CURRENT CAMPAIGN
Pwani
Restoring a 600-acre grounds through tree planting, education and sustainable livelihoods in collaboration with Pwani University
Advisory board member Dr Rose Kigathi with LEAF chair Dr Harry Williams in the dilapidated old nursery
Planting preparations
The LEAF Charity is working with Pwani University to refurbish their nursery, re-train their staff about the benefits of indigenous species, and begin the restoration of their 600 acre grounds. Even at a fairly low density of 500 trees per acre this site has the potential to harbour hundred of thousands of trees. Digging holes, filling holes with compost and planting trees is to be carried out by students and locals in social events sponsored by LEAF. We are facilitating the installation of a water collection system enabling irrigation using a sustainable source.
Education and Research
The close proximity of this project to a University and a plethora of schools will give us unparalleled access to students, allowing them access to our educational facilities. This will give them the chance to be educated as to the value of the natural world. Our restoration efforts are to be guided by science and we will be carrying out research on this project every step of the way, to not only guide our future projects but add to the literature surrounding best practices for habitat restoration.
protected environment
Within the University grounds the restoration efforts will be protected, and we will have the opportunity to plant endangered and critically endangered species. This will give populations of these species which can then be used for seed harvesting and the restoration of lesser protected areas.
Charcoal production is a key livelihood in the region, so levels of wood extraction are high. Partnering with local communities to find innovative ways to diversify incomes and provide alternative fuels sources, is central to protecting local forests and threatened species. At LEAF we seek to empower local people, in particular marginalised groups such as women and youth, to provide novel green employment opportunities, while preserving the long-term benefits of biodiversity and healthy forest ecosystems - such as the shade and cooling caused by their presence, their fruits and firewood they provide, habitat provided for animals in their boughs and as a carbon sink in the fight against climate change.