after protests by At the time of going to press an previous record for 99,103 set in 2012. environmental groups, the provincial online petition organised by Avaaz, The most impressive record for the government pushed ahead in September to be presented to the International total number of trees planted was also with felling operations. Olympic Committee and the South set last July, in India. A total of According to UK-based Games Korean government., had raised 14,372,801 trees were planted across Monitor, 247 big and old trees had been 239,000 signatures. the country in twelve hours.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS A MORAL ISSUE TOO

In June 2015, Pope Francis called for environmental activists, international action on environmental protection in organisations and Christians alike. He an encyclical entitled Laudato Si – Care asserts that environmental destruction for our Common Home. Linking faith to comes from the same evil that leads science, Pope Francis highlighted the to social destruction, concluding: fact that the poor are worst hit by climate “I urgently appeal, then, for a new change and environmental degradation. dialogue about how we are shaping The encyclical criticises consumerism the future of our planet. We need a and market-driven economies, which it conversation which includes everyone, links to exploitation of the environment since the environmental challenge we The Pope Francis I and the poor. Its release became are undergoing, and its human roots, photo Jeffrey Bruno a world news event, welcomed by concern and affect us all.”

6 trees September 2015 www.internationaltreefoundation.org TREE POWER

COMMENTS FROM TREE POWER GETS PUPILS FULL MARKS FROM TEACHERS AND PUPILS

becoming very passionate about deforestation and issues like palm oil plantations.” She said teachers felt that children learnt more in the outdoor environment because they could see and touch the subject matter. “Cutting trees down and not “It was also felt that the resource replanting them is not very good contained a very valuable collection of because what if they cut down all the materials to use either as single lessons trees in the world then the wildlife or as a whole. The teachers thought that would not have any homes. I really, the learning objectives matched the really like it because we got to help lesson plans very well and that they were the wildlife too!” Manos, Year Three clear and precise. “… It also engaged the parents who showed a good deal of interest Identifying tree species in the project and enabled them to be involved. Following the project the schools involved are planting more he first projects have been trees around their schools, using their completed for a major new ITF outdoor space in a more cross-curricular programme, which aims to instil way and incorporating the Tree Power Tin young people an appreciation of the resource pack into their long term vital importance of trees in supporting curriculum plan.” life on Earth. For Yorkshire schools a similar A total of 11 primary schools in evaluation has been completed by Yorkshire and Devon have taken part Development Education Centre South Tree Power Yorkshire. (DECSY). in the programme, which “I enjoyed going to the local park and Rob Unwin, Global Education provides teacher training, teaching packs seeing all the trees and interesting Adviser, said: “The feedback we’ve and resources for woodland visits and creatures that can live in them,” had from teachers is that they want tree planting. Oliwia, Year Three The eight-session teaching plan to pick out teaching packs, planning includes activities such as writing objectives, activities and resources “I liked the part when we got to learn poems about trees and sessions to help (from the Tree Power project) and use all about the food chains because I understanding of the links between them again. never learnt food chains before and consumer products and deforestation. “We’ve seen quite positive after that I realised I really enjoyed it The response from teachers and changes in the kids’ awareness and and keep learning about them now!” pupils has been overwhelmingly positive attitudes.” Numerous studies have Drew, Year Three and there are high hopes that funding can shown that encouraging children to go be raised to roll out the project to many outdoors and experience their natural more schools across the UK and abroad. environment helps with their general Participating schools in north Devon development. A 2010 study by Essex were evaluated by Alison Derrick, an University suggested just five minutes of educationalist and associate with Devon outside activity can increase self-esteem Development Education. and creativity. “Tree Power is a brilliant project and although we’ve made some changes * The first six primary schools to have to suit our syllabus, it’s a very powerful completed the pilot project during 2014- “I liked it when we learnt about what teaching resource. 15 are : Herringthorpe Junior School, the trees were made for, for example “Many of the children know so Hartley Brook Primary School, Umberleigh to make furniture and to block the little to start with and you can see Primary School, South Molton Infant dams and to make spaces for houses them learning and coming on in leaps School and Highampton Primary School, and buildings.” Cleo, Year Three and bounds - and you can see them Pilton Bluecoats Junior School.

www.internationaltreefoundation.org September 2015 trees 7 BRITISH LANDSCAPE BRINGING BACK ELM TREES TO THE BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE n ambitious plan to bring The project, called Ulmus Maritime, back the majestic elm tree after the tree’s Latin name, is being to the British countryside is spearheaded by the Conservation wellA underway, with hundreds of elm Foundation in partnership with Kew Mature Elms in Sussex saplings being planted in rural Sussex. Gardens. The Sussex coast is one of the last Project manager, James Coleman strongholds of elm trees – largely wiped said: “The aim of Ulmus Maritime is to out by Dutch elm disease in the 1960s put the elm heritage in better condition and 1970s – and the county is being with the support of the public – and targeted as a base from which it is hoped to articulate elm trees’ cultural and a new disease-resistant population can environmental importance. be established. “A schools education programme With the help of ITF funding, saplings has been teaching pupils the importance are being planted in public spaces and of their landscape – and provided an alongside bridleways and footpaths opportunity for schools to play a part by volunteers and children from local in regenerating the elm populations by primary schools. The saplings have been planting saplings.” propagated from mature elms which have As part of the project volunteers shown no sign of the disease for 40 years. are also collecting collected seeds The plantings have been from surviving mature elms for the concentrated in the Cuckmere Valley Kew Gardens’ Millennium Seed Bank in and around the villages of Alfriston, collection, used as a resource for Littlington and Friston. Each planting research and further replanting. site has been assigned a designated Elm trees, which feature prominently “guardian” to look after the saplings, in many of John Constable’s paintings, Checking Elms for disease check for any signs of disease and send define the rural landscape perhaps more photos: Conservation Foundation updates on the saplings’ development than any other tree. every six months. Local school children They support a diverse range of wildlife and groups of adult volunteers are also and are the only source of food for ten Brighton organised by the Conservation being involved to help monitor progress species of moths and butterflies including Foundation experts called for the city’s and take part in educational walks. the rare white-letter hairstreak butterfly. outstanding collection of healthy mature Elm wood, which can survive in water elms to be given Word Heritage Status. for many centuries, was used to build The Conservation Foundation is the old London bridge as well as locks, helping to raise awareness of elms across groynes and even water pipes. the UK and has organised tree plantings A virulent strain of Dutch elm disease and community groups and helped set was introduced to Britain by a shipment up tree warden networks across the of elm from North America around 1967 country. Mr Coleman. and the disease, carried by the Dutch elm “Our aim is to keep interest in elms beetle, rapidly spread across the country. alive and our main objective is to find However thanks in part to the viable disease-resistant trees which can vigilance of local authority maintenance support native species like butterflies staff – who have been quick to fell or and lichen and, if we can, plant elm trees prune diseased trees - as many 40,000 throughout the country,” said Mr Coleman. elms still survive along the Sussex Coast. “Perhaps eventually with ash dieback The Lock by John Constable. It is speculated that the high survival rate coming, elms could provide a good Elm trees were one of the painter’s may also be attributed to the salty sea air. replacement for some of the ash we are favourite subjects photo: Wikicommons At a recent conference on elms in going to lose”.

