**Haiti is one of the most deforested countries in the world. The massive loss of forest cover is mainly due to charcoal production, which is the population's primary source of energy. Since 2019, Reforest'Action has partnered with Agrinotech to run an agroforestry project that is both socially meaningful and impact-generating. In nine sections of the Saint-Michel de l'Attalaye region, our partner is dedicated to raise awareness among local populations and to provide training in sustainable agriculture, the only viable means of subsistence in the face of climate change. After three years of action, the project is bearing fruit in the field.** 

![Haïti agroforesterie 2.jpg](/uploads/Haiti_agroforesterie_2_49430b036d.jpg)

## Agroforestry as a response to huge challenges

Discovered in the 15th century by Christopher Columbus, the island of Hispaniola, comprising Haiti to the west and the Dominican Republic to the east, was originally 80% covered by a wide variety of trees. Today, Haiti is one of the most deforested countries in the world, with only 2% of the country's total surface area covered by woodland.

Deforestation in Haiti first started in 1730, during the colonial period, with coffee cultivation occupying a quarter of the territory. It intensified significantly over the 20th century in response to the massive and uncontrollable development of the timber industry. Between 2002 and 2022, the total area of primary rainforest in Haiti fell by 35%, meaning that over 3,000 hectares of carbon and biodiversity sinks were lost. In 2022 alone, deforestation in the country emitted 894,000 tons of CO2 equivalent*. Today, facing extreme poverty, the rural population is forced to chop down trees to produce charcoal, the only fuel available in the absence of any national energy policy. Farming families are bearing the brunt of negative impacts resulting from forest ecosystem destruction: soil degradation and lower crop productivity, prolonged drought, water pollution and more. 

*Source: Global Forest Watch, 2022.

## 2022-2023 season activities

Reforest'Action has been funding an agricultural ecosystem regeneration project in Haiti since 2019, carried out in the field by Agrinotech, an association of motivated agronomists whose ambition is to support and improve the Haitian agricultural sector. Over three planting seasons, the project has enabled the establishment of sustainable agroforestry systems. Forest, fruit, and medicinal species have been integrated into the crops of farmers from the municipality of Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye. The primary goals of this program are to regenerate the area's vegetation cover and to ensure the food and economic security of local communities. However, long-term objectives include preserving water sources and groundwater, which are already under threat, and increasing stream flows in the Saint-Michel area, while and providing people with sustainably sourced timber in order to reduce pressure on surrounding forests. 

Launched in May 2022, the project's final season ended in August 2023. The planting of a dozen different species, including tree species such as lemon and bitter orange, and native species including corossol, rabbi and mahogany, helped enrich the vegetable and cereal crops of volunteer farmers.

### Successes and challenges

At the end of the season, thanks to the mobilization of our project implementer and the active participation of local farmers, more than 535,000 seedlings were produced in the nursery and distributed to the beneficiaries, against an initial target of 515,000 seedlings. In addition, the species selection contained more native trees than in previous seasons.

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Our partner Agrinotech, keen to continuously improve their practices, took advantage of this season to develop the project team's skills. Selected employees received training from the "Haiti Outreach" organization, which specializes in drinking water supply systems. Combating the drying-up of water resources is a major focus of the project financed by Reforest'Action, and the benefits of tree planting on the quality and quantity of water available will be monitored over time.

The 2022-2023 season was also marked by challenges related to the geopolitical situation in Haiti. The fuel shortage, caused by the gang war that has been raging in the capital since 2021, had major consequences on project activities. Fuel is needed to water seedlings in nurseries as well as to transport them to the farms where they will be planted. Significant adaptation measures have been taken to alleviate these difficulties. More staff were mobilized in the nursery to water the seedlings by hand, while fuel was purchased at high cost to deliver the trees on time. In addition, the main nursery was divided and relocated to three strategic sites so that trees could be more easily distributed to local farmers.

### Follow-up and monitoring visits

Prior to the new planting period, the Agrinotech team visited the previous beneficiaries' plots to assess the condition of the trees already planted. This monitoring work made it possible to replace all the trees that had not survived, and thus to measure the effectiveness of tree redistribution and transplanting. A check was also carried out on the plots of each new participant, with the aim of both analyzing the need for soil preparation before planting and recording the new beneficiaries on the project map. Our partner makes every effort to accurately trace the seedlings distributed, in order to guarantee optimal follow-up and monitoring of the project in the years to come.

### Recognition of positive impacts

The beneficiaries of the project, which began in 2019, have expressed their enthusiasm for the results achieved. Several of them shared with Agrinotech their observations of the first positive impacts on their land. Some growers said they had succeeded in creating a micro-climate around their plots thanks to the trees planted. Others have noted an improvement in the quality of arable soils, and several are delighted with the added value of forest products (fruit, medicines, etc.). Last but not least, a few say that the nearest water source is no longer dry, whereas it was before the project began. Many farmers therefore express their desire to continue and expand the project over the coming years.

![Haïti agroforesterie 1.jpg](/uploads/Haiti_agroforesterie_1_9b009715b4.jpg)

## The emphasis on awareness-raising and training

Our partner's strength lies in the tight bond it maintains with the inhabitants of the Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye region. Since wood logging by the population is one of the main drivers of deforestation in Haiti, the social dimension of the project is at the heart of Agrinotech's activities. There is an urgent need to raise public awareness on climate change and on the devastating effects of forest cover loss.

In concrete terms, several workshops were held to involve the general public in the project: local producers, religious associations, women's groups, schoolchildren, and local authorities were all invited. These sessions covered a wide range of topics, from the impact of deforestation and the benefits of agroforestry to more technical issues such as how to set up a tree nursery. In addition to empowering Haitian farmers by introducing them to new agricultural practices, Agrinotech aims to inspire and support all stakeholders in understanding environmental issues and applying concrete solutions. A total of 24 training courses were given during the 2022-2023 season, and some 10,600 people benefited from the project. 

On Labor and Agriculture Day, held every first of May in Haiti, the special "Plant Trees Save Lives" workshop lasted three days. Over 250 people from planters' groups and women's associations took part in the different sessions.

![Haïti formation 2.jpg](/uploads/Haiti_formation_2_d6a8916743.jpg)

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### "School gardens" as a training reference 

Eighteen "model plots" were set up during this season. Considered as brainstorming and experimental workshops, these "school gardens" contain samples of endangered native plants and species capable of regenerating in the short term to meet the need for wood energy. Nearly 60 training courses have been carried out on these reference plots, attended by over 350 volunteers, with the aim of helping them to plant seedlings on their agricultural plots according to the recommendations of professional agronomists.

