In order to accomplish our mission to effectively fight climate change, we have entered into a partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects (Eden). Eden Reforestation Projects (Eden) is a non-profit organization based in California, USA, that works in developing countries to reduce extreme poverty and restore healthy forests. Eden employs tens of thousands of people worldwide and provides them with the necessary tools and education to plant, grow, and protect millions of trees each year.
The Problem
Deforestation is a major problem that is caused by a variety of factors. These factors range from large-scale slash and burn practices to unsustainable agriculture to daily community forest destruction. The regions most impacted by deforestation are highly poverty-stricken and underdeveloped areas. With few options to support their families, members of impoverished communities are often forced to destroy their local environment to survive. Think about cutting down trees for construction, fuel, heat, and agricultural purposes. While this solves a short-term problem, long-term consequences arise when forests are cut down and not restored. The impact of deforestation is dramatic because it causes severe flooding, erosion, and desertification. The long-term effects of deforestation lead to even worse environmental devastation. The regions most impacted by deforestation are highly poverty-stricken and underdeveloped areas. With few options to support their families, members of impoverished communities are often forced to destroy their local environment to survive. Think about cutting down trees for construction, fuel, heat, and agricultural purposes. While this solves a short-term problem, long-term consequences arise when forests are cut down and not restored. The impact of deforestation is dramatic because it causes severe flooding, erosion, and desertification. The long-term effects of deforestation lead to even worse environmental devastation.
The solution
There are two key elements to successful reforestation. The first element is that reforestation must present a benefit to the local community. Due to the unsustainable relationship between the land and people, communities suffering from deforestation are often the same as those living in extreme poverty. It is essential to be committed to and work alongside local villages and communities to achieve a successful and longstanding reforestation effort. Eden Reforestation Projects utilizes its Employ to Plant methodology to benefit members in the local communities where we plant. Through steady employment, people living in extreme poverty can begin to afford daily necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and medicine. The second critical element are Eden's partners. Without business partners there is little hope for successful and impactful reforestation.
What’s next?
Eden's goals:
- Eden's goal is to plant a minimum of 500 million trees each year by 2025.
- The projects provide life-changing income opportunities to the local communities while protecting biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and providing many other social and environmental benefits.
Follow this link for Eden’s overall report
Explore our recent blog to explore how our tree planting initiative in Kenya is going.
