Millions Of Trees Planted In Africa To Remove Carbon & Restore Soil
Why it matters: Over 265,000 East African farmers receive 70% of carbon credit profits, directly improving their livelihoods and food security.
- Cool Effect, a climate crisis non-profit, spearheads the "Giving Trees" project, facilitating tree planting by African farmers.
- TIST (The International Small Group and Tree Planting) program is the implementing partner, engaging over 265,000 smallholder farmers in East Africa.
- Farmers have collectively planted over 28.3 million trees, growing their own seedlings and creating a scalable, community-led reforestation system.
- The project provides multiple benefits, including carbon removal, soil health restoration, improved crop yields, and direct income opportunities for farmers through 70% of carbon credit profits.
- A robust GPS-based monitoring system tracks tree survival for at least 30 years, ensuring transparent and verified carbon removal.
- Future growth is expected through word-of-mouth as more farmers observe visible improvements and carbon credit revenue, fostering a self-sustaining cycle of tree propagation.
Cool Effect's "Giving Trees" project, implemented through the TIST program, has empowered over 265,000 smallholder farmers in East Africa to plant more than 28 million trees on their own land, aiming to remove carbon, restore soil, and provide direct economic benefits. This community-led initiative not only combats climate change but also improves local livelihoods by distributing 70% of carbon credit profits to farmers and offering resources like food and timber.
