Tree for life Project
We are proud to begin sharing our journey through the Tree for Life project, a partnership between My Birthday Tree organization, Mikuyu Tanzania, and Impact Lead Tanzania. Our main objective is to restore degraded landscapes and empower local farmers with skills in tree nursery establishment and management.
The Tree for Life Project implemented in Manyara Region, Tanzania, is a community-based environmental and livelihood initiative aimed at restoring degraded landscapes, improving household incomes, and strengthening climate resilience among rural communities. The project responds to increasing environmental challenges in Manyara, including deforestation, land degradation, declining soil fertility, and the impacts of climate change such as prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall.
The project focuses on tree nursery establishment as a sustainable solution to address both environmental and socio-economic challenges. Through the establishment of well-managed tree nurseries, the project produces a wide range of fruit trees, indigenous trees, fodder and multipurpose species that support ecosystem restoration while providing long-term economic benefits to communities.
A key component of the Tree for Life Project is capacity building. Community members, particularly youth, women, and smallholder farmers, are trained in nursery establishment, seedling management, grafting, soil preparation, use of shade nets, watering techniques, and pest and disease control. These skills not only ensure high survival rates of seedlings but also create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities through the sale of seedlings.
The project promotes agroforestry practices, encouraging farmers to integrate fruit and multipurpose trees such as mango, avocado, guava, citrus, moringa, tamarind, jackfruit, papaya, and passion fruit into their farming systems. This integration improves soil fertility, enhances biodiversity, provides shade for crops and livestock, and increases household nutrition and income.
In addition, the Tree for Life Project contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation by increasing tree cover, enhancing carbon sequestration, reducing soil erosion, and improving water retention in the soil. In a region like Manyara, where agriculture and livestock are highly dependent on natural resources, these environmental benefits are critical for long-term sustainability.
The project is implemented through strong partnerships with local organizations, community leaders, and development partners, ensuring local ownership and sustainability. Community sensitization and engagement are central to the project, fostering a sense of responsibility for tree care and environmental conservation even beyond the project period.
Overall, the Tree for Life Project in Manyara serves as a holistic model that links environmental conservation with livelihood improvement. By combining tree planting, skills development, and community empowerment, the project contributes to sustainable development, poverty reduction, and environmental protection in the region.