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Forests and Foods: How ForestPlanet Supports People and the Environment

The International Day of Forests theme for this year, “Forests and Foods,” highlights the essential role forests play in food security, nutrition, and livelihoods.  At ForestPlanet, we have long recognized that human well-being is deeply intertwined with the health of our forests. When people struggle, deforestation accelerates. When communities thrive, reforestation efforts can flourish. To […]

Bees for Trees: How ForestPlanet is Creating a Sweet Solution for Mangrove Reforestation in Tanzania

  2024 was a rough year for Mubaraka. A local entrepreneur with 20 bee hives in the village of Pangani, he has counted on his ~70-liter honey harvest to provide for his family. But last year it was only 40 liters. This brought him only 480,000 Tanzanian shillings for the season (sure sounds like a […]

The Year Ahead – Top 5 Reasons to be Optimistic about Global Reforestation 

  ForestPlanet has always focused on the positive – what is working, what could work, and what each of us can do to help. Simply put, we replace climate despair with positive action. Granted, there are headwinds in 2025 with the incoming U.S. Administration that may play out in some form. But we have good […]

We Will Understand Only What We Are Taught

“In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.” – Baba Dioum, Forestry Engineer, Senegal Oh my, we love this quote so much. Our main focus here at ForestPlanet is conserving, protecting, and valuing our small blue marble […]

ForestPlanet Makes Community Connections

ForestPlanet’s Executive Director Hank Dearden was delighted to be the guest speaker for the Women of All Saints Episcopal Church Fall Luncheon series in Chevy Chase, Maryland. While the title of the speech may seem curious: “After a lovely meal we still need to do the dishes… What’s this got to do with trees?” the […]

Where Belt and Road meets our Green Wall

Recently ForestPlanet and our local partners in Tanzania celebrated what to most would seem like a very small victory.  We finally got word that the Tanzania Forest Service (TFS) had given us written permission to plant trees (mostly mangroves) on government land located in two important districts. This hurdle had been un-cleared for months, and […]

Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste: Moroccan Success Story

Everywhere we travel we see underlying economic forces driving unsustainable behavior. Alternatively, when unsustainable behavior begins to deliver diminishing returns it’s an opportunity to offer economically viable alternatives that also provide ecological benefits. Decision windows open and close quickly, so the right team with the right ideas and tools needs to be ready. Case in […]

Join ForestPlanet at the VA Irish Fest on March 16th!

When we’re not out planting trees we’re busy producing fun, informative, and (double) green events.   The 2024 VA Irish Fest is brought to you by ForestPlanet, and will be a great time for all.  Come out to enjoy the music, the dancing, the festivities, and stop by our information tent to learn more about our […]

Turning challenges into opportunities in Tanzania

  In a previous update, we introduced a major mangrove restoration project on Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coast. Our project began with a clear objective: restore five million mangrove trees on Tanzania’s coast, supporting both biodiversity and local communities. Our ambition was high, but so was our commitment. However, reality has a way of testing even […]

ForestPlanet Produces Fun and Informative Events: Virtual Film Screening, In-Person Earth Day Event

— When we’re not out planting trees we’re busy producing fun and informative events.  We hope you will join us! — Virtual On-Demand Film Screening Available to a Global Audience: Regenerating Life.  April 11 – 15, 2024 This positive-message film explains how we can cool the planet, feed the world, and live happily ever after… […]