"A tree is a bank, a bank account, a savings account." 🌳🏦🏧🍌
Jean Pierre, a plumber turned farmer in Rwanda, emphasizes that trees are so much more than plants. They're valuable assets farmers can rely on to secure their livelihoods. Like a bank account holds savings and provides a sense of security, trees serve a similar purpose for farmers. And, just as a savings account accumulates interest over time, trees grow and develop, offering various resources and services that farmers can utilise.
Why am I talking about this?
Well, I'm very proud to share that fifty50 now plants a tree in Rwanda for every coaching & therapy session we undertake. We will also plant a tree per head on our "MHFA - Done Properly" training programmes. 🌳🌲🌴
This helps us to think about our carbon footprint & support sustainable development goals, including:
✅ No poverty
✅ Zero hunger
✅ Climate action
✅ Life on Land
Trees are imperative for a country that has been hard hit by rising inflation and where agriculture is the backbone of the economy (1/3 of national GDP).
🌳 Rwandan hillsides have been farmed extensively, leading to soil erosion and a loss of vital topsoil.
🌳 A lack of trees on the hillsides that bind the soil has led to landslides.
🌳 Today, almost 45% of children under 5 years old suffer from chronic malnutrition, and one in four is undernourished.
We're partnering with One Acre Fund via Ecodrive to promote and verify sustainable agroforestry in Rwanda.
Agroforestry has a key role in ending Rwanda's hunger and poverty. This program equips smallholder farmers with the finance, skills, and expertise to improve their crops' productivity, soil health, and climate resilience. This, in turn, makes farming more profitable, sustainable, and resilient against climate change.
Jean Pierre's analogy beautifully captures the multitude of benefits and long-term value trees bring to farmers & the importance of long-term planning and investment in trees.
Like consistent deposits into a bank account lead to increased savings, nurturing and growing trees over time results in a higher return through improved soil fertility, increased crop yields, and income generation. Farmers can diversify their "investment portfolio" by planting various tree species, minimizing risks associated with climate change and agricultural uncertainties.
Join us in making a tangible and positive impact.