![Haïti formation 3.jpg](/uploads/Haiti_formation_3_33a2e3eb3f.jpg)

### Measures to promote the inclusion of women

At the heart of Agrinotech's social commitment is the inclusion of women. Women have been involved in the project through various mechanisms, most notably as part of the nursery team that operated from December 2022 to February 2023. Nurturing and maintaining a nursery is labor-intensive: purchasing and collecting seeds, mixing the substrate (compost, sand, and dirt), reseeding, transplanting seedlings for delivery, and so on. These activities have been carried out by a team of over 60 local farmers, 70% of whom were women, promoting their integration into the agricultural sector. 

In February 2023, several training sessions exclusively dedicated to women brought together around 100 participants for a workshop addressing the topics of agriculture and environmental protection. As an incentive and reward for taking part in the awareness-raising activities, each participant was given 25 citrus seedlings (orange and/or lemon trees) to plant on her own land.

![Haïti femme plantation.jpg](/uploads/Haiti_femme_plantation_7cf60808f1.jpg)

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In Haiti, our partner focuses on community training to ensure the sustainability of the agroforestry project

**In its 2023 report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations sounds the alarm, calling for a rescue plan for humanity and the planet. Progress appears weak and insufficient on more than 50% of the SDG targets - eight years after their adoption and seven years before expiration. At the halfway point in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, urgent, reinforced, and coordinated action by public and private players is becoming essential. Financing and investment are more necessary than ever.**


## Key ideas from the report

1° The SDGs are in jeopardy: 

Of the 140 or so targets assessed, over 30% recorded no progress or, worse still, regression below the 2015 baseline. Disruptions caused by multiple crises have exacerbated problems of fiscal space in low-income countries (LICs) and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), leading to a reversal of progress on several targets and indicators.

2° Towards a recovery plan:

Agenda 2030 is still seen as the blueprint. However, a rescue plan for people and the planet must encourage fundamental commitment, solidarity, financing, and action changes. In achieving the SDGs, the world must change its current investment patterns and increase the overall investment volume. The urgent objective of the stimulus is to address the chronic international financing gap for the SDGs faced by low-income countries (LICs) and low-middle-income countries (LMICs) and to increase financing flows by at least $500 billion by 2025.

3° The contribution of the private sector: 

The report presents a six-point plan to reform the global financial architecture - public and private while implementing the SDGs Recovery Plan. It involves substantially increasing funding for national and sub-national governments and private companies to make the investments needed to achieve the SDGs. The plan also lies in creating ambitious and internationally accepted criteria for sustainable finance, mandatory for all public financial institutions. It requires aligning private company investment flows with the SDGs through improved planning, regulation, reporting, and monitoring at the national level.

The private sector can thus contribute through eight major types of complementary capital assets: human capital, infrastructure, natural capital, innovation capital, commercial capital, social capital, non-traditional statistics, and scientific channels.
The private sector can contribute through eight major types of complementary capital: human capital, infrastructure, natural capital, innovation capital, commercial capital, social capital, non-traditional statistics, and scientific channels.


## Focus on the status of the SDGs concerning forest ecosystems

Some of the SDGs examined in this report relate directly to forest ecosystems or more indirectly to socio-economic issues or cities (as in the case of urban forests). It is particularly true of:  

ODD n° 15. Life on Earth:

The disappearance of forests, soil degradation, and species extinction are still significant threats to the planet and its populations. 
The risk of extinction of mammal, bird, and amphibian species has accelerated by around 11% since 1993. Halting and reversing biodiversity loss requires a global approach combining regulatory and voluntary measures while mobilizing and aligning funding for biodiversity. 
Alarming trends in land degradation also demand urgent action: Between 2015 and 2019, at least 100 million hectares of healthy, fertile land were degraded yearly, undermining food and water security on a global scale.

SDG n° 13. Climate action: 

To limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be cut by almost half by 2030. However, under the current net-zero commitments of the 193 signatory countries to the Paris Agreement, only a 0.3% reduction is forecast within this timeframe. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has called for an immediate, deep, and sustained reduction in global GHG emissions across all sectors. Extreme weather events are already on the increase. Moreover, the uneven impact of the climate crisis on developing countries is considered particularly worrying. 

SDG n° 6. Drinking water and sanitation: 

To achieve universal coverage by 2030, current rates of progress in drinking water will have to be multiplied by 6, in sanitation by five, and in hygiene by 3. Forests and trees contribute to people and the planet by purifying air and water.

SDG n°. 11. Sustainable cities and communities: 

Cities face challenges such as urban sprawl, air pollution, and a lack of public open spaces. Efforts must focus on developing inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban policies that provide essential services, affordable housing, and efficient transport.

SDG n° 2. Zero hunger: 

Aid and public spending on agriculture are declining despite the growing global food crisis. Investment in agriculture is crucial to improve efficiency, productivity, and income growth and fight poverty and hunger.


## The need to take action in favor of forest ecosystems to meet the SDGs
 
In particular, the SDGs allow companies to demonstrate the social and environmental value they bring by supporting forest ecosystems.

For example, forests contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals in terms of securing livelihoods in the fight against poverty and food security (SDG no. 1 and 2), as well as good water management (SDG no. 6) and climate action (SDG no. 13). They help to halt and reverse the process of land degradation (SDG target 15.3) and halt the loss of biodiversity (SDG targets 15.1, 15.4, 15.5, 15.9 and 15. a). Above all, measures relating to forests, agriculture, food, land use, rural development, and national development must be synchronized. 

Such an integrated approach is essential to progress towards achieving the targets of the SDGs, as already pointed out by the United Nations (FAO) in 2018.


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**Only seven years remain for all stakeholders to act responsibly in implementing the 2030 Agenda. Therefore, a Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals will be convened on September 18 and 19, 2023, to "mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.» Measures such as introducing regulatory innovations aligning private sector governance models with SDG targets could bring about substantial change if implemented quickly. "If we don't act now, the 2030 Agenda will become the epitaph of a world that could have been." - António Guterres, UN Secretary-General.**




### References


United Nations, The Sustainable Development Goals Report  2023: Special Edition.

United Nations, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of the World’s Forests 2018, Forest pathways to sustainable development.

