Working in the face of worsening climate change
Over our 100-year history, we’ve planted trees across a multitude of contexts, from highlands to lowlands from drylands to wetlands. Today, some of the places that we are working in are becoming increasingly challenging
Many of the communities that we are working with in Kenya are currently struggling with drought. In other countries, our partners are facing flash floods that scour the earth and strip away the topsoil.
To make the biggest difference for the communities we work with we can’t be complacent about what we do and how we do it. This has always been the case, but it is now even more important in the context of worsening climate change.
As a result, we are working tirelessly with local partners to find ways to increase tree survival rates in the face of climate change and ensure that communities see an even greater benefit from projects. Here are some of the things we are doing quietly behind the scenes:
An insurance fund
In terms of tree survival, there’s normally an element of replanting to be done in the following season that we’ve always accounted for. However, when an extreme weather event occurs the young saplings are hardest hit and survival rates drop. In order to address this, we’ve established the Tree Survival and Sustainability Fund – it’s like an insurance fund that community groups can access to replant after a climatic shock.
A specially designed app
We’ve also doubled down on monitoring. Over the last few months we have been developing and field testing an app that is specifically designed to work on a basic smart phone in remote locations far from any mobile signal. Trained community members will be able to gather data themselves and everyone will be able to see what is happening at key moments after planting.
Deep listening
We know that women are often excluded from decision making, access and benefits of natural resources like forests. This year we’re launching a project with our Ugandan partner Alpha Women and another UK charity, Tree Sisters, that will help us further boost the benefits to women. We begin next month with a process of deep listening that involves seeking to understand women’s long-term priorities, and those of men too. This will shape the work we do together. What we learn from this intensive pilot will then inform our work in other countries.
Continually adapting
There’s more that’s happening in our continual quest to increase the impact of our work. This ranges from providing meteorological data to community partners to trialling fuel efficient stoves that reduce pressure on standing forest. It includes linking with a coffee exporter in order to integrate tree planting with wider earning opportunities and partnering on a water project in a drought-prone area so that schools have the double benefit of clean water and irrigated tree nurseries.
A changing world needs ITF to be continually improving and adapting. And it’s inspiring for me working with a team that is tirelessly seeking ways that we can do that.
Donate today
Help us ensure that the trees we plant thrive and survive in the face of worsening climate change and extreme weather events. Donate today and together we can make the biggest difference for people and planet.