Yeah VISAS for Africa are in hand…. and Super Tree Friends are coming together!! THANK YOU Dalmas Tiampati Director of Maasai Center for Regenerative Pastoralism…and everyone who is already supporting our work to replicate our community empowerment fair pay tree planting model in Kenya Africa with the Maasai clans.
Dalmas Tiampati Project Leader Executive Director of Maasai Center for Regenerative Pastoralism
and all the Maasai people welcoming us to their villages in November 2018.
Challenge
The Maasai people have experienced extreme drought due to climate change and deforestation. There are no opportunities for employment and the pastoralist lifestyle is no longer supporting the tribes as before. Concern for the environment and for mitigating climate change has inspired the Maasai people to reforest their lands in ways that establish silvo-pastoral cultural systems that respect their unique culture while creating fair opportunities for employment through growing diverse trees.
Solution
Paying people a fair wage for producing and planting and caring for trees long term including women is good for the community as well as the environment. Establishing new relationships with the land and neighbors requires collaboration and time. The process of producing compost with local women serves the purpose of providing organic fertile soil for the tree nursery as well as for local vegetables. Fair pay tree planting model strengthens community economic and environmental resilience.
Long-Term Impact
Addressing climate change by planting highly diverse mixes of native trees near the Equator is a winning solution for everyone living on Planet Earth. Equator trees sequester tons of carbon dioxide over the 25 year period they are guaranteed through managed long term care and accountability.
To donate through Global Giving and receive a full US tax deduction, here is the link!
Thank you to our amazing colleague Elena Vargas who will accompany me on this visionary replication of our successful community reforestation model to Africa, especially with the Maasai clans in Kenya. Together and united we can all do so much more!
Thank you Franck St. Loubert for being such a trustworthy and wonderful team member and funding support! We look forward to seeing YOU in Kenya! Also huge shout out to Gabriel Cine Hildalgo who will be joining us for the last two weeks to document and tell the story of our seed safari mission.
Thank you Jessica Manley, Eduardo Hidalgo Cruz, Teresa Badilla, Alvaro Cerdas, Cristian Mena, Diana Saborio, Yedier Gamboa and all the workers who will HOLD DOWN THE FORT while we are away….
Thank you to my parents and Super Tree Friends cheering us on…
I will be personally funding $$$$ for this Foundation SEED Mission and trust that the funding will come in One Tree at A Time just as we have been doing for the last 10 years. It is a big step for us and does not come easily and we appreciate all well wishes of protection and support. And of course Tree Sponsorships! Our new button for Kenya will be ready on our updated website soon!!
Our goals include: LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN and respond adequately with respect for cultural ways. Build resilience in an area often visited but usually forgotten in terms of long term community empowerment and afforestation. Engage with youth and elders who love trees. We will teach compost production as we always do right from the start… the secret is in the soil…. we will build a community tree nursery for production of biodiverse native species important to the area. We will go on a seed safari and establish seed collection networks and figure out where to plant the trees and who to plant them with fair pay… we will teach and build accounting and administration foundations for transparent and exact reporting about how we spend the money you so kindly and generously donate. May I remind you… this work not exactly “charity” … everyone will be working very diligently and many many of us work countless hours without being “paid” … we will connect with NGO’s and the Kenya Forestry Service and become a positive FORCE for silvo pastoral afforestation in the region in such desperate need. in all these things…
There are all kinds of Tree Friends coming out of the woodwork interested in helping us connect with NGO’s in Kenya and surrounding areas. Solar companies and water producing inventions and collaborations for innovative pastoral grazing practices are all part of our mission! We do have plans to apply for grants once we establish the foundations and work with the clans for a while to “get it going”….
TRUST is my mantra … Listen and Respond… Stay in alignment…
What about you? Who can hear us?
WE LOVE TREES!!!
Our strongest and deepest roots are based in love! Another Kids’ Nature Day creation we use to announce all of our fun educational activities!
February 14, 2017