2023 SDG Summit, 18-19 September 2023, New York.


















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UN Report on the Sustainable Development Goals 2023: The urgent need for a rescue plan for humanity and the planet

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ReforesTerra: a carbon project to restore 2,000  hectares of Amazon rainforest in Brazil

**On September 5, 2023, Reforest'Action spoke at the Regenerative Agriculture and Food Systems Summit in Amsterdam, bringing together over 200 high-level decision-makers from the food supply chain sector. 
Stéphane Hallaire (Founder and CEO of Reforest'Action) took part in a round-table discussion moderated by Dana Rakha-Michalon (One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B), World Business Council for Sustainable Development). He debated with Nathalie Meurer (Director of Sustainable Development and 2030 Projects, Maison Hennessy, LVMH) and Alex Godfrey (Head of Natural Capital, Savills). 
The panel discussed the benefits of adopting a holistic approach as part of a "Nature Positive" corporate strategy.**


![Regenerative Agriculture Summit, Amsterdam 2023](/uploads/Microsoft_Teams_image_12_c00faa9218.png)

## Adopting a Holistic Approach
 
During the round-table discussion, Stéphane Hallaire stressed the need for companies to adopt a holistic approach when implementing regenerative agriculture projects. There is a strong temptation to consider only the carbon impact of projects in addition to agricultural production. But this is only a partial response to the environmental challenges we face. Indeed, with production declining over time due to declining soil quality and water scarcity, we need to act quickly and on a large scale on levers other than climate. Considering agriculture in silos can no longer be the right approach. We need to consider the complexity of ecosystems.
As such, the approach we promote at Reforest'Action starts with defining objectives and constraints regarding production, climate, biodiversity, soil, water, and social acceptance. We build tailor-made projects by adopting the best practices of regenerative agriculture - cover crops, crop rotation, and agroforestry - before assessing their impact over time.
This approach is more complex than conventional agriculture: it requires more skills and some investment. However, regenerative agriculture is a winning bet. In addition to generating carbon credits, it ensures greater crop resilience, for example, by limiting water requirements or protecting crops from strong winds. The purchase of inputs is also reduced, given the positive effects of biomass.

## Measuring the impact

To encourage this kind of agricultural transition, companies at the end of the agricultural value chain often must provide financing, as farmers rarely have the means to pay for the necessary investments. To do so, they need to know the benefits of adopting regenerative farming practices, hence the importance of defining precise objectives and measuring their attainment over time. Reforest'Action's ambition regarding the climate is to ensure that the farm captures more CO2 than it emits. For biodiversity, we consider a reference ecosystem without human intervention and ensure the project is close to it. We are also developing technologies to measure the carbon, biodiversity, soil/water, and social impacts of projects. Some measurement tools, such as soil sampling, are easy for farmers to use. Others, such as satellite and regional scientific data, enable remote analysis.

![Amsterdam Regenerative Agriculture Summit, 2023](/uploads/Microsoft_Teams_image_15_ef51259d6c.png)

**Agriculture is responsible for 23% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. It also has a significant impact on biodiversity and water, for example. In this respect, the round table was an opportunity for Stéphane Hallaire to argue in favor of a holistic approach, as it would be too risky to focus solely on reducing carbon emissions in the context of agricultural production. 
Reforest'Action's holistic approach aims to regenerate terrestrial ecosystems on a large scale to meet global challenges, drawing on field experience, local communities, science, and technology.**


Regenerative Agriculture Summit, Amsterdam 2023

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Regenerative Agriculture and Food Systems Summit:  Reforest'Action promotes a holistic approach 

**Initiated in 2020, the project financed by Reforest'Action in the regions of Agnéby-Tiassa, Indénié Djuablin and Mé, in eastern Ivory Coast, is led in the field by the company Agro-Map, in cooperation with the Ministry of Water and Forests. The project involves developing agroforestry within cocoa production chains, creating private and community forests, and restoring national classified forests. It provides direct support for reforestation programs launched by the Ivorian government with the aim of restoring 20% of the country's forest cover by 2030. Three years of implementation in the field have already resulted in the planting of over 920,000 trees of 14 different species, with the aim of sustainably regenerating forest ecosystems and contributing to the transformation of the cocoa industry.** 

![Cocoa-pod-2.jpg](/uploads/Cocoa_pod_2_3c53635322.jpg)

## The impact of forest degradation on the health of the cocoa crop
 
### In Ivory Coast, 92% of primary forests have disappeared in half a century
Since the last century, Ivory Coast has seen an accelerated degradation of its forests. Logging, mining, urbanization and extensive slash-and-burn agriculture have all gained ground on Ivory Coast's natural forests. Since the country's independence in 1961, Ivory Coast has lost 92% of its primary forests, leading to large-scale erosion of plant and animal biodiversity and climate change at regional and global level. Today, forests occupy 9.2% of the national territory, compared with around 45% sixty years ago. With decreasing rainfall and longer periods of drought, local communities' harvests are dwindling, and their food and economic security is compromised. This threatens the country's entire ecological as well as its economic and social balance.
 
![Aerial-view-degraded-forests-4.jpg](/uploads/Aerial_view_degraded_forests_4_19b28b3b35.jpg)

### Deforestation-induced climate change threatens the cocoa industry
The cocoa sector, in particular, has been severely weakened by worsening hydro-climatic conditions. Ivory Coast is currently the world's leading cocoa producer (2.2 million tonnes in 2022), ahead of Ghana (750,000 tonnes) and Ecuador (370,000 tonnes). Cocoa accounts for 40% of its exports, 14% of its GDP and provides income for 20% of its population. But the industry, which today counts one million producers in Ivory Coast, is faced with the question of whether cocoa plantations will even be able to survive by 2050. 
For years, Ivory Coast's cocoa growers have favored the expansion of monoculture cocoa plots to the detriment of forests. Today, although the majority of cocoa crops are the result of deforestation, i.e. plots have been established in the place of forests, they need forest cover to achieve the best possible compromise between crop yield and longevity, thanks in particular to the shade and moisture that the trees provide for the cocoa trees beneath. But there's another threat to cocoa farming: the structural decline in cocoa yields caused by soil impoverishment in monoculture plots, with no regard for good farming practices. So how can we ensure the long-term future of this industry, which is vital to the country, and move it towards more sustainable production methods with a view to zero deforestation? 
 
![Cocoa-pod-3.jpg](/uploads/Cocoa_pod_3_ccc91e1945.jpg)
 
### A regenerative project to help safeguard the Ivorian cocoa industry
The project, funded by Reforest'Action since 2020, has the dual aim of contributing to both the regeneration of Ivorian forest cover, and the development of agroforestry within cocoa fields - two essential strands of action to safeguard and enhance the value of the Ivorian cocoa supply chain over the long term. With the support of the Ministry of Water and Forests, the project is being implemented in the field by the Ivorian company Agro-Map, which in September 2023 was awarded the Prix de l'Excellence by the Ivorian government as the best reforestation player in Ivory Coast.
 
