GROWING FORESTS

The Mahubo planting site comprises of a narrow strip of partially degraded mangrove forests, located on the western bank of the Tembe river, approximately 18 kilometers south of its confluence with the Mbuluzi, Matola and Infulene rivers that form the “Estuário do Espírito Santo“ delta. This large estuary flows into Maputo harbor, the main commercial seaport of Maputo Bay in Mozambique

The mangrove forests in this area are an important habitat for marine life, birds, and animals such as turtles and crocodiles. Marine animals include the d'Urville's fiddler crab (Tubuca urvillei), mud crabs (Scylla serrata), mudskippers (Periophthalmus kalolo), and many species of sea snails and slugs.

The mangrove ecosystem of Mahubo also supports several native bird species, including the mangrove kingfisher (Halcyon senegaloides), a small, colorful bird commonly found in estuaries and mangrove forests along the east coast of sub-Saharan Africa. Smaller mammals, including shrews and rats, are quite common in parts of these mangrove forests, while the red bush squirrel and vervet monkeys are sometimes observed.

Mangroves are incredible for so many reasons, stemming from their ability to grow and thrive on the boundary of ocean and land.

The trees’ unique adaptations to salinity make wherever they grow a vital haven for wildlife and an important resource for the hundreds of millions of people living near these ecosystems. Their importance to people and wildlife could not be any clearer as ever-growing impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss threaten our planet.

Mangroves are some of the most powerful trees on our planet. Mangrove soils are highly effective carbon sinks. They are among the most carbon-rich tropical ecosystems globally and can contain more carbon per square metre than tropical rainforests. An acre of mangroves can store 5 to 10 times more carbon that an acre of rainforest, therefore, planting and conserving these amazing forests is essential to the wellbeing of our planet and people.

Mangroves are tropical marine forests with huge potential. They protect coastlines from erosion and storm surge, tsunamis and provide food and shelter for a diverse array of wildlife, and nursery habitats for commercially important fish and shellfish.

An estimated two thirds of the fish that are eaten in Mozambique spend part of their lives in the mangroves which act as their breeding and nursery grounds.

Mangrove species do not require nurseries. At 3-5 years of age, mangroves begin to produce and drop their own propagules (seeds), which can be used to give rise to a new tree. These propagules may be collected from existing trees or from trees previously planted. Mangroves are planted year-round in Mozambique.

Our reforestation partner hires local people to reforest their region by planting mangrove trees while stimulating economic growth, breaking the cycle of poverty, and empowering the community whilst building economic resilience.

Rhizophora Mucronata is a slow-growing, evergreen tree growing up to 27 metres tall, with a bole 50 - 70 cm in diameter. The tree produces numerous stilt roots from the base. One seed is developed per fruit & starts to germinate when the fruit is still attached or hanging on the tree. The root (radicle) gradually protrudes from the fruit, at first like a green cigar, then grows into a rod-like structure. In this species such a seedling root (hypocotyl) with a rough & warty surface may attain a considerable length (sometimes over 100 cm), the largest & longest in the genus.

Bruguiera Gymnorhiza has the largest leaves, flowers, propagules and lenticels of all Bruguiera species. The name Large-Leafed Orange Mangrove comes from the orange flowers and the large leaves that can reach up to 25cm in length. They grow about 20 to 25 degrees north and south of the equator in an area with subtropical to tropical climates. These conditions enable this evergreen tree to produce leaves and shoots during the whole year. The leaves have an elliptic shape, the upper side is smooth and dark green, the bottom is waxy and light green. Occasionally three or four leaves are formed simultaneously.

Ceriops Tagal is a medium-sized tree growing to a height of 25 metres (80 ft) with a trunk diameter of up to 45 cm (18 in). The growth habit is columnar or multi-stemmed and the tree develops large buttress roots. The radiating anchor roots are sometimes exposed and may loop up in places. The bark is silvery-grey to orangeish-brown, smooth with occasional pustular lenticels. 

Located on the eastern coast of Africa, the Marereni and Kurawa planting site is a degraded mangrove forest north of Malindi Town. The local people face limited freshwater, poor road connectivity, and insufficient education facilities.