8 trees September 2015 www.internationaltreefoundation.org COMMUNITY AGROFORESTRY MAKING THE CASE FOR COMMUNITY-LED FORESTRY More than 3,000 delegates converged in Durban, South Africa, this month for the fourteenth UN World Forestry Congress, the main forum for sharing knowledge on conservation and management of the world’s forests. ITF and three of our partners used the occasion to CASE EXAMPLE: report on how practical, people-centred forestry works. MOUNT KENYA A summary of the paper, with two case examples, is FOREST given below.

COMMUNITY-LED FORESTRY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN WELL-BEING By Andy Egan (ITF), Pierre Dembele (Sahel Eco), Arthur Kambombe (Temwa), and Paulino Mugendi (Save Mount Kenya Forest from Extinction Group)

he paper identifies effective • The formation, agreement and community-led approaches implemetation of legal regulations to to tackling deforestation, protect forests, promote community Traising community awareness, managment of forests and guarantee Save Mount Kenya Forest from land tenure for smallholder farmers. knowledge and skills, and promoting Extinction Group (SMKFG) was reforestation. This can be achieved formed by young people who grew Sustainable transformation can be through integrated and mutually up witnessing the destruction of the achieved by combining three essential reinforcing processes that achieve forest through illegal felling for timber, elements: both environmental and livelihood Environmental sustainability fuel wood and charcoal. (agro-ecological approaches, benefits. We recognise that SMKFG designed a project to biodiversity conservation, soil fertility, smallholder farmers and rural rehabilitate land and water catchment water catchment management and communities play a critical role in areas covering five hectares of the appropriate species selection), both reversing deforestation and forest. They provided community (food security, creating sustainable forestry. improving livelihoods members with trees for fruit, fodder Based on our collective experiences, nutrition, income generation, setting up and soil enrichment to plant on their we summarise some of the key features businesses and building community farms, while at the same time solving of successful community–led approaches (training, resources, capacity problems of fuel wood scarcity. to forestry and agroforestry: governance structures, networking, A key factor in the success of the • Appreciation of the way environments policy alignment). project has been the role played by and livelihoods are inextricably A key challenge is to consider how local village level self-help groups. linked. Intervetions must therefore best to scale up such an approach while They have managed the entire address both aspects to ensure both still retaining the essential elements to process of raising and planting out environmental and human well-being. its success. Can the required resources seedlings and managing newly- • Establishment of community be transferred from large institutional planted trees. In partnership with level structures such as VNRMCs, donors, international NGOs and Kenya Forest Service, they have also women’s groups and self-help governments while at the same time overseen overall project evaluation. groups that embed ownership and transferring the power that accompanies Over the past seven years, SMKFG enable effective community level such resources to local NGOs and in partnership with other groups, governance. CBOs? Parallel to this question is the has planted over 50,000 indigenous • Peer to peer learning through issue of how to strengthen the capacity tree seedlings inside the forest and identificaton of lead farmers and of these small organisations - and to a further 1.5 million trees on farms, farmer-to-farmer exchanges. create structures enabling them to work water catchment areas, waterlines • Recognition of the importance of together at national and regional levels. and around schools. Over 15,000 engaging children and young people In this way they can learn from each community members have been to ensure long-term sustainability other and raise awareness of the rights trained in agroforestry techniques and • The preservation or restoration of and needs of their communities among for further 30,000 people, awareness indigenous knowledge and sharing of policy makers and funders. has been raised of the importance this knowledge between elders and The full and referenced version of this forest conservation. cont. overleaf  youths. paper is available at: http://bit.ly/1LgMr8j

www.internationaltreefoundation.org September 2015 trees 9 COMMUNITY AGROFORESTRY CYCADS

CASE EXAMPLE: SEGOU AND MOPTI DRYLANDS, MALI BRINGING ANCIENT PLANTS BACK FROM THE BRINK They are the oldest type of seed plants living today, appearing on earth 300m years ago. But “cycads,” cone-bearing plants often mistaken for palms, are under threat. Prof Hugh Pritchard*, a biologist at Kew Community-led agroforestry in the Gardens, is part of an international initiative Malian drylands of Segou and Mopti has been pioneered by Sahel Eco. to improve cycad conservation in Africa. Founded in 2004, Sahel Eco works with dryland farmers, forest users, women’s groups and municipal authorities to promote agro-ecology by Why Cycads are Under Threat Their decline has been accelerated providing technical support to target Cycads are currently ranked as the most by unsustainable harvesting and illegal groups and lobbying for policy change. threatened group of organisms on the trafficking of high-value mature plants for Among the key activities are the planet, with more than 60 per cent of private gardens. implementation of Farmer Managed known species (in Africa, Asia, Australia, Only two species are widely available Natural Regeneration (FMNR) systems South, and Central America) threatened in the trade: Cycas revolta (around promoted through educational video with extinction. It is estimated that 90 per cent of exports) and Zamia screenings in the villages, farmer-to- about 10 per cent the extant species furfuracea. This means that the other farmer visits and practical training. are comprised of fewer than 250 mature species are highly prized and can be Other important activities have individuals in the wild. over-traded. For example, between included recovery of severely They are extremely vulnerable due 1983 and 1999, seed of one genus of degraded land, training communities to a combination of very slow growth cycad, Encephalartos, had a global trade on land tenure and forestry law and under a changing climate, separation of in excess of $100,000, thus imperilling development of value chains for non- male and female plants (dioecy), small natural regeneration of plants from seed. timber forest products (NTFPs). populations and dependency There are regulations to protect cycads Before our intervention farmers on pollinators. under the Convention on International cleared and burnt all the small trees Cycads comprise a relatively small Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), on their farms at the beginning of group of gymnosperms with just over which places strict controls on trade in the rainy season. Now farmers leave 300 extant species distributed in tropical, endangered species (Appendix 1) and young trees to grow on their farms subtropical, and warm temperate regions. threatened species (Appendix 2). where they cultivate crops. They have been in relative decline since Large specimens are in high demand More than 80 per cent of farmers the flowering plants (angiosperms) as ornamental plants for landscaping. have now adopted FMNR and became dominant about 100 million years To make matters worse, habitats are combined with tree planting has led ago. A favourite food of the dinosaurs, becoming increasingly fragmented as to a significant increase in tree cover. they are used by people all over the a result of climate change and human A total of 117 NTFP groups have world, both as a regular part of people’s population growth. Generally, cycads been established with 1,629 members diets and as an emergency source of food are slow growing perennials. Gains in (75 per cent of whom are women) in times of famine. In the ecosystem, the height may be as little as 2.5 cm in a and environmental consciousness species act as hosts for numerous other year. But they do have great longevity has been raised generally within the organisms, and often have specialised from hundreds of years to possibly communities. interactions with pollinators. beyond a thousand years.

10 trees September 2015 www.internationaltreefoundation.org Slow growth also means that cycads have long reproductive cycles and are least likely to rapidly migrate or adapt to a changing environment. In addition the species are dioecious - with separate male and female plants. This means that differential impacts of environmental perturbation on individual plants increases the chance of asynchrony between the male and female cone production, and thus failure to set seed. Finally, pollination can be dependent on insects, whose breeding cycles too are susceptible to environmental conditions.