![Tree-nursery-woman.jpg](/uploads/Tree_nursery_woman_0f543be7ca.jpg)
 
## Breaking the link between deforestation and cocoa production
 
### National target: 6 million hectares of forest restored by 2030
In Ivory Coast, the urgent need is to restore degraded forests and regenerate forests that have disappeared due, in particular, to cocoa production. Since 2018, the Ivorian government has adopted a new forest policy that aims to recover 6 million hectares of forest by 2030, which implies doubling the country's forest cover from 9.2% to around 20%. Our project contributes directly to this ambitious objective, firstly by helping to restore degraded classified forests, and secondly by supporting cocoa producers in the creation of community and private forests. In this way, cocoa farmers play a direct part in reforestation and forest preservation, and help to break the link between their industry and deforestation.
 
![Tree-nursery.jpg](/uploads/Tree_nursery_b3e93dfff8.jpg)

### Restoring degraded islands to ensure the continuity of classified forests
Managed on a long-term basis by the Société de Développement des Forêts (SODEFOR), a state-owned company under the supervision of Ivory Coast's Ministry of Water and Forests, Ivory Coast's classified forests are now protected from logging. However, they still contain pockets of forest that have been severely degraded by past deforestation. 
To help restore them, our partner Agro-Map, in conjunction with the Water and Forestry Department, allocates degraded plots to villagers within these forests. They are then encouraged to grow food crops such as chillies and manioc, provided they also plant forest and fruit trees. Combining these short-cycle food crops with the planting of forest trees keeps villagers interested in the upkeep of these plots, and ensures that the trees grow in optimal conditions. 
Since the project was launched in 2020, 142,876 trees have been planted in the Séguié, Rasso and Béki classified forests. These trees, of various forest species (Framiré, Fraké, Mahogany, Cedrela, Teak...), will help to ensure the ecological continuity of these forests and to reconstitute dense, stable and perennial forest ecosystems.
 
![Villageois-entretien-parcelles-boisées.jpg](/uploads/Villageois_entretien_parcelles_boisees_bb9bd42909.jpg)

### Creating new forests to increase forest cover
At the same time, new forests are being planted by local communities. Created on land belonging to producers or community plots, they will be used for food purposes, thanks to fruit trees such as Akpi and Kplé, and will enable communities to market non-timber forest products such as seeds. Some species, such as Fraké and Tiama, will be used for medicinal purposes. In the long term, others will be used to produce timber and firewood, such as Fraké, Framiré, Teak, Niangon and Tiama. Nearly 306,500 trees have been planted since 2020.
Around 20,000 additional trees have been planted on the edges of villages over the past three years, at the request of local authorities and communities, to mark territorial boundaries and contribute to better understanding within communities.
 
![Foret communautaire.jpg](/uploads/Foret_communautaire_4fb19c0ac8.jpg)

## Towards a transformation of the Ivorian cocoa industry
 
### Agroforestry for more sustainable cocoa production
With a view to contributing to the extension of national forest cover, the cocoa industry itself can participate in the reintroduction of trees on a landscape scale through agroforestry. This sustainable solution, which makes it possible to reconcile trees and cocoa crops without further degrading the surrounding forests, also has the advantage of offering positive impacts for the cocoa supply chain itself.
- **Micro-climate.** By introducing forest and fruit trees into cocoa plots, agroforestry aims to create a microclimate beneficial to cocoa productivity. The trees planted in the plots increase humidity and limit the impact of drought on crops by providing shade for the cocoa trees, thus limiting evapotranspiration and cooling the ambient air. 
- **Controlling pests and diseases.** When properly modulated, the shade provided by agroforestry trees helps to regulate cocoa tree pests, such as brown pod rot caused by a fungus (favored by overly dense shade), and mirids, insects that cause cocoa tree dieback (which swarm when shade is absent or too light). According to CIRAD, farmers can reduce pesticide inputs and save up to 70% of the phytosanitary protection budget for an intensively managed plot.
- **Water availability.** Agroforestry shading also protects the soil from sunlight and keeps it cool and moist, improving rainwater infiltration and the ability of cocoa trees to draw water from the soil.
- **Soil health.** This approach improves the health of soils degraded by decades of monoculture. By promoting humidity in the litter within the cocoa plantation and adding organic matter to the soil, agroforestry shade trees can act as reservoirs for fungi. The presence of these trees can thus influence the quantity and diversity of mycorrhizae present in the soil and within the surface root system of cocoa trees. These mycorrhizae play a key role in the nutrition and health of cultivated cocoa trees, as well as their resistance to climatic hazards, because they enable better assimilation of phosphorus and nutrients by cocoa trees. 
- **Nitrogen fixation.** Among the trees planted in agroforestry, an atmospheric nitrogen-fixing species, Acacia mangium, is used to increase soil fertility. Its roots form a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria (Rhizobium), which fix atmospheric nitrogen and transform it into a nitrogenous substance that can be assimilated by cocoa trees. This natural phenomenon reduces the need for chemical nitrogen fertilizers. 
- **Carbon storage.** The carbon captured by agroforestry trees and stored in their above-ground and below-ground biomass (leaves, trunk, roots, branches) is then returned to the soil through the fall of leaves and dead wood, enriching humus with organic matter. 
- **Biodiversity.** Agroforestry trees also help to restore biodiversity by providing shelter for a diverse range of fauna, which is essential to cocoa farming thanks to its various functions, such as pollination.

![Planted-trees.png](/uploads/Planted_trees_0ed5ac10cd.png)
 
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In the three years since the project was launched, some 450,000 trees have been planted in agroforestry on the fields of nearly 4,000 cocoa farmers. Among the species planted are slow-growing forest trees, such as Tiama and Niangon, and fast-growing forest trees, such as Fraké, Framiré, Gmelina, Ilomba, Cedrela, Mahogany and Acacia, which, thanks to their canopy, provide shelter for the underlying cocoa trees and wood from fallen branches. Fruit trees such as Kplé, Akpi and Petit Cola will produce fruit to feed farmers' families or sell on markets.
 
![Cocoa-producer-in-agroforestry-plot.jpg](/uploads/Cocoa_producer_in_agroforestry_plot_ae9b2364f2.jpg)

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### Producers’ commitment: a key factor in the project's success
Awareness-raising among villagers, cocoa producers and local cocoa cooperative managers is a key component of the project. It has been carried out by our technical partner Agro-Map over the past three years, and has attracted the participation of over 9,000 people. Through awareness-raising workshops, animation groups and meetings with local authorities in the villages involved in the project, producers and their families have been trained in agroforestry techniques and the maintenance of planted trees, as well as in the importance of preserving the surrounding forest ecosystems, particularly in the face of frequent forest fires. These various actions have helped to make the project widely known in the Agnéby-Tiassa, Indénié Djuablin and Mé regions, and to ensure the involvement of local communities in the project. Going out into the field to meet men and women has also enabled Agro-Map to identify new sites for reforestation or agroforestry development, and so continue to develop the project and its many benefits.
 
