Desertification is spreading fast across East Africa. In Tanzania alone, around 469,000 hectares of forest are lost each year, and young trees struggle to survive.
So how do you reforest one of the driest places on Earth? Contrary to what you might think – the answer is not planting trees. Instead, we’re working with farmers to help existing “underground forests” regrow. Beneath the surface is a network of living tree stumps connected to healthy roots. On the surface they look like bushes, but each one is actually a tree waiting to grow again.
For generations, communities have known to prune away weaker shoots and allow one or two chosen shoots to grow quickly into thriving trees. This method of FMNR (Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration) has been revived and is bringing dead land back to life.
We've been working with the LEAD Foundation since 2020 to bring FMNR training to farmers across Tanzania. Our partner Planet Wild has now joined the project, and created a wonderful video to show how communities are re-greening their home by using nature’s own design. Check it out!