Field Work in Africa With extensive horticultural knowledge and a capacity to explore seed and pollen biology (germination and storage), the Royal Botanic Gardens are well placed to study cycads in situ and to contribute to the integrated DINOSAUR FOOD: A good example conservation of cycads, including of an ancient cycad is the Eastern through the maintenance of ex situ Cape giant cycad (Encephalartos collections. altensteinii) from South Africa Community activity, such as the which was brought to Kew by setting of seasonal fires to stimulate Francis Masson in 1775, soon after growth of tender grass for cattle grazing, the establishment of Kew as Royal poses a threat to this species. Threats Botanical Gardens. It has lived in to Ugandan cycads are particularly high the Palm House since it opened in due to a shortage nationally of specialist 1848. Demand for large specimens as ornamental plants is one of capacity in conservation skills. many factors accelerating the In a new project, the authors are species’ decline photo RBG Kew Cycad cone drawing RBG Kew aiming to deliver five broad project outcomes relating to increased biodiversity knowledge, trade level, reducing the demand for wild-collected PROJECT AIMS material, strengthened science and technical capacity, and community To increase knowledge on To share conservation best practice involvement (see inset). populations To record information The intention is to learn through on population status and trends, greater sharing of conservation * Hugh is working closely with plant distribution, population methods and sustainable use practice Dennis Kamoga (Joint Ethnobotanical trends, harvesting and global trade. at internationally-significant living Research Advocacy, Uganda), This should help policy makers set cycad collections in south Africa, Phakamani Xaba (South African sustainable trade thresholds for the Thailand and China. This should help National Biodiversity Institute) and three main target species. bring about best cultivation practice Anders Lindstrom (Nong Nooch in Uganda. In the longer term it Tropical Botanic Garden, Thailand). To tackle Illegal trade The likelihood should also help inform conservation of trading illegally in Ugandan managment in the Philippines – as Acknowledgements cycads without being caught will be well as raising awareness in the We acknowledge the support of significantly reduced as a result of global cycad and botanic gardens IUCN-World Conservation Monitoring the transfer of knowledge on DNA communities. Centre, UK Fairy Lake Botanical technology from RSA to Uganda, and Garden, Shenzhen, China and De La through better awareness of trained To ensure community involvement Salle University, Philippines. We would enforcement officers in CITES. The aim is for communities to be also like to thank Jayanthi Nadarajan fully involved in the management and Moctar Sacandé (Kew) and the To reduce demand for wild cycads of cycad nurseries. This, together Nursery propagation of three endemic Darwin Initiative http://bit.ly/1Kg4RUu. with involvement of local school species and use of seedlings in The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew children, should raise awareness of the restoration programmes and for receives grant-in-aid from Defra and importance of protecting cycads. sale to the local community should has a Memorandum of Understanding substantially reduce demand for wild- on knowledge exchange with the collected cycads. International Tree Foundation.

www.internationaltreefoundation.org September 2015 trees 11 ALBERTA TAR SANDS THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE PROCESS ON THE PLANET

BEFORE AND AFTER Mining licences have been granted for an area the size of England photo: Jiri Rezac/ Greenpeace

Huge swathes of Canada’s boreal forests are being the forests are being clear-felled and wetlands drained on an industrial scale. clear-felled to satisfy big oil companies’ thirst for The rate of deforestation in the tar sands region is thought to be second only to fossil fuels. In the process one of the world’s last great that of Amazon rainforest. wilderness areas is being trashed, important wildlife Furthermore boreal forests, unlike tropical forests, are very slow-growing habitats destroyed – and centuries-old indigenous and it can take as much as a hundred cultures lost. Richard Sadler reports. years for trees to mature. In total mining concessions have been handed out for 55,000 square miles t is possibly the most environmentally- in the Canadian province of Alberta that – roughly the size of England or the state destructive industrial process on the means trashing vast swathes of ancient of Florida. face of the planet. Giant excavators, boreal forest. The true scale of the destruction can Ieach one the size of a two-story Canada’s boreal forests are one of be seen from satellite data, collected building, strip off the top layers of soil the world’s ecological treasures. Majestic and analysed by Global Forest Watch and sub-soil, then gouge deep into stands of ancient pine, spruce, aspen Canada. This shows that nearly three earth’s surface to get at bitumous oil and poplar are interspersed with bogs, thousand square miles of boreal forest deposits known as “tar sands.” marshes, lakes and meandering rivers. in Alberta’s tar sands region has been The tar sands - a mixture of sand, They are rich in wildlife - including wolf, cleared or degraded since 2000. clay, water and bitumen – are then black bear and the endangered woodland Mike Hudema, Greenpeace Canada’s transported in huge 400-tonne trucks caribou - and they have been a source climate change campaigner, says it is hard before being crushed, processed, and of food and clean water for indigenous to get across the extent of the devastation treated with hot water and chemical peoples for centuries. Ironically they without witnessing it first-hand. solvents to make a synthetic crude oil. are also important as natural carbon “When you fly over it for the first time The whole operation is dirty, sinks, capturing twice as much carbon you really do question humanity because expensive and extremely energy intensive as tropical forests and helping to offset as far as the eye can see all you see is – carbon emissions are up to three times global carbon dioxide emissions. this immense destruction and it’s just those of conventional oil production. However to the big oil companies mining operation after mining operation But mining for tar sands, or oil sands, these forests and wetlands are an after mining operation as you can look in is destructive for another reason. In order unwanted encumbrance, referred to in every direction of landscape. to get at tar sand deposits everything mining parlance as “overburden.” “I’ve shown lots of folks around the above ground must be removed – and So to satisfy their thirst for fossil fuels, area and after they’ve flown over many

12 trees September 2015 www.internationaltreefoundation.org “WHEN YOU FLY OVER FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU REALLY DO QUESTION HUMANITY”

STRIPPED BARE BEFORE AND AFTER Mining licences have been granted for an area the size of England photo: Jiri Rezac/ Greenpeace ECOLOGICAL JEWEL Alberta’s boreal Forest photo: Jiri Rezac/ Greenpeace photo: John Woods/ Greenpeace