![Cocoa-producer-with-cocoa-pod.jpg](/uploads/Cocoa_producer_with_cocoa_pod_1d6f236f16.jpg)

### Ecosystem services for the benefit of local communities
In addition to its strong environmental impact and its contribution to transforming the cocoa industry, the project also generates valuable socio-economic benefits. During an audit conducted by Reforest'Action in September 2022, the local communities involved have already testified to the multiple benefits produced by the project on their living conditions.
The project as a whole has helped to generate employment, particularly among the younger generation, and to improve community incomes by involving villagers in tree nursery production, planting and maintenance activities. In particular, women's communities have become massively involved in the project, which has enabled them to strengthen their technical capacities and autonomy.  Agroforestry will also contribute to the food security of cocoa farmers and their families, as well as diversifying their income through the sale of seeds and fruit from agroforestry trees when they are mature enough to produce them. Fast-growing forest species, meanwhile, can provide communities with wood from their fallen branches.
All these benefits contribute to making the local cocoa industry more sustainable and redistributive, while helping to restore forests that have suffered for decades.
 
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In Ivory Coast, reforestation is essential to support the cocoa industry

**In the Sine Saloum region of Senegal, a project financed by Reforest'Action and implemented by Nébéday places a central role in educating children about environmental issues. Throughout the three-year project, a wide range of educational approaches are deployed to involve the younger generations, who will be responsible for preserving the restored ecosystems and their natural resources in the future. This educational reforestation project stands out for its originality and the deep commitment it inspires in local communities.**

![Enfant-projet-Nebeday.jpg](/uploads/Enfant_projet_Nebeday_b578257f0b.jpg)

## An educational reforestation project that puts children at the center
In Senegal, charcoal production, illicit timber trafficking, the proliferation of bush fires and livestock roaming are responsible for the country's overall forest loss. In sixty years, Senegal has lost almost half its forest area, including mangroves. The disappearance of forests accentuates soil erosion and salinization in coastal areas, estuaries and continental lands, leading to a decline in agricultural activity and impoverishment of the rural population. 
Against this backdrop, Reforest'Action is financing a reforestation project entitled GALA ("Grandir Avec Les Arbres"), run by the Senegalese association Nébéday. In the departments of Fatick and Thies, in the Sine Saloum region to the north of Gambia, the project involves around a hundred schools and several thousand pupils in the deployment of three ecosystem regeneration components.

**In the villages associated with the project,** the schools selected by Nébéday and the regional IEF (Inspection de l'Education et de la Formation) set up nurseries around which students receive initial training as nurserymen, so that they can become self-sufficient in tree production. The trees are then planted within the schools and on land belonging to the students' families, or around their homes. Among the species selected, high-growing species such as Cassia Siamea and Delonix regia provide shade for playgrounds and family plots. Fruit species, such as cashew, papaya and lemon, have been chosen for their traditional role in the local diet. Moringa, considered a superfood with multiple benefits, has also been introduced. Planted in agroforestry, these trees will contribute to the long-term food security of families. 

![pépinière-sing-nguessine.jpg](/uploads/pepiniere_sing_nguessine_3a58f731c8.jpg)

**At the interface between land and sea,** along the Saloum delta, degraded pockets of mangroves have been identified by Nébéday to involve children in their restoration, while raising awareness of the importance of preserving these forests. 

**In the continental forests,** the schools are also taking part in planting sessions to regenerate these ecosystems and contribute to their conservation, using palm-root trees, one of the constituent species of the Sangako, Samba Dia, Wélor and Djilor classified forests. This species has many traditional uses for local communities: making bags, baskets, furniture and even roofs from its leaves, extracting the sap to produce palm wine, eating the fruit itself as part of the family diet... The restoration of these forests thus offers a direct impact and high added value for the villagers.

![Enfants-projet-Fatick.jpg](/uploads/Enfants_projet_Fatick_31b930b5a1.jpg)

## The life of the project: a new year of environmental education in schools
Initiated at the end of 2021, the project began by setting up tree nurseries in schools during 2022. During this first year, 38,782 trees were planted in schools and on family estates. The summer of 2022 saw the organization of six "Nature Camps" sessions, during which 300 children discovered forest and mangrove ecosystems and participated in their reforestation. Through these activities, 24,000 palm trees and 314,000 mangroves were planted. 

![Camps-Nature.jpg](/uploads/Camps_Nature_bba3986c59.jpg)

With the start of the 2022 school year, a new year of environmental education began for the 7,000 pupils involved in the project. From November 2022 to June 2023, teams from our partner Nébéday made six visits to the schools. On the program: raising awareness of ecosystem degradation and the importance of regeneration, learning about the life cycle of trees, waste management training, educational film screenings, nursery maintenance, new tree production and a composting workshop. The year ended in June 2023 with the planting of the trees produced by the students. A total of 408 trees were planted in school playgrounds, and a further 23,065 trees were taken home by the children to be planted in their respective homes. At the same time, 20,200 mangrove trees were planted in the Saloum delta, and 14,500 walnut trees were planted in the Samba Dia, Wélor and Djilor forests. 

![reboisement-mangrove-fossèmou.jpg](/uploads/reboisement_mangrove_fossemou_b2de98e16c.jpg)

## Community enthusiasm, a guarantee of the project's success
In April 2023, an audit mission led by Yori d'Aquino, Project Officer for Reforest'Action, confirmed the good operational progress of the project and the enthusiasm of the local communities. In addition to the quality of nursery maintenance, which demonstrates the commitment of the beneficiaries, Yori was also able to observe the good development of the trees planted over the two years of the project, and the rigour of the monitoring activities carried out by Nébéday. Discussions with local communities revealed that the project had been taken on board by the villagers, and in particular by the parents of the pupils involved. This is borne out by the words of the Ngohé Mbougel village chief, Léopold Coumakh Ndiaye, who, interviewed by Reforest'Action, attests to the many benefits of the project. While the trees planted contribute directly to feeding the families, they have also helped to create a genuine community development around the children, and to raise awareness of current environmental issues in Senegal. 