Large-scale mangrove deforestation in this region results from land clearance for salt production, fuelwood, charcoal, and prawns. As a result, wild fisheries are in decline, and soil erosion threatens coastlines.A consistent income tied to sustainable land-use practices will significantly improve the overall wellbeing of this community.

Our reforestation partner hires local people to reforest their region by planting mangrove trees while stimulating economic growth, breaking the cycle of poverty, and empowering the community whilst building economic resilience. 

The reforestation site is 2,630 hectares, with a capacity of 10,000 trees per hectare with a total planting capacity of 6,500,000.

Mangroves are incredible for so many reasons, stemming from their ability to grow and thrive on the boundary of ocean and land. The trees’ unique adaptations to salinity make wherever they grow a vital haven for wildlife and an important resource for the hundreds of millions of people living near these ecosystems. Their importance to people and wildlife could not be any more clear as ever-growing impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss threaten our planet.

Mangrove species do not require nurseries. At 3-5 years of age, mangroves begin to produce and drop their own propagules (seeds), which can be used to give rise to a new tree. These propagules may be collected from existing trees or from trees previously planted.

Additionally, mangroves typically grow along coastal forests, providing an irrigation system that is largely self-sufficient.

Mangroves are planted year-round in Kenya.

Rhizophora Mucronata is a slow-growing, evergreen tree growing up to 27 metres tall, with a bole 50 - 70 cm in diameter. The tree produces numerous stilt roots from the base. One seed is developed per fruit & starts to germinate when the fruit is still attached or hanging on the tree. The root (radicle) gradually protrudes from the fruit, at first like a green cigar, then grows into a rod-like structure. In this species such a seedling root (hypocotyl) with a rough & warty surface may attain a considerable length (sometimes over 100 cm), the largest & longest in the genus.

Avicennia Marina, also known as gray mangrove or white mangrove, is a shrub or tree belonging to the Acanthaceae family. They are generally 10–14 m long and have light gray or whitish bark with stiff, brittle, thin flakes. Their leaves are thick, glossy, and bright green on the upper side and gray or silvery white with small hairs on the lower side.

Ceriops Tagal is a medium-sized tree growing to a height of 25 metres (80 ft) with a trunk diameter of up to 45 cm (18 in). The growth habit is columnar or multi-stemmed and the tree develops large buttress roots. The radiating anchor roots are sometimes exposed and may loop up in places. The bark is silvery-grey to orangeish-brown, smooth with occasional pustular lenticels. 

Bruguiera Gymnorhiza has the largest leaves, flowers, propagules and lenticels of all Bruguiera species. The name Large-Leafed Orange Mangrove comes from the orange flowers and the large leaves that can reach up to 25cm in length. They grow about 20 to 25 degrees north and south of the equator in an area with subtropical to tropical climates. These conditions enable this evergreen tree to produce leaves and shoots during the whole year. The leaves have an elliptic shape, the upper side is smooth and dark green, the bottom is waxy and light green. Occasionally three or four leaves are formed simultaneously.

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The Jodhipur planting site comprises of 1480 hectares of tropical forest, situated along the Babai River in west Nepal's Bardiya District.

The Babai River is an important wildlife corridor connecting the forest-dominated Bardiya National Park to the lowland plains of the Terai ecological zone. The national park is home to spectacular wildlife, including wild elephants, greater one-horned rhinoceros and Bengal tigers.

The landscape surrounding the national park is a patchwork of agricultural fields with scattered natural forest fragments. Residents rely on the remaining forested areas for household needs such as fuelwood, livestock fodder, and medicinal and edible plants.

Deforestation of this area has led to a host of environmental issues, including increased risk of flooding as well as socio-economic impacts to local communities due to topsoil erosion, low agricultural productivity, and in some cases, complete farm failure.

The nearby municipalities of Baganaha, Baniyabhar, and Dhodhari have a combined population of 31,622, including many indigenous Tharu people who have faced discrimination and economic hardship. Indigenous rights and community participation in natural resources management is central to the success of Nepal's robust community forestry program, which combats forest degradation while improving the livelihoods of rural communities.