of them break down in tears and many it – it pretty much runs the gamut deposits from the sand. Contaminated of them throw up because really it’s very of impacts you can have including wastewater or “tailings” are then difficult to comprehend what we’re doing.” contamination of ground water.” pumped into vast man-made lagoons so Viewed from ground level, the impact big they can be seen from space. of mining operations is equally shocking. Ecological Jewel In an attempt to hold the mining “You’re driving up in the midst of The Athabasca is one of North America’s companies accountable, First Nations this diverse, immense forest ecosystem most beautiful and ecologically-important tribes have filed lawsuits against and then you reach the operations - river systems. It runs through hundreds the Canadian provincial and federal and suddenly it feels like you’re in a of miles of prairies and boreal forest then governments alleging 20,000 treaty different world. flows into Lake Athabasca via the Peace- rights violations. “What was this beautiful forest is Athabasca Delta, the world’s largest inland But they are ranged against the suddenly a moonscape. It really feels like freshwater delta. world’s biggest oil companies – including you’re in some type of post-apocalyptic The mining companies have been Exxon, BP, Shell, Chevron, Conoco, Total world because everything as far as you granted licences to extract large and Statoil - and an administration, led can see is just dead. quantities of water for tar sands extraction by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, which Dr Kevin Timoney, a biologist and and processing and as a result river flows has gone out of its way to help them. ecological consultant, has studied downstream have fallen drastically. “Pretty much all of them are there the effects of tar sands operations on For Alberta’s First Nations and it’s because there are not a lot of Alberta’s wildlife and ecology. indigenous population, whose undiscovered or unclaimed oil reserves “When these areas are subjected to subsistence, culture and religion is and depending on whose stats you industrial activity all natural habitat is lost rooted in the forests, the effects have look at Alberta has either the second and all the animals that use that habitat been disastrous. Much of the land they or third largest oil deposits in world,” are deceased,” he said. have traditionally used for hunting, said Mike Hudema. “Animals can’t just pick up and fishing and gathering is no longer “Then you have a very oil-friendly move elsewhere because those accessible because there is not enough government which has offered subsidies habitats are already occupied so once water to safely navigate by boat. to lower start-up costs the habitat is lost everything that lives To make matters worse the water Commercial mining of Alberta’s tar in that habitat is lost. that is left is becoming increasingly sands began in the late 1960s but it has “The overall impact it is multi- contaminated. Water extracted by only taken off in the last ten years. faceted – impact on water quantity the mining companies is mixed with However grass roots opposition has and quality, air quality, habitat loss on a cocktail of toxic chemicals including been growing in Canada and the United a grand scale, loss of mammals and arsenic, cyanide, cadmium, mercury and States - through which much of the tar migratory birds, loss of trees you name ammonia to separate sticky bitumen sands crude oil is exported – and this

www.internationaltreefoundation.org September 2015 trees 13 ALBERTA TAR SANDS

has helped to slow the rate of expansion over the past two or three years. “THE TAR SANDS WILL SPELL GAME Tens of thousands of people have taken part in protest marches and plans OVER FOR ANY HOPE OF ACHIEVING to expand exports with five new major pipelines have been delayed. A STABLE CLIMATE” One of them, the Keystone XL pipeline, which would link Alberta with refineries in the mid-western United global fossil fuel divestment campaign. States, has been vetoed by President American environmentalist Bill McKibben Obama. On the proposed route of has described the tar sands as the fuse to another, the Kinder Morgan pipeline, the biggest carbon bomb on the planet. the mayor of Burnaby, British Colombia, James Hansen, former director of NASA’s has vowed to lie down in front of the Goddard Space Institute has said that bulldozers. if fully exploited, the tar sands will spell The oil companies and their game over for any hope of achieving a supporters contend that the tar stable climate. sands bring enormous benefits to the But Dr Timoney, who has written two Canadian economy. books on the ecological impact of the tar If the industry is allowed to pursue its sands industry, believes hearts and minds expansion plans the number of people are beginning to change. directly employed is predicted to rise He said:“This is an issue of fairness from 149,000 in 2014 to 225,000 in 2038 because what we have now is situation Over the same period it is estimated in which industry and their friends in it will generate $3, 865bn in revenues, government disproportionately benefit bringing in tax receipts of $590bn. from extraction of bitumen and the costs ENDANGERED: Woodland Caribou The scale of this ambition is making photo: D.Darwent/Flickr of that extraction are disproportionately the tar sands a cause celebre for borne by everyone else.” In June more than 100 U.S. and Canadian scientists signed an open DEGRADATION OF ANCIENT CULTURE letter calling for a moratorium on tar organs have liver spots all over them. sands developments. Whether their “So we’ve seen two things happen: call is heeded is now in the hands of People who continue to eat those the oil companies and the Canadian animals are getting sick at a higher government. rate than people who don’t - and the people who don’t aren’t doing so because they’re afraid to eat them. Many of us don’t want to see this industry continue to expand and grow and degrade the ecosystem but we are ERIEL DERANGER, of the tied to it economically. We want to see Athabascan Chipewyan First new economic endeavours so that we Nation, lives on the shores of Lake don’t have to become dependent on Chipewyan, downstream from the the industry that is destroying our land tar sands operations. culture and identity.“We have signed nation to nation agreements enshrined Our staple foods like moose, in the Canadian constitution which are “caribou, bison, muskrat waterfowl supposed to protect our abilities to and fish are either disappearing or continue hunting, fishing, trapping and they’re becoming contaminated gathering - and those rights are being through the water system. abrogated by continuing expansion of Caribou herds have declined by 80 the tar sands in the region. per cent over the past decade while For the people of the north it bison numbers have also fallen sharply. is a part of our cultural lifestyles to Large game and fish are continue practising hunting, fishing, disappearing and some of the fish that trapping and gathering - not just as a they do catch have lesions, crooked recreational activity but as a part of our Tree Cover Loss in Canada’s spines or other types of deformities. cultural procurement and an intrinsic Tar Sands region Even animals that are being hunted part of our identities. Tree cover loss 2000-2012 deep in the delta, away from the river So the degradation of these system, are being found so that when ecosystems is really the degradation Tar Sands region they’re cut open they smell funny or the of our people’s culture.” Picture: Global Forestwatch Canada

14 trees September 2015 www.internationaltreefoundation.org NORTHERN UGANDA

NEW HOPE FOR UGANDA’S DISPLACED PEOPLE

Friends of Environment for Development (FED) is a young and dynamic voluntary organisation which works to support underprivileged communities in northern Uganda, an area severely affected by years of bloody civil war. FED’s founder and Chief Executive, Paul Chankoma, tells their story. Demand for locally grown seedlings is soaring