![Senegal-Fatick-2022-3.jpg](/uploads/Senegal_Fatick_2022_3_df972e64a8.jpg)


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In Senegal's Sine Saloum region, children grow up with trees

**In Senegal, Reforest'Action has been financing a regenerative, multidimensional project since February 2022. Led in the field by Karamba, a Franco-Senegalese economic interest group, and Bioeco, a French company providing technical support, the project aims to restore mangrove ecosystems around the village of Kataba, enrich degraded natural forests and develop agroforestry.**

## A multidimensional and regenerative project 
The project is located in the Ziguinchor region of southern Senegal, between Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, where biodiversity has been severely eroded as a result of the armed conflicts of the 1980s and the population explosion. Added to this environmental catastrophe is the salinization of the land, i.e. the accumulation of salts with a high sodium content in the soil to levels that are toxic for fauna, flora and fungi. The result is a massive abandonment of these lands, traditionally used for rice cultivation, which are gradually becoming infertile and evolving into bare, barren spaces, unsuitable for any agricultural activity. This natural phenomenon is exacerbated by climate change and the retreat of the region's forests, including the mangrove ecosystems along the Casamance River. 
The regenerative project financed by Reforest'Action and led by our partners Karamba and Bioeco, aims to restore natural ecosystems while generating an additional social and economic impact for local communities who live mainly from agriculture, fishing, livestock and forest resources. 
A total of 100,000 trees are to be planted under the project to achieve a triple objective: regenerating mangroves, restoring degraded forests and swamps, and developing agroforestry. At the end of the project's first year, in March 2023, an audit mission by Yori d'Aquino, Project Officer for Reforest'Action, noted the project's good operational progress, as well as the enthusiasm of local communities for both the regeneration of natural ecosystems of mangroves, forests and swamps, and the development of agroforestry.

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## Regenerating mangroves: a source of environmental and socio-economic benefits
A veritable amphibious forest, the mangrove is a plant formation that covers 75% of the coasts, deltas and estuaries of intertropical regions. Mangroves are vital for biodiversity and local communities. Multifunctional by nature, it provides numerous ecosystem services, both environmental and socio-economic. The mangrove's root system also plays a vital role in preserving soil and water resources. Thanks to their roots, mangroves fix the unstable soils in which they grow, thereby limiting coastal erosion and sea-level rise. Rich in precious resources such as fish, medicinal plants, forests, fruit and honey, mangroves are also essential to local populations and their economic activities. 
Mangrove restoration, the main component of the project, aims to reduce the salinization of coastal land, particularly rice paddies, making them unsuitable for cultivation. The planting of mangrove trees (Rhizophora and Avicennia) also helps to increase mangrove-related economic activities such as fishing and the production of wood energy for cooking. Between February 2022 and February 2023, these labor-intensive operations mobilized a large number of local young people.

![Kataba2.jpg](/uploads/Kataba2_1578081675.jpg)

## Restoring soil health and biodiversity in natural forests and swamps
Four species are replanted to enrich degraded natural forests: néré, Senegal mahogany, linké and gmelina. Cashew seedlings are also introduced. These fire-resistant trees, with their high economic added value, will act as firebreaks against potential bush fires. 
The project also involves reforestation of maritime swamps located between the mangrove and the mainland. The reforestation actions carried out as part of the project concern swamps that were formerly herbaceous and have now been stripped bare by intensive cattle grazing, with the aim of stabilizing these ecosystems and restoring their crucial role in combating land salinization. The three species planted (eucalyptus, filao and niawli) will eventually regenerate the grass cover.

![Tanne1.jpg](/uploads/Tanne1_5aeca32fcc.jpg)

## Developing agroforestry to increase the availability of natural resources 
Around Kataba, local communities depend on agriculture for their daily livelihoods. They grow rice, millet, maize, cowpeas and sorghum. The agroforestry trees planted as part of the project will enable farmers to protect their crops and generate additional income by selling fruit at local markets. Our partners are training local producers in the need to include trees as integral components of their agriculture through the creation of agroforestry systems. Various tree species are introduced: 
- Fruit species, including detarium and néré (Parkia biglobosa), known for the juice extracted from its fruit as well as for its medicinal uses; these species will protect the underlying crops and provide local people with additional income from the sale of their fruit and seeds.
- Wood species such as gmelina, Senegal mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) and linké (Afzelia africana), a local species in danger of extinction. These species will provide communities with timber and firewood resources, thus avoiding the need to cut down existing forests. Linké has numerous applications in traditional pharmacopoeia, and will also provide fodder for livestock.

Local communities are directly involved in preparing the land for reforestation and planting. Each beneficiary is also responsible for the upkeep of the planted trees, which are a source of energy wood and fruit. At the same time, training programs in agroforestry ecosystem preservation techniques are offered to local farmers. In particular, they are trained in Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) techniques, such as identifying natural regrowth and protecting it with sheaths against livestock and bush fires.

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In Kataba, Senegal, regenerating natural ecosystems involves local communities

## The case of Château Haut-Bailly

**Acquired by Parisian banker Firmin Haut-Bailly back in 1630, the Haut-Bailly vineyard is located in the commune of Léognan, Gironde, France. After a golden age in the early 20th century followed by a period of decline, the property was bought and renovated by Belgian merchant Daniel Sanders in 1955, who then passed it on to his son Jean. In just over 40 years, this family restored the legendary Graves estate to its former glory. In 1998, American Robert G. (Bob) Wilmers acquired the château, investing heavily to establish Haut-Bailly as one of Bordeaux's finest wines. Véronique Sanders, Jean Sanders' granddaughter, then took over the running of the domaine, an heritage she manages with passion and determination.**

![Haut Bailly 10.jpg](/uploads/Haut_Bailly_10_52ef9fab51.jpg)

The three [wines produced at Haut-Bailly](https://www.haut-bailly.com/en/home.html) (Château Haut-Bailly, Haut-Bailly-II and HB) all benefit from the Pessac-Léognan “appellation d'origine contrôlée” (AOC). Among them, Château Haut-Bailly is a “Grand Cru Classé”, making the château internationally renowned.
 
## A vineyard in harmony with its terroir

Strengthened by its history, the Haut-Bailly property retains its philanthropic, generous and non-conformist values, in the image of its latest purchaser, Bob Wilmers. "Do well and do good." Advocating continuous improvement, it is through reasoned and benevolent innovation that the domaine serves its terroir. Calling for sobriety and temperance, the vineyard promotes harmony between man and nature.

A perfect illustration of this balance, the new half-buried winery plays hide-and-seek with the landscape, with its voluptuous architecture, green roof, panoramic terrace and fully glazed tasting room. Blending perfectly into their surroundings, it is the fruit of a 5-year collaboration between hundreds of people. Rainwater harvesting and recycling, thermal inertia, natural light, etc. the architectural work embodies all of today's environmental requirements. In this place that is both futuristic and timeless, Gabriel Vialard, Technical Director at Haut-Bailly, and his team are constantly refining their know-how and reinforcing the strong link that binds the vines to the land.

![Haut Bailly 2.jpg](/uploads/Haut_Bailly_2_2cceca4ca9.jpg)

**Respect for the terroir is part of Château Haut-Bailly's DNA.** But for Véronique Sanders, the domaine's Director, this means going beyond simply preserving what already exists. It's about having a positive impact on the environment. It is precisely because this philosophy matches the vision of Reforest'Action, whose mission is to develop regenerative projects that create plural value, that a joint project was born between the two entities.

