Planting Trees
Planting Trees is necessary. The survival and recreation of forests on our planet is one of the most important tasks of our time.
We would like to take this opportunity to bring together two different groups of people:
- Individuals and companies that want to plant trees
- Individuals and groups that can plant trees
In cooperation with local communities and smallholders every single tree is planted and raised by hand.
Our tree planting projects follow a holistic approach, that give the community members and smallholders a new opportunity to generate an income.
Planting trees is a job and planting trees is necessary.
Therefore this job has to be paid for. Fair.
Every tree has a value. Every tree is taking CO2 out of the atmosphere. Every tree is home to hundreds of different species.
Our tree planting projects are divided into three different types of reforestation projects.
1. Planting only indigenous trees in the Ntchisi Forest Reserve
2. Planting only indigenous trees on private land that is designated to be a regrown forest
3. Planting only indigenous trees on private land to start an agro forestry approach that benefits smallholders and nature in the same way
The indigenous trees planted in the forest reserve are protected by the laws of the Malawi government, that prohibit the cutting of trees in the reserve. A community patrol is observing the forest reserve on a daily basis.
The designated forest areas for pure reforestation are long-term rents, that benefit the landowners with a regular yearly income. All indigenous trees planted on this land belong to the landowner and are to be protected for at least 15 years to maximize their impact for the global climate.
By our integrated community development program, we try to increase the value for the smallholder by assisting with farm management and new ideas how to integrate indigenous shade trees with high quality cash crops. Moreover, we give money incentives for every tree planted and looked after every year.
Until today we have planted over 150.000 trees in Ntchisi District, Malawi.
How we monitor our treeplanting projects:
At the moment we count every single tree by hand and mark them in different colors for the year planted.
We are working on a drone-based system that helps us to closely monitor the fields from remote and gives us the opportunity to share up to date pictures with our partners and clients.
How we protect our trees:
We know that planting a tree is not a guarantee that the tree will survive, but we have some control and protection measures in place to raise the chances of survival.
· Paying for planting trees and for years of survival
· Engaging several community forest patrol teams to protect the forest reserve area and the areas of reforestated land
· Cut grasses at the end of rainy season to decrease the risks of fire
· Implementing workshops and awareness campaigns in the surrounding communities about the danger of fire and deforestation
· Financing several fire camps to prevent or detect and fight fires early
· Creating new sustainable ways of income through sustainably grown coffee and other cash crops
· Support community projects like nursery schools
· Being an active part of the community
You want to get involved? Send us an email to info@thecommonage.mw or use the contact sheet below.
Businesses:
You are looking for a transparent and easy way of getting involved in tree planting and CO2-reducing activities for your company or looking for the right partner to raise the positive impact of your activities, we are happy to help.
We find individual solutions for every type of business and help to find an integrative way of getting involved in climate and social projects. Just contact us.
We do consult companies in finding the right strategy for their social and environmental projects.