ED is a youth-led organisation, tree grafting and budding technicians as of school due to insufficient funds can founded in 2010, whose main well as fruit farmers and vendors. now afford school fees and materials and source of income is the sale of Several households are reaping the have returned to education. Ftree seedlings and funds raised from benefit of their hard work. Some have Furthermore, some of the youth its 100 members. The ITF is the only set up family roadside tree seeds and who have been trained by FED are now outside body to have given us grant seedling businesses, while others are earning a living from the grafting and funding - and their support has made organised as successful group businesses. budding skills acquired. They are hired a huge difference to what we’ve been as technicians to graft different fruit trees able to achieve on the ground. Success Story such as mangoes and oranges, earning an Between 2011 and 2014 over One individual success story is that of average of 100 Ugandan shillings per tree. 300,000 trees were planted under the Mzee Caxton Milton Okabo. Mzee Caxton Emmanuel Ogut is a good example. Western Algeria ITF-funded Community Tree Planting received 30 orange tree seedlings from Between November and December Sahara Project in Agali sub-county. Young people FED three years ago. He has recently 2014, Emmanuel grafted a record 5,000 and women were also trained in tree reaped 600,000 Ugandan shillings (about oranges, earning 500,000 Ugandan Mauritania nursery establishment and management $300) from the first harvest of his trees. shillings ($250). He decided to go back and how to carry out tree planting as a With the money earned so far he has to school, where he is now studying MOPTI Mali REGION viable business. Thanks to the project, been able to buy solar lighting for his geography, entrepreneurship and Senegal many FED graduates are now gainfully home and pay for basics such as food and agriculture. Emmanuel also set up a small Niger Bamako Ségou Burkina employed as tree nursery proprietors, medical care. He is so impressed with nursery in his backyard, where he planted Faso the potential for his new occupation that about 4,000 oranges which he has just Guinea Benin Ghana he is currently planting a further 200 fruit sold as ‘root stock’ (ungrafted) and has Togo Sudan Somalia Sierra Côte trees - interspersed with other species like earned a further 1.6m shillings ($533). Leone d'Ivoire Ethiopia Liberia banana and pine – and he is confident he Emmanuel is therefore another FED will be able to earn even more over future example of one of FED’s many success PROJECT seasons. stories. He is able to pay his own school Another notable success story is fees of $67 per term, buy clothes for da that of Adyaka Youth Alive. The group himself and buy educational materials an Kenya Ug recently earned seven million Ugandan and basic necessities. Despite spending shillings (around $2,300) in a single nine out of 12 months a year in school, Tanzania season. At the time of writing, three of he still manages to support his mother their members who had dropped out from the earnings.

www.internationaltreefoundation.org September 2015 trees 15 NORTHERN UGANDA

and 200 omara omara on his farm. Peter later mortgaged his farm so he could buy a motorcycle. He is now using it as a boda-boda taxi, from which he earns 15,000 – 25,000 Ugandan shillings a day ($5-8). Peter is now able to buy food for his family, provide medical care and other basic necessities. On a more general level, communities have become more aware of the role and FED group members: Communities importance of trees. As a result, the tree Success story: Emmanuel Ogut are becoming more aware of the seedling business has seen a massive importance of trees grafting oranges boom. Nearly every family is trying hard not only to plant but also to protect their “PETER IS NOW trees jealously. This change in attitude and appreciation by the community of “LITTLE CONTRIBUTIONS ABLE TO BUY the need for trees is therefore a great WE MAKE TO PEOPLE’S FOOD FOR HIS endorsement of FED’s work. All these achievements have not LIVES CAN BE THE ENTIRE FAMILY” come without major hiccups and there WORLD TO THEM.” have been some monumental challenges. The trees have brought about First and foremost, indifferent The project has helped to build and financial security to many households. attitudes. Initially it took a lot of improve FED staff capabilities. Two of Tree owners are satisfied and optimistic sensitisation and persuasion for the local FED’s staff attended a monitoring and that they will receive a good income in communities to embrace tree planting. evaluation workshop organized by ITF the near future from sales of fruits and It was perceived as being a “very long which helped to improve our project woodlot (timber, poles and other wood term project.” However as we staggered management skills. byproducts). on, mindsets began to change for the The project has also helped FED The beneficiaries can also now use better and people began to embrace mature as an effective organization. their trees as security for loans from tree planting. This brought with it a Before it started FED had only just financial institutions and invest in other further challenge - albeit a positive one - been set up and had little experience of ventures. Peter Ojuk has put this into we became overwhelmed with demand project management. The value of our practice. In 2013 Peter dropped out for tree seedling support! partnership with ITF has therefore been of senior school because he could no Another challenge has been immeasurable, as it has laid down the longer afford the fees, got married and protecting the planted seedlings foundations upon which every future had a child. from stray animals and bushfires. The project will be built. Peter is one of the success stories problem of damage from animals was The value of the project has that FED is proud of. With help from the eventually solved through lobbying for been affirmed by a local government project he planted 550 pines, 50 oranges stricter by-laws. commendation. The Lira government awarded FED a Certificate of Appreciation for our role in improving THE SCARS OF CIVIL WAR young people’s lives. Our experience over the past three The brutal civil war in Uganda, also practised a scorched earth policy, years has been an eye opener and we fought from 1986 to 2006 between clearing all vegetation for several have realised that sometimes the very government and rebel forces, caused kilometres around the camps and little contributions we make to people’s an estimated 100,000 deaths and led to main roads. lives can actually turn out to be the widespread deforestation. As displaced populations have entire world to them. For such people As the fighting intensified in 1996, moved back to the north, more forests as Mzee Caxton, Emmanuel, Peter and the government was unable to hold have been cleared to make way for the Adyaka Youth Alive Group members back Lords Resistance Army (LRA) agriculture. amongst others, life can never be the rebel forces in northern Uganda and For two decades, the LRA relied same again. thousands of displaced villagers were on the neighbouring Sudanese To the beneficiaries in this part of the moved to internal refugee camps. At government for support and a safe world therefore, the project, small as it the height of the conflict over 1.7m haven – supplied in retaliation for is, is a ray of hope. It goes a long way to people lived in these camps, which Ugandan backing for the southern contributing solutions to their problems were riddled with crime and disease. Sudanese People’s Liberation Army. locally, and for FED this project echoes Over the last 20 years Uganda As that supply route has been the LRA President Obama’s assertion:“We are has lost two thirds of its forest, partly has become increasingly marginalised. the change we yearn for and we are as a result of the civil war. Around One of the communities where FED the people we have been waiting for to refugee camps high concentrations of is working is Barlonyo, in Ogur Sub bring change”.The local communities desperate, displaced people led to County. On February 21, 2014, 300 simply need to be ‘enabled’ to take increased tree felling for firewood. To Barlonyo villagers were massacred and charge of their own destinies and the deter rebel attacks the government hurriedly buried in mass graves. future will be bright.

16 trees September 2015 www.internationaltreefoundation.org TREES 4 LIVELIHOODS HOW FRUITS OF THE FOREST ARE HELPING WOMEN IN RURAL MALI

Members of henna soap-making workshop

A pioneering initiative by ITF and partner Sahel Eco to improve women’s livelihoods in drought-stricken rural areas of Mali is already yielding promising results.

As reports, it is part of a wider strategy Western Algeria Naomi Hope Sahara to reduce deforestation, increase food security and improve resilience to climate change. Mauritania MOPTI Mali REGION Senegal Niger Bamako Ségou Burkina any people would think of fruits, leaves, roots, fibres, resins Faso wood as being the main and gums and are important to local Guinea Benin Ghana produce of forests. But people’s livelihoods. More widely Togo Sudan Somalia Sierra Côte Mthey can also be a rich source of distributed than timber products, 80% Leone d'Ivoire Ethiopia other produce for neighbouring of people in the developing world use Liberia communities. Known as non-timber these types of forest products for their forest products (NTFPs), these include health and nutritional needs, according a d Kenya n a Ug FARM SCHOOL www.internationaltreefoundation.org September 2015 trees 17 TREES 4 LIVELIHOODS