## A tailor-made vitiforestry project

Vitiforestry involves applying agroforestry techniques to viticulture. It aims to integrate various natural plant structures (hedges, isolated trees, small woodlots, etc.) into vineyards, with the objective of regenerating natural ecosystems that are heavily stressed by winegrowing activities. The goal is to revive a naturalness that has been lost as a result of monospecific vine cultivation. 

**With technical support from [Sylva Nova](http://www.sylvanova.eu/page-daccueil-sylva-nova/) and forestry expert Pierre Hermans, Reforest'Action is running a vitiforestry project in the heart of the Haut-Bailly vineyard, a project that we are also sponsoring.**

![Haut Bailly 5 bis.jpg](/uploads/Haut_Bailly_5_bis_8c7a0d0a2b.jpg)

### A meticulous design

On a high-value terroir like Haut-Bailly, every square meter counts. Adopting a holistic vision was essential to design a regenerative project that takes into account the needs of the Living World, the constraints of the winegrowers and the quality standards required. Despite a highly codified system, Reforest'Action was able to propose a harmonious design, respecting the balance between viticulture and nature regeneration. 

**- Perimeter hedges:** hedges have been planted around the vineyard plots, in single or double rows depending on the available space. They contain a variety of deciduous species, such as Field Maple, Hop Hornbeam, Viburnum, Fusain, Almond, Hawthorn, Basswood and Dogwood. 

**- Tree rows:** three rows of trees have been strategically placed, with a grassy strip left below. These alignments have the same function as hedges, except that they do not segment the landscape and maintain the openness of the environment.

**- The wooded island:** a biodiversity island has been planted to create a denser covered forest space. It is made up of Field Maples, Walnut, Pubescent Oak, Field Elm, Maritime Pine, and Atlas Cedar.

In total, almost 6,000 plants of a dozen native species have been integrated into the existing vineyard. Each tree is surrounded by a protective sheath to protect it from the often fatal attacks of rodents. The planting was completed in February 2023 by a team of 5 people. 

![Haut Bailly 4.png](/uploads/Haut_Bailly_4_53d9faf847.png)

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### Multiple impacts   

While regular monitoring and maintenance of the plantations are of course necessary, the benefits mentioned below will be generated gradually and spontaneously, as the trees grow.

#### Restoring a landscape unit

Planting hedges and trees in rows will help to split up plots and restore a bocage landscape. "We're not inventing anything; it's more a matter of recreating landscapes as they existed some 50 years ago," explains Pierre Hermans, head of the vitiforestry program for Reforest'Action's engineering office. The Haut-Bailly vineyard landscape is the estate's showcase, and its aesthetics have a major impact on the château's image. The creation of a panorama of trees, visible as early as two years after planting, will therefore influence the attractiveness of the wine-growing terroir. On a simpler level, trees can create a natural barrier between the vineyard and the rest of the landscape.

![Haut Bailly 6.jpg](/uploads/Haut_Bailly_6_ed155acb8e.jpg)

#### Adapting to climate change

The project will have a positive bioclimatic impact. With climate change, vines are budding earlier and earlier in the year. The buds thus uncovered are more vulnerable to late frosts, and some do not survive. Rows of trees will enable wind flows to circulate, with the aim of limiting cold draughts, and will act as natural windbreaks and barriers against the cold.

We call this bioclimatic conception. Indeed, the project's design has been tailored to the climatic characteristics of the location, in order to get the best out of it and avoid unwanted effects. As Pierre Hermans points out, "if the design is not adapted to the area, it can create more problems than benefits, by trapping cold air flows in the vines, for example. This is always a major concern."

#### Developing biodiversity

Thanks to a diversified mix of species, the planted trees and hedges will provide a home for local wildlife. The design is intended to enhance the biodiversity of the Haut-Bailly vineyard, a haven for many animals. In fact, the vineyard recently hosted the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) in order to carry out a biodiversity inventory. Numerous birds and other small animals were counted in the wooded areas bordering the plots. While wooden nest boxes have since been installed on the property, the trees planted by Reforest'Action will help to create even more natural habitats and provide ideal shelter.

![Haut Bailly 7.jpg](/uploads/Haut_Bailly_7_86049fd589.jpg)

#### Promoting natural regulation

By encouraging the development of predators, such as insects, birds and bats, against vine pests, winemakers can further reduce the use of chemical inputs. Fewer chemical inputs also mean less stress for the vines themselves. The aim is to encourage the synergies that naturally exist between the various living organisms in an ecosystem, and to tend towards autonomous regulation of the environment.

#### Combating soil erosion

The impact of tree planting on the soils of the Haut-Bailly vineyard, an essential component of its terroir, is also noteworthy. The trees' root systems will help combat water and wind erosion, while creating conditions conducive to the development of a diversity of micro-organisms vital to maintaining life underground.

### Reforest'Action's added value

"Vitiforestry is a fairly old but forgotten practice, and Reforest'Action is one of the pioneers looking to revive it," says Pierre Hermans. Whether in Champagne, the Loire, Burgundy, or now in Bordeaux with the Haut-Bailly project: over the last few years, Reforest'Action has acquired solid experience in vitiforestry through the development of several projects in France, within different geographical contexts. 

Reforest'Action has become an expert in the design of tailor-made vitiforestry projects. "Our designs respect a series of restrictions: constraints of space, orientation, shading, water competition between trees and vines, and many others," emphasizes Pierre Hermans. Today, this expertise in the field enables Reforest'Action to support winemakers in their decision-making. "As guarantors of good practices, we work with wine producers to help them avoid costly mistakes. In many cases, we are the trigger that enables a simple idea to become a real project with a positive impact." But Pierre Hermans also insists on the need to remain humble: “We're still learning and progressing, and that only takes time. We're constantly checking and adjusting.” 

![Haut Bailly 8.jpg](/uploads/Haut_Bailly_8_8c155a5245.jpg)

## Co-construction, the keystone of vitiforestry

The high standards inherent in the creation of Haut-Bailly's fine wines is not without echoing the accuracy of Reforest'Action's work. To better understand the vision of the project's two stakeholders, let's consider the words of Pierre Hermans (Reforest'Action) and Véronique Sanders (Haut-Bailly).

