In 2015, the Global Forest Fund supported twelve projects in Bangladesh, Bulgaria, DR Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya and Zambia.

Bangladesh- climate change protection

Since 2010, Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) has been focusing on tree planting activities. Climate Change is having a huge impact on Bangladesh due to its geographical location. Khulna, in the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh, has been identified as one of the 15 cities in the world most vulnerable to climate change. Through the Global Forest Fund, BEDS engaged 40 students and five teachers to plant 1,010 local fruit, timber and medicinal trees. Students learned about the relationship between climate change and trees and how to care for the trees they planted.

DR Congo - forests for primates

The Global Forest Fund supported a project consisting of training and tree planting to help protect primary forest, which is considered a sanctuary for primates. The project was coordinated by Mrs Alphonsine APENDEKI of REFEADES School. 35 school leaders were trained on agroforestry techniques and 747 students were shown how to set up small tree nurseries. A tree nursery holding 2,900 trees was established and a committee was put in place in each village to protect the forest.

GUINEA - awareness and protection

70 students in Guinea, along with teachers, NGO field workers, local authorities and community leaders, planted 350 trees in a project organised by the Association Guineenne d’Eveil au Developpement Durable. The aims of the project were to provide shade for the school compound, increase environmental awareness, promote forest restoration and protect endangered species. An environmental club was established and the members were trained in tree nursery establishment, the role of trees and forests, the water cycle, composting and how to organise and run an effective community clean-up.

bulgaria - A green oasis

The Global Forest Fund supported tree planting activities at five schools in Bulgaria in 2015, engaging hundreds of students, teachers and community members of all ages. Several of the schools are located in densely populated urban areas, giving the children an opportunity to create a “green oasis” for biodiversity and recreation in their cities. All of the tree planting events included educational component, as students learned about the benefits of forests for recreation, wildlife habitat and environmental protection.

zambia - students take the lead

The Global Forest Fund supported a project in Zambia at Kaonga Primary School. Kaonga Primary School is very active on matters of wildlife and environmental conservation. The school has a club called Chongololo & Chipembele Conservation Club, through which it carries out its activities. 45 students, two teachers and two parents were trained in sustainable agroforestry, the economic value of trees, the role of trees in mitigating climate change, tree management and community action planning. The club formulated an action plan for the coming year and planted 40 fruit trees on the school grounds. The students published a magazine of poems, reports and wildlife drawings that helped to generate a lot of local community interest in the project.

ghana- a greener future for schools

The Global Forest Fund supported two projects in Ghana. The first, organised by Kids Serving the Earth (KSE), was a nature walