Tropical deforestation is a significant contributor to climate change, generating 12 to 15 percent of global carbon emissions. We at NED Africa recognize the substantial efforts made by various groups, public and private, to plant trees and restore forests to address climate change. We believe there is still more work to be done and NED Africa was born out of this vision to take the necessary next steps in tropical forest restoration to address climate change, using a holistic approach which includes animal conservation and poverty alleviation of local people.

Why tropical forests?

Forests in the tropical belt around the equator benefit the planet. Planting trees in the tropical belt around the equator is particularly important for addressing climate change and rebalancing the CO2 levels in the atmosphere. They absorb CO2, in a process called carbon sequestering, which helps lower temperatures. This is why we at NED Africa base our organization and activities in tropical forest reserves just north of the equator in the Hohoe District, situated in the Volta Region of Ghana, and Danyi- Dzogbégan, Togo, West Africa.

Cultivating local cooperation for the benefit of all

Many existing tropical forest reserves have lost their integrity, stalling restoration goals. Deforestation activities within forest reserves like those in Hohoe District still happen at high rates. Illegal logging is often poorly monitored. A lack of cooperation from local people to cease cutting trees within the reserve exists because they do not enjoy tangible benefits from the restoration of tropical forests that could improve their livelihoods and well-being. Many have had their lands taken from them by the government without compensation to maintain the reserves.

The livelihoods of rural people and the protection of forests and their inhabitants are intertwined. People will do whatever it takes to survive and prosper. By developing sustainable livelihoods for local people–including alternative income generation and fuel sources, education, and training–we make room for a partnership with them to jointly address climate change and poverty.

Taking action to address climate change

To date, we have cultivated approximately 12 million seedlings and saplings which have been supplied to communities and individuals in Ghana and Togo for the purposes of afforestation, alleycropping, ornamentation, and medicine.

And we’re just getting started. Now we are expanding our work in order to rigorously restore millions of acres of tropical forests and sustainably develop rural areas for millions of people across Africa.