![Haut Bailly 9 EN.jpg](/uploads/Haut_Bailly_9_EN_6d59b11626.jpg)
 
**Pierre Hermans**
_"The environmental dimension is the central pillar of the project. But we must keep in mind that we produce wine here. There's no question of interfering with vineyard management. We need to adapt to the day-to-day work of those in the field: understanding the needs of mechanization, taking into account the time and manpower required to maintain the trees, etc. That's why this project was designed in collaboration with the Haut-Bailly vineyard teams. This was a prerequisite for it to be well integrated into the life of the vineyard and accepted by all."_

**Véronique Sanders**
_"It's our duty and our mission to respect the Haut-Bailly terroir, both to make the finest wines possible, and to pass it on to future generations. Our intention in developing this vitiforestry project is to be constantly on the move, thinking things through, not to stop at preconceived ideas, but to continue researching, analyzing, and improving. Haut-Bailly has always been considered a highly innovative vineyard, at the cutting edge of research and technology, and this project is a natural extension of this avant-garde approach._

**Pierre Hermans**
_"There was a lot of discussion with the Haut-Bailly team to find the best tree species or to define the right spacing between the trees and the vines. If a machine needs seven meters to make a U-turn, it must keep doing so once the trees have been planted. It's not just about theoretical knowledge, it's also about practical thinking.”_

**Véronique Sanders***
_"Reasoned experimentation is a key component of our DNA. This is how we address the issue of environmental transition, among other research topics. [...] Our attitude to environmental matters is first and foremost pragmatic, i.e. guided by common sense and the patient search for effective, sustainable solutions; secondly, it is scientific, inspired not by belief or ideology but by the reality of the facts and objective data available to us and resulting from in-depth research; and thirdly, it is focused on people: the health and well-being of our teams, our neighbors and, of course, our customers."_

*[Haut-Bailly en mouvement,](https://www.haut-bailly.com/assets/Haut-Bailly_25%20ans_EN_Web.pdf) 25 ans d’accomplissements

![Haut Bailly 1.jpg](/uploads/Haut_Bailly_1_d76b5b604d.jpg)

The project developed and financed by Reforest'Action in the heart of the Haut-Bailly vineyard is a perfect example of the high standards required to carry out vitiforestry projects. Involvement in the value chain of a renowned wine estate like Château Haut-Bailly calls for modesty and adaptation. The expertise we have acquired on projects with similar constraints means that we are now able to deliver fully customized solutions that generate net positive impacts on soil health, climate, biodiversity and society in general. 

Vitiforestry is part of a broader regenerative agriculture approach, which aims to ensure the long-term resilience and stability of agricultural ecosystems, while maintaining the economic viability of farming activities. Producing raw materials while restoring natural ecosystems is possible.

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Vitiforestry at the service of the finest wines

**As a strategic aspect of Reforest'Action's international development, our global network of Project Officers allows us to deploy our expertise as close as possible to the areas where we operate and to our local project leaders. Based in Quito, Ecuador, our Project Officer Adriana Burbano is in charge of monitoring Reforest'Action's projects in Ecuador and Colombia and searching for new projects. Interview.**

## Her commitment to the environment...
For me, being committed to the environment is not just a matter of protecting our planet, but above all of protecting the people who live on it. We live in a world where strong inequalities are apparent between human beings. This is why I use my work with the people of the Ecuadorian Amazon and the Andes Mountains in Colombia to find strategies, solutions and alternatives based on their knowledge, and to improve their ability to maintain the forests and the ecosystem services that come from them.  

## Her background before Reforest'Action...
I trained in the field of tourism with a degree in ecotourism. I also obtained a master's degree in social sciences with a specialization in environmental studies. During my previous professional experience, I interacted with many actors such as NGOs, governmental institutions and the private sector in order to find solutions to the main threats that can affect the Ecuadorian Amazon region, such as logging, poaching, and the change of land use for infrastructure construction and agribusiness development. On the other hand, I had the opportunity to work with local communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon region to support agroforestry and agroecology processes in order to innovate solutions to the main threats related to climate change impacts. 

## Her missions and responsibilities for Reforest'Action...
I am responsible for the implementation of forestry projects in Colombia and Ecuador. In concrete terms, this consists of accompanying each stage of the development of these projects and carrying out audit missions to ensure their long-term follow-up. My action in the field allows me to follow the evolution of reforestation and restoration actions through, for example, the verification of nurseries and planted plots. 
I also support the development of carbon projects. 

![Adriana article web.jpg](/uploads/Adriana_article_web_622fcac014.jpg)

## Her vision of the Amazon forest...
The Amazon rainforest is home to the richest biodiversity of any ecosystem on the planet. The 400 or so new species discovered in the Amazon are rapidly disappearing due to the increasing global demand for resources. The economy, primarily focused on the exploitation of natural resources, minerals and agribusiness, has already resulted in the replacement of about 20% of the original forest cover with pasture and agricultural crops, to the detriment of the well-being of the local population.
The forest cover of the Ecuadorian Amazon and its ancestral knowledge are constantly threatened by intensive forest exploitation. Deforestation and forest degradation in the Ecuadorian Amazon are responsible for nearly half of Ecuador's greenhouse gas emissions. The loss of forest cover throughout the region affects the carbon sequestration capacity of trees and the food security of the people, threatening the livelihoods of more than 600,000 indigenous people who live in the region. 
At the same time, the páramo ecosystem in the Andes is unique in the world.  It is named the richest mountain ecosystem in the world because of its biodiversity, and it provides in Colombia more than 60% of the potable water supply in Colombia. This ecosystem is at risk because of climate change and anthropogenic pressure (extension of pastures for dairy selection and potato cultivation).

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## The forestry projects for which she is responsible...
I am in charge of monitoring the Cuencas Sagradas project in Ecuador, where our local partner is helping to restore forest ecosystems, promote natural medicine and traditional and sustainable agroforestry techniques. A total of 300,000 native trees will be planted, including fruit trees and species with high commercial value.
I am also in charge of the project led by our partner Impulso Verde in Colombia, which aims to restore more than 340 hectares of degraded forest areas in Alto-Andean and Páramo, through reforestation and silvopastoralism, by planting 550,000 endogenous trees of forty different species.

![Adriana article web 3.jpg](/uploads/Adriana_article_web_3_7b676571e2.jpg)

## The added value of her local presence in the supervision of projects...
A very important factor in achieving Reforest'Action's objectives at the local level is to know the cultural, social, political, economic and environmental context. The Ecuadorian Amazon presents a very complex reality in which non-renewable resource extraction projects are considered strategic for the Ecuadorian state. This means that extractive activities such as logging, oil exploitation and mining have caused severe damage to the rainforests and an accelerated process of degradation and land use change. 
Likewise, the socio-economic conditions of the local and indigenous populations that depend on these resources are increasingly severe and make them vulnerable to these processes. Identifying the context, the indigenous nationalities, their needs and their main commitments to preserve their territory, their ancestral knowledge and culture and, above all, to achieve resilience in the face of climate change, are essential efforts.


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Reforest'Action around the world : Interview with Adriana, our Project Officer in Ecuador

Magazine

ReforesTerra: a carbon project to restore 2,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest in Brazil