Tree Planting Project for Food Security
This project is inspired by the great Wangari Maathai , who we honor for Women’s History Month (March) and Earth Day (April 22nd). Wangari is the founder of The Green Belt Movement, which is responsible for planting more than 51 million trees in Kenya alone. She is also the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and the first East African woman to earn a doctorate degree, as well as several other notable achievements - all bettering lives for Africans. The mission of this project is threefold.
Provide environmental education opportunities that focus on tree sustainability and increased food security to our sister schools and their communities in rural Kenya and Uganda.
Provide trees for planting at our sister schools and their communities in rural Kenya and Uganda.
Provide opportunities for Pacific Northwest communities to learn how trees impact food security and community development in Africa through activities like cooking classes and tree planting events.
Wangari (middle) supported and inspired Harambee Centre’s co-founders Jackie Goldrick (left) and Grace Kuto (right) when they began developing the organization in the early 80’s.
Friends of Trees joins us in celebrating Wangari’s work as we develop a partnership with them to further local and global tree planting and tree education.
Why it Matters
Did you know Africa is home to some of the largest rainforests in the world and that deforestation is a leading contributor to hunger and climate change in Africa?
As trees disappear, climate change quickens and food insecurity increases.
Food and water are a vital life-sustaining part of our daily lives. The science of cooking requires three essential elements: water, heat, and food. All three of these elements need trees to thrive.
When these elements are compromised, so is the quality of life. Trees promote environmental health and stability, improving food security and quality of life.
In Africa, there is a fourth factor that fulfills the art of cooking and is heavily impacted by food insecurity and deforestation – women! The majority of work needed to feed the family is done by women, from planting seeds to cleaning up after meals and everything in between. As a result, women have fewer opportunities for education and economic growth than men.
Women collecting water.
water
Water is essential for hydration and cooking. Most of the water collected is contaminated which causes at least 80% of diseases in rural Africa. Trees are the most effective land cover for maintenance of water quality. More trees means more reliable access to safe water.
Research in Sub-Saharan Africa shows that at least 40 billion hours a year is spent on water collection, with 90% of work being done by women.
Women collecting firewood.
heat
Heat is essential for cooking. Trees provide firewood and charcoal, the primary sources of heat for cooking in Africa. Cutting trees increases soil erosion, flooding, and greenhouse gases - all contributors to climate change in Africa. Planting trees helps combat these harmful environmental factors.
The majority of wood collection for firewood and charcoal falls on women.
Crop destroyed by flooding.
food
Food is essential for survival. Cutting trees contributes to climate change and conditions that reduce food production, such as soil erosion and flooding. Food security is an ongoing crisis in Africa due to natural disasters and political conflicts. Planting trees will help mitigate the crisis for communities.
Research shows that 80% of rural land cultivation is done by women.
Education
Grace leading an educational tree planting project for elementary school students in Chwele, Kenya.
This project will pull together our sister schools and their communities in rural Kenya and Uganda and communities in the Pacific Northwest through educational tree planting activities. This will foster an appreciation and respect for environmentally sustainable consciousness that will create a better world for women and children, and their families, in rural Africa.
Learn More
Join us April 22nd and 29th for our first virtual African cooking class. In addition to learning how to make a few tasty East African dishes, the course will include an educational discussion about the importance of tree sustainability for food security. Class proceeds will support this project.
15 spots available