Plant a Tree in Africa
Did you know that the simple act of planting a tree can help build healthy communities in rural Africa? That's because...
Everything is connected.
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Without fertile soil, food production declines and hunger increases
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Without adequate forest cover soils become depleted
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Without secure food supplies and clean water, good health is impossible.
Deforestation and land degradation are complex problems.
While deforestation in other parts of the world is mainly caused by commercial logging or cattle ranching, the leading causes in Africa are associated with human activity. Communities in Africa rely heavily on wood fuel, the major energy source for cooking and heating. As a result:
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An estimated 90 percent of people use fuelwood for cooking.
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Firewood and brush supply about 52 percent of all energy sources.
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Africa loses an estimated 5 million hectares of tropical forest area per year.
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Land degradation is estimated to affect about 230 million hectares annually.
Trees are a source of life!
Often, we don't think about the fact that trees are a crucial ingredient to sustaining good health - especially in rural Africa. Trees provide many of life's day-to-day necessities and:
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Help increase food production by returning moisture and nutrients to the soil.
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Add moisture to the air, which can increase rainfall and help combat famine producing drought.
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Provide food, medicine, wood products, fuel and income.
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Clean the air for the entire global community and help prevent global warming.
Plant a Tree in Africa
When you Plant a Tree in Africa, you’ll support plant trees and:
- Help establish locally run tree nurseries with multipurpose tree seedlings
- Provide tools, supplies and training to local groups (hoes, watering cans etc.)
- Support community education campaigns and school environmental clubs.
- Restore degraded lands and gullys
Plant a Tree in Africa now
To purchase limited edition Plant a Tree in Africa T-shirts, cards and more, call us at 1-800-263-2727-ext 31.