to a report by the International Fund During the initial activities, two for Agricultural Development. women were chosen from each group Such an immense potential market to undertake training and implement makes non-timber forest products surveys in the market towns of Mopti important sources of income for rural and Kouakourou. Based on the people, especially women and minority findings and group discussions, eight groups who trade in the informal products were chosen to transform and economy. commercialise: Grape, henna, tamarin, The Mopti region in central Mali is a balanites, jujube, shea, African fan palm rural, dryland area bordering the Niger and sounsoun. All decisions are taken River, with the Koubaye forest in the by the groups, ensuring a sense of South. In the local villages, women are ownership and motivation that will help important breadwinners. They are the sustain development of the enterprises principal, if not exclusive, gatherers of in the future. forest produce, and make up 70% of The method has proven fruitful. traders of these types of products. Products are selling well in the villages, ITF and local partner Sahel Eco are as well as on the market in the larger working across 29 villages with 695 village of Konna. In three months, 750 women to improve income generated bars of henna soap have been sold, 620 from commercialisation. Indirectly, jujube cakes and over 1300 bottles of Checking out the local market at Fatouma this will have positive effects on the tamarin and balanites syrup. conservation and regeneration of trees Over the coming two years enterprise and the nearby Koubaye forest. clusters will be set-up, creating Trees 4 Livelihoods, which runs communication channels between from 2013 – 2017, is helping women the 33 village groups. As a collective create living from the trade of non- force, these clusters will be much more timber forest products in two ways. competitive, and able to commercialise Firstly, by developing business their products further afield. strategies through market research and organisation. Collectively, women will Visible Results be stronger in negotiations and able But there are already visible results. to obtain higher prices. Women are earning enough to put Secondly, by transforming forest aside, and have adopted the Savings for produce into household commodities Change model. This initiative developed like soap, beverages, syrup and jam. by Oxfam in sub-Saharan Africa helps When the project started two years rural women constitute collective savings ago, none of the participants were funds. Each week, the groups meet to transforming the products before sale. contribute a small sum into the fund. This not only adds value, but also allows Once large enough, small loans are made the preservation of perishable stocks. to members over a short period of time, During the long, dry seasons, when and paid back at a low interest rate. vegetation is scarce, there will still be So far, 20 groups have been formed Turning forest fruits into syrup something to sell. in the villages. Initial information sessions

TREES 4 LIVELIHOODS FOUR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: • Encourage small holder farmers • Develop a road map for sustainable in dryland areas to adopt more and inclusive management of sustainable land management the Koubaye forest. This in turn practices to restore tree cover, reduce should lead to greater community erosion and improve soil fertility. involvement in forest management and, in the longer term, greater • Restore the productive potential access to enhanced forest resources. of 55 hectares of highly degraded land and increase access for • Improve the organisation, skills and disadvantages groups, through access to markets for women who the implementation of investment harvest, trade and transform non- plans by municipal and traditional timber forest products. Increase authorities. their incomes and ensure security of access to the trees that they come to depend on. Forests can provide more than just wood products

18 trees September 2015 www.internationaltreefoundation.org “BUILDING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS FOR WOMEN IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT INCREASING INCOME.”

were followed by the election of the with many forest user groups and management committees and definition local authorities to ensure long-term of the criteria for evaluating a loan protection of the Koubaye forest through request. The groups have collectively the implementation of a conservation saved a total of 945 750 CFA Francs plan. As it becomes clear that non- (a little over £1,000), which in turn timber forest products are economically has allowed individuals to invest in attractive, it is expected that women the material needed to transform and will actively support and push for the conserve the products. A total of £650 protection and regeneration of trees. Checking out the local market at Fatouma has already been given out in loans. Building sustainable livelihoods for women is not simply about increasing income. It fits into the wider aims of the project, which are to increase food security, reduce poverty and build resilience to climatic shocks and long term climate change. About 80% of Mali’s 15 million population are dependent on farming, fishing and livestock production – all of NUTRIENT-RICH which are vulnerable to climate shocks. Over the last few years, the Sahel FOREST PRODUCE region has been stricken by drought THE ANSWER TO (especially in 2006, 2009 and 2012), triggering a food crisis across the Sahel. MALNUTRITION? Poverty, malnutrition and food insecurity Rainforests are rich in biodiversity, are widespread, and the resilience of and we have used natural produce communities is low. as medicines, foods, cosmetics and Added to this, climate change and more for centuries. The nutritious overexploitation of forests have had value of forest produce recently made wider effects, and the region has seen the news, when researcher Flora Turning forest fruits into syrup a decline in biodiversity. Farmers in the Chandare suggested they could be Mopti region report the disappearance the answer to large-scale malnutrition or rarity of 16 tree species that were in Benin, West Africa. abundant in the 1960s. On the other International aid projects to hand, some drought-resistant species improve health and nutrition generally have become common. consist of food fortification, for In order to improve the lot of rural example adding vitamins to flour communities, the underlying causes or iodine to salt. But once funding need to be addressed - including dries up, the situation generally unsustainable land use practices, degenerates again. Chandare notes deforestation and declining soil fertility. that many local forest plants have high Engaging all community members, micro-nutrients levels. Baobab fruits, including women, is key to tacking for example, contain six times as these problems. As women start to much vitamin C as oranges. earn more money from non-timber If eaten in the right quantity and forest products, they will increasingly combination, forest harvests could be value the forests as important the answer to widespread malnutrition resources for their enterprises. in many developing countries. Known as the “conservation through Chandare’s current project is to map commercialisation” , this strategy Benin’s indigenous plants and work has the benefit of linking forest out what combinations will give the Forests can provide more than just conservation with poverty alleviation. best results to improve nutrition. wood products Trees 4 livelihoods is working

www.internationaltreefoundation.org September 2015 trees 19 SDGs BLUEPRINT FOR A FAIRER WORLD It is possibly the most ambitious initiative ever undertaken by the UN. The aim is to unite the countries of the world in a common cause for a fairer society and a new way of doing business that does not destroy the natural environment. Can it really COVER CONTENTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Glossary & Acronyms References & Endnotes Acknowledgements Back Cover succeed? Richard Sadler reports. MAP OF DEFORESTATION FRONTS

WWF has drawn on projections in the Living Forests Model, a major literature survey and interviews with dozens of experts around the world to identify 11 places with major deforestation fronts, highlighted in this round the time this magazine is lungs of the planet, creating the oxygen map. These places are where the bulk of global deforestation is projected published ministers from more we all breathe. They also help to mitigate to take take place over the two decades, from 2010 to 2030, under than 190 countries will gather the effects of emissions by absorbing and business-as-usual scenarios and without interventions to prevent losses. atA the United Nations headquarters storing carbon dioxide, they are home to in New York to thrash out the 300m people and they provide essential food and resources for a further 1.6bn final wording for 17 Sustainable Chocó-Darién Greater Mekong Development Goals intended to people. 3 million ha 15-30 million ha Western countries have already transform the world by 2030. Amazon Borneo If you have not already heard about cleared most of their natural forests. 23-48 million ha 22 million ha New Guinea the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Now those same countries, together Congo Basin 7 million ha 12 million ha Sumatra or SDGs, you should do soon – because with rapidly growing countries like China East Africa 5 million ha I had a look at the WWF global priority places map, and it seems like the thin, most Southern tip of the 12 million ha front in Brazil is part of the Cerrado. This means the they are widely seen as one of the most and India, are driving the destructionwhite line forof the gran Chaco should not extend so far east.

