Sustainable community forestry

2022 saw the conclusion of our Sustainable Community Forestry programme, a multi-year partnership with Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund. Thanks to their support, we’ve planted 500,000 trees since 2019.

As part of this programme of work, we’ve been working with Landscape Conservation Mentors (LCMO) on their Greening Mpimbwe Campaign project in Katavi, Western Tanzania.

Mzee Shija Sele, is a prominent beekeeper in Mwamampuli Village area where he has over 300 beehives. When LCMO asked him to take part in the project, he gladly set aside part of his land for tree planting. Through LCMO we have been supporting him and 33 local farmers with training, advice and support on tree planting on farmland. Mzee Sele has established a fruit farm on his land and is growing various trees, including fruit trees like mangoes, oranges, papayas.

“I love learning new ways of land use and through consistent exposure to different potential investments, I have been able to increase the value of my land. This currently serves as a model to my community. People are coming to learn from me and I enjoy sharing such knowledge with fellow farmers. I just enjoy seeing beehives, fruit trees and green gardens in the same place, this is the way to go toward achieving sustainability,” said Mzee Shija Sele.