FOREST RESTORATION
Restoring and protecting forest ecosystems across Sub-Saharan Africa using an integrated ecosystem restoration and sustainable development approach.
Why Forests?
From forests and grasslands to rivers and oceans, the health and diversity of Earth’s ecosystems are the basis of human prosperity and well-being.
At Greenpop, our ecosystem restoration work focuses on temperate forests across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Forests provide vital services to both people and the planet, bolstering livelihoods, providing clean air and water, conserving biodiversity and responding to climate change. They hold more than three-quarters of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, provide many products and services that contribute to socio-economic development, and are a critical lifeline for hundreds of millions of people in rural areas, including many of the world’s poorest.
In short, forests make life on this planet possible.
Deforestation in Africa
In spite of the vital role of our forests, degradation continues to take place at an alarming rate.
As a continent, Africa had the highest global net loss of forests over the last 10 years, at an average loss of 3.9 million hectares per year.
This loss is particularly concerning in Africa, where the Afromontane forests are said to have some of the highest ‘biodiversity significance’ in the world. In other words, forest loss here has disproportionate negative effects on local ecology.
But hope is not lost!
Large-scale forest restoration, in addition to restoration of other critical ecosystems, is needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and to prevent, halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity. Forest restoration, when implemented appropriately, helps restore habitats and ecosystems, create jobs and income and is an effective nature-based solution to climate change.
The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, announced in March 2019, aims to accelerate ecosystem restoration action worldwide. This is a rallying call to governments, organisations and businesses large and small to participate in creating a greener future for people and the planet.
We have been restoring forests since 2011
TREES PLANTED
HECTARES UNDER RESTORATION
PEOPLE INVOLVED
Our Projects
FORESTS FOR LIFE
2011 – Present
Through this programme, we form long-term partnerships with small-scale organisations and provide support to plant trees, restore forest and woodland habitats, effectively manage critical catchment areas, and improve the lives of communities who rely on forest resources.
Our Forest Restoration Advisory Panel
Dr Derek Berliner
Conservation Biologist, Independent Consultant
Prof Charlie Shackleton
Environmental Scientist, Rhodes University
Dr Charlene Janion-Scheepers
Entomologist, University of Cape Town
Greenpop Foundation NPC is a registered non-profit organisation. Registration Number (NPO): 151-411 NPO.
