You've joined a movement for a greener future
Tree Aid has been planting trees across Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Ethiopia since 1987. Every tree planted is selected for its suitability for the communities and environment that we’re working with.
Right trees, right place, right reason
- They are drought hardy so often survive when other crops fail.
- Their roots stabilise the soil to stop it from being washed away in the rain, and fix nitrogen in the ground, improving the fertility of the land.
- They absorb carbon dioxide – a cause of climate change.
- They are a natural air conditioner – providing shade and cooling the air.
How can trees transform lives after they have been grown?
- Trees produce leaves, fruits, nuts, seeds and oils which can be sold at market, providing much-needed income for families.
- Tree produce provides people with stable supplies of food.
- Trees improve the fertility of soil and with the right tools and training from Tree Aid, smallholder farmers can care for their trees and increase crop yields.
Where do we grow our trees?
Don’t you need water to plant trees?
In the drylands of Africa, rain only falls for three months of the year, in a concentrated 'rainy season'. Conserving the water, and preventing drought and flooding, is key to our trees' survival. That's why we work to equip communities with the tools and training they need to manage land and water together.
Some of these water-conserving techniques include zai pits (holes in the soil that trap water), stone bunds (barriers to prevent water running off the land), and boulis (rainwater conservation reservoirs).
Trees are a solution
When we grow the right species, in the right places, trees can provide a solution to some of our most urgent challenges. Discover how we're using trees to...
Find out how communities benefit from five of our favourite trees
Choosing which trees to grow on any Tree Aid project is a decision that's made with the local community. We take a lot of different factors into account, from soil type, to nutritional needs and local diets.