The planting season in Nepal is from May to September which is the rainy season.

The team is utilizing a variety of planting methods including:

Traditional seedling nursery is the process of germinating seeds in a nursery, temporarily moving them to a bag or pot until they reach maturity. When the rainy season begins the saplings are then planted in the fields - in just a few years a sustainable forest emerges.

In addition to growing seedlings in nursery planting tubes, many nurseries also include seedbeds. Seedbeds are produced in raised soil located within the nursery and populated with an abundance of seeds. After the seeds germinate, the seedlings are efficiently harvested from the beds and quickly transferred to the planting site.

During dry seasons the team collect native seeds & prepare them in the nurseries.

A seed ball is a marble-sized ball made of clay, compost, soil, and seeds. Our planting partners ensure that the seed inserted into the centre of the ball is a fast-growing pioneer species with a high germination percentage. The field teams produce millions of seed balls every month, resulting in the replanting of large areas where the natural flora was formerly destroyed.

The seed balls are prepared at the end of the dry season, a month or two prior to the monsoon season. The method begins with local villagers collecting native species seeds which are then sorted and separated. Next, soil for the seed balls is mixed, which includes compost, soil, and clay. One to two seeds are embedded inside the soil mixture and rolled into marble-sized balls. The seed balls are then dried and stored until the onset of the rainy season, when the seed balls are then placed in small holes that have been dug and lightly covered with soil. Within a few days, germination takes place, and trees begin to grow.

Bare Root: At the onset of the rainy season, wild seedlings are harvested from healthy or remnant forests, which typically see a large influx of small seedling growth beneath the canopy.

Bare root (wild) involves the gentle collection of these seedlings and quickly replanting them at an adjacent deforested area. Transferring the seedlings does not harm the healthy forest, as overcrowding and excessive shade from the canopy means only a tiny percentage of the seedlings would have survived. This planting method strategically leverages nature’s abundance.

ORCHID TREE – Bauhinia Purpurea 

is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. When used for medicinal purposes, it is most commonly in the form of medicinal tea to treat fever and stomach ailments. The dried flowers are also believed to possess medicinal properties that can also help treat cancer, strengthen the immune system, and improve eyesight, as well as in making poultices for treating swelling, bruises, boils, and ulcers. It is also a food plant: the leaves, flower buds, flowers, and young seedpods can be cooked and eaten. The flower buds are often pickled and used in curries.

HIMALAYAN CYPRESS Cupressus Torulosa

is an evergreen conifer tree species found on limestone terrain at 300–2,800 metres, growing to a height of 45m with a trunk diameter sometimes exceeding 2m. Cypresses have very important roles in the wild, since they tend to grow along rivers and in wetlands where they are excellent at soaking up floodwaters and preventing erosion. They also trap pollutants, preventing them from spreading too. Frogs, toads, and salamanders use bald cypress swamps as breeding grounds. The branch, cone, and oil are also used for medicine, to treat coughs, the common cold, prostate conditions and is also used to heal wounds and infections.

WHITE SIRIS - Albizia Lebbeck

is a moderate to large deciduous tree that reaches 30m in height in rain forests. Its dense shade-producing crown can be as large as 30m in diameter too. The tree develops a straight bole when grown in dense forests, but is spreading and low branching in the open. The tree is loaded with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, making a great species for medicinal purposes. The paste prepared from the leaves of this plant can be applied externally on the skin in case of wounds and other skin diseases. It helps improve skin complexion and detoxifies the skin.

CUTCH TREE - Acacia Catechu

is a deciduous, thorny tree which grows up to 15m in height. The bark of this plant is a strong antioxidant, astringent, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antifungal 

in nature. The extract of this plant is used to treat sore throats and diarrhoea, also useful in high blood pressure, dysentery, colitis, gastric problems, bronchial asthma, cough, leucorrhoea and leprosy. It is used as mouthwash for mouth, gum, sore throat, gingivitis, dental and oral infections.