I also note from the global priority places map that the Atlantic forest goes inland to the western Cerrado significant political initiatives ever taken remaining forests in the global South.border of Brazil in the South, and then up into Paraguay. So we already have the Atlantic forest 15 million ha included if we use the yellow area on Marrio's map. on the road to a fairer, more equal and Soaring demand for meat, palm oil,So the only change to the attached screen shot is to Atlantic Forest/ return the southern tail in brazil to within the cerrado ecoregion boundary, and keep the Eastern Gran Chaco boundary of the gran Chaco/Atlantic forest closer to the right edge of the blob along the 10 million ha environmentally benign society. timber products and biofuels is puttingparguay/brazil border. The aim is to reach common increasing pressure on poorer countries Eastern Australia agreement on a set of objectives for to open up remaining forests. 3-6 million ha the eradication of poverty, promotion of According to official UN figures equal rights, curbing of unsustainable 130,000 square kilometres of forest – an patterns of consumption and protection area about the size of Greece - is being Forest Deforestation fronts + projected deforestation, 2010-2030 of biodiversity and natural resources. destroyed every year. And a recent 3 | Living Forests Report: Chapter 5 graphic: WWF The remit is huge – virtually every report by the Worldwide Fund for Nature COVERWorld CONTENTS 1Deforestation 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15Hotspots 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Glossary & Acronyms References & Endnotes Acknowledgements Back Cover aspect of economic, industrial and calculates that if present trends continue, social development is covered. If the 1.7m square kilometres (or 656,000 final document is approved and signed square miles) of forest will be destroyed then that text has been tweaked and off, it will be the first time the world’s by 2020. (see illustration) amended during a series of meetings governments have sat down and agreed The UN’s Sustainable Development involving civil servants, industrialists and on such a comprehensive set of rules and Goals are seen by many as the best environmental and human rights groups. targets since the 1992 Earth Summit in chance yet of slowing and, ultimately, Friedrich Wulf, head of international Rio de Janeiro. halting the destruction biodiversity policy for Pro Natura, Then, as now, a key issue was the The SDGs are an expanded and has been advising Swiss government wholesale destruction and degradation updated version of the Millennium delegates to the SDG negotiations. of ancient forests - from Amazonia to Development Goals (MDGs), agreed “Never before have we had such a the Congo Basin; from Indonesia to the by governments in 2000 but since comprehensive document that puts in boreal forests of Siberia and Canada. criticised as being too narrow and not one place all the very different concerns Seen from space, our remaining inclusive enough. of humanity from human health, to forests are the most visible manifestations This time an open working group was ending poverty together with all kinds of natural ecosystems which are still appointed, made up of representatives of other issues like climate change and largely intact. They support 80% of land- of 70 countries, and a draft for the biodiversity,” he said. based animal and plant life and, as every 17 post-2015 goals with 169 targets “Everybody is going to look at their school child should know, they are the was published last September. Since goals and look at others’ goals - and the

20 trees September 2015 www.internationaltreefoundation.org UN SUSTAINABLE AN AREA OF FOREST THE DEVELOPMENT SIZE OF GREECE IS GOALS AND FORESTS SDG Goal 15.2 “By 2020, promote BEING DESTROYED the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, EVERY YEAR halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and increase afforestation and reforestation by (x*) per cent globally.” SDG Goal 15.6 “Mobilise significant resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management and provide adequate incentives to developing countries to COVER CONTENTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Glossary & Acronyms References & Endnotes Acknowledgements Back Cover advance such management, including conservation and reforestation.” MAP OF DEFORESTATION FRONTS SDG Goal 6.6 “By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecoystems, WWF has drawn on projections in the Living Forests Model, a major including mountains, forests, literature survey and interviews with dozens of experts around the world to identify 11 places with major deforestation fronts, highlighted in this wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.” map. These places are where the bulk of global deforestation is projected to take take place over the two decades, from 2010 to 2030, under Palm Oil Plantation photo: RAN/Flickr *to be decided business-as-usual scenarios and without interventions to prevent losses. promises to restore degraded forests and “increase afforestation”. Under the UN’s carefully-agreed wording, this Chocó-Darién Greater Mekong 3 million ha 15-30 million ha misleading term can include expansion of monoculture plantations, one of the Amazon Borneo 23-48 million ha 22 million ha main drivers of primary forest loss. New Guinea Congo Basin 7 million ha “We are in 2015 and we have already 12 million ha Sumatra East Africa 5 million ha seen the devastation these industrial I had a look at the WWF global priority places map, and it seems like the thin, most Southern tip of the 12 million ha front in Brazil is part of the Cerrado. This means the white line for the gran Chaco should not extend so plantations can cause - for example the far east.

I also note from the global priority places map that the Atlantic forest goes inland to the western Cerrado border of Brazil in the South, and then up into destruction in Indonesia for palm oil Paraguay. So we already have the Atlantic forest 15 million ha included if we use the yellow area on Marrio's map. So the only change to the attached screen shot is to Atlantic Forest/ production - imagine what this could return the southern tail in brazil to within the cerrado ecoregion boundary, and keep the Eastern Gran Chaco boundary of the gran Chaco/Atlantic forest closer to the right edge of the blob along the 10 million ha parguay/brazil border. mean for future expansion of these sort of crops,” she said. Eastern Australia 3-6 million ha “We can expect to see further land grabs or appropriation of lands and it’s clear that forest people will lose access Forest Deforestation fronts + projected deforestation, 2010-2030 to the lands and resources that they have

3 | Living Forests Report: Chapter 5 Primary forest cleared for plantations traditionally used for their livelihoods.” graphic: WWF photo: RAN/Flickr COVERWorld CONTENTS 1Deforestation 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15Hotspots 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Glossary & Acronyms References & Endnotes Acknowledgements Back Cover Marie-Ange Kalenga, a respected international development specialist, said the same discredited agricultural question of how we meet those goals would like to see 12 goals at the most practices were already being adopted in future should at last be put on the and preferably only 10. in Africa. agenda of every sector of society.” But as things stand all 17 goals “This is particularly true of the In the section which deals remain in place. And it appears that an Congo basin countries who all want to specifically with forests, Goal 15, the attempt to postpone some of the key be on the path emerging nations for language is encouraging (see SDG deadlines for action – lead by leading 2030 or 2025 - but the big question Goal 15) but, of course, statements economies including the United States, is so how are they going to reconcile of principle and indeterminate Canada, the UK, Australia and New the fact that they want to grow with commitments will not by themselves Zealand - has been defeated. the fact that they need to protect the hold governments to account. However concerns remain about ecosystems and the forest,” said Ms And already disagreements between some of the wording of Goal 15. Isis Kalenga, forest governance campaigner countries over the required pace and Alvarez, a campaigner for the Global for the forests policy lobby group FERN. scope of change are beginning to emerge. Forest Coalition, has been closely “They really want to copy the South Some countries, including the UK and involved in negotiations over the new East Asian model – the Indonesias Japan, have argued that having 17 goals SDGs at the UN’s headquarters in New and Malaysias of this world - and is too unwieldy. Britain’s Prime Minister, York. She is concerned about a little- we’re seeing that it has detrimental David Cameron, has said publicly he noticed detail in the draft text which consequence not only on the

