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Trees for the Future

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Organization Overview and Approach:
– Trees for the Future is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989, operating globally with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.
– Their Forest Garden Approach involves planting trees for sustainable agriculture, offsetting 144.64 metric tons of CO2 per acre over 20 years.
– Farmers plant trees for land protection, productivity, and environmental improvement, with Forest Gardens typically 1 acre in size with 2,500 trees.
– Collaborative partnerships with organizations like Futures Agribusiness and Kenya Scout Association support the Forest Garden Approach.

Collaborative Partnerships and Impact:
– Trees for the Future collaborates with various organizations, supporting education, water access, and food security in countries like Gambia and Senegal.
– Partnerships align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to environment, food security, and economic equity.
– The organization contributes to nine out of seventeen UN Sustainable Development Goals, supporting biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and improved nutrition.
– Collaborations include work with The Great Green Wall initiative in Senegal and Mali.

History, Goals, and Achievements:
– Founded in 1989 as The New Forests Project, Trees for the Future has a history of reforestation efforts and tree planting milestones.
– The organization aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to environment, food security, and economic equity, aiming for poverty reduction, economic growth, and global partnerships.
– Strategic goals include planting 500 million trees by 2025 and one billion trees in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
– Achievements include launching the Forest Garden Training Center, planting over 316 million trees worldwide, and being the official implementing partner of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Leadership and Organizational Changes:
– John Leary transitioned to Chief Strategy Officer in 2022, with Tim McLellan appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer.
– The organization announced an expansion of the Executive Team in 2022 and is searching for a permanent CEO.
– A new look and logo were revealed in April 2022, reflecting organizational changes and growth.

Recognition, Publications, and Resources:
– Trees for the Future has received recognition for its efforts, with Executive Director John Leary’s publication ‘One Shot’ winning the Nautilus Award.
– The organization has been featured in various publications, including The Washington Post, The Good Men Project, and AgriFocus Africa.
– Resources available include information on the official website, Forest Garden Carbon Brief document, collaborative partnerships, impact reports, and a Strategic Growth Plan from 2019-2025.

Trees for the Future (abbreviated sometimes as TREES) is a Maryland-based nonprofit organization founded on August 14, 1989, that trains farmers around the world in agroforestry and sustainable land use.

Trees for the Future
AbbreviationTREES
FormationAugust 14, 1989; 34 years ago (1989-08-14)
FoundersGrace and Dave Deppner
TypeNonprofit organization
52-1644869
Legal status501(c)(3)
HeadquartersBethesda, Maryland
Region
Global
FieldsAgroforestry, sustainable development, agricultural training and extension
Tim McLellan
Key people
John Leary (Chief Strategy Officer), Brandy Bellou (Director of Programs)
Employees
220+ FTEs
Websitehttps://trees.org

TREES provides technical assistance with the help of mechanical, forestry and agricultural engineers and training in their signature methodology, which they call the Forest Garden Approach. Farmers who join their training program - whether through one of their field offices or online via their Forest Garden Training Center - receive instruction on planting trees on their own farms and integrating them into regenerative agricultural systems for increased farm productivity, sustainability, and food security.

Since their founding in 1989, TREES has planted over 260 million trees with more than 25,000 farmers around the world. In June 2021, they announced their intention to plant one billion trees as part of global reforestation efforts led by the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

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