www.internationaltreefoundation.org September 2015 trees 21 SDGs

WE HAVE A THOUSAND YEAR HISTORY OF PEOPLE LIVING IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

As Jason Hickel, an economist Deforestation is being driven by soaring demand for meat and timber photo: cifor/Flickr at the London School of Economics wrote recently: “It’s bizarre – we’re all acutely aware of the need to dethrone to be protected because it’s valuable GDP growth as the measure of human wisdom on how resources have been progress, but the SDGs carry on as if this sustainably managed since the dawn of isn’t even an issue.” human kind.” Marie-Ange Kalenga commented: In an attempt to slow the pace of “A major flaw in the design of the SDG deforestation developed countries, backed framework is that it doesn’t address the by the UN, have employed a market- bigger picture issues which are the need based solution known as REDD (Reducing to really rethink our economic and our Emissions from Deforestation and Forest consumption models. It simply doesn’t Degradation in Developing Countries). do that. Protests in Washington DC The idea is to calculate emissions “There are a number of places in the photo: S.Melkisethian/Flickr saved by not cutting down forests, SDGs … where it’s possible to allude to then pay the local population for leaving the fact that if we don’t do something environment, not only on the wildlife or them undisturbed. Money is raised about the way we consume for instance flora but also on the people who depend through the sale of carbon credits, goods related to deforestation - palm oil, on these resources for their livelihoods.” which industry can buy in order to offset soy and so on – we’re not going to be Global Forest Coalition campaigners their emissions. able to protect the forests. point out that the rights of indigenous But the result, say critics, is that “So the goals are aspirational and people are hardly mentioned in the SDG continued pollution by industry has been indeed they sound nice and they sound goals and objectives. legitimised. The system of calculating very consensual but they fail to basically They point to a recent gathering and selling carbon credits is vulnerable address the bigger picture at issue which of hundreds of representatives of to corruption and in many cases only a is what kind of development are we tribal and forest peoples from the UN fraction of income generated goes to trying to promote.” Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues forest peoples, with the lion’s share going However she is careful not to dismiss at the UN building in New York. They to traders, dealers and middle men. the whole process out of hand. were just down the corridor from the Environmental and human rights “The good thing about the SDG more conservatively-dressed delegates groups argue that this market-based process is that it has at least tried to thrashing out the post-2015 goals. But approach is doomed to failure and there involve a wide variety of stakeholders there was no meeting between the two is widespread concern that the UN’s rather than just have poor or low income groups – and none of the indigenous Sustainable Development Goals, well- countries on one side and developed forum’s demands for a more active role in intentioned though they are, may also be countries on the other. the process appear to have been heeded. fatally flawed. “It really has tried to allow an “We have a thousand year history They fear this will continue to be integrated process so we can have of people living in harmony with nature, the case for as long as long as goals common and a universal blueprint for knowing their resources and knowing for “sustainable” development are the world.” how to manage them,” said Isis Alvarez. discussed within a wider agenda Friedrich Wulf also believes there is “In the post-colonisation era this promoting ever greater consumption and cause for optimism. bond has been broken - and all these unlimited economic growth. “It can be frustrating but if you impositions have been made saying how The philosophy of unrestrained look under the surface there are lots of you should manage your territory or why economic growth is reinforced by initiatives happening in order to maintain this is not your territory any more. SDG 8 which calls for higher levels of and conserve forests and I’m sure that “But there’s a lot of traditional productivity and at least 7% GDP growth without these agreements the situation knowledge that’s still there that needs in least developed countries. would be considerably worse than it is.”

22 trees September 2015 www.internationaltreefoundation.org HOW TO SUPPORT US! Four ways you can help us plant more trees, support livelihoods and improve our environment in the UK and around the world:

THE PERFECT IF YOU RUN VOLUNTEER CONSIDER GIFT – A A BUSINESS, WITH US AND REMEMBERING SUBSCRIPTION BECOME GAIN GREAT ITF IN YOUR TO ITF ONE OF OUR EXPERIENCE! WILL PARTNERS Every year, volunteers give Including ITF in your will is an Choosing a gift subscription is their time and enthusiasm important decision and we will the perfect way to introduce We welcome partnerships to help ITF work towards its give you the information you family and friends to ITF. with progressive companies. vision by raising money and need to make the right choices Funding our tree planting offering their skills, valuable for you. If you would like to Not only will they be projects offers a very powerful knowledge and time. talk to us about this issue or supporting our vital work but way to motivate and engage to inform us about a legacy, Volunteering can be very we will send them: your employees, as well as please call or write to ITF. your suppliers and customers. rewarding and as an ITF • A copy of our latest Trees It is also a simple, cost-effective volunteer, your role can vary “LEAVING A LEGACY journal way of enhancing well-being to suit your skills, interest and TO ITF HELPS • A welcome letter with your in the communities where you availability. We will support US TO SUPPORT personal greetings. operate. you by giving you all the information you need to feel COMMUNITIES TO We provide a bespoke PLANT TREES, SECURE And over the year they will confident in the role - be it programme of support tailored representing ITF in your local LIVELIHOODS, MEET also receive: to the needs and geographical community, fundraising or NUTRITIONAL NEEDS spread of your business. Our other work on behalf of ITF. • ITF Impact report tree projects enable you to AND PROTECT • Invitation to ITF supporter demonstrate your commitment We are always looking for THE PLANET FOR event. to responsible environmental volunteers to help with GENERATIONS TO management, but also to build communications, marketing INHERIT AND ENJOY” Annual subscriptions start at and general office duties. strong relationships with your Andy Egan, £15 for concessions and £25 Please remember that we don’t neighbours - or to help your ITF Chief Executive for adults. drive towards carbon-neutral expect you to commit forever operations worldwide. just for as long and as involved You can order on line, email us as you’d like. If you have a set or call the ITF office. The sustainable management period of time or a certain of trees and forests is a key set of skills then we can help business issue and supporting find the right opportunities ITF’s community-based tree specifically for you. planting and education programmes is an effective way for companies to make a positive contribution.

www.internationaltreefoundation.org Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01865 318836 International Tree Foundation Mayfield House 256 Banbury Rd, Oxford OX2 7DE 20 MILLION TREES FOR KENYA’S FORESTS ITF CENTENARY CAMPAIGN 2016 - 2024

To celebrate our centenary we are launching our most ambitious plan ever – to plant 20m trees in Kenya’s most important forests – and we’re looking for sponsors to help make it happen.

This campaign is the biggest in our long history and it has the full support of our Patron, HRH the Prince of Wales. The launch is scheduled for next spring and a target has been set to raise £800,000 between now and ITF’s centenary year in 2024.

If you are part of a company or organisation, or if as an individual you think you can help us achieve this target, we would love to hear from you.

Helping local people to restore one of Africa’s least-forested countries

www.internationaltreefoundation.org Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01865 318836 International Tree Foundation Mayfield House 256 Banbury Rd, Oxford OX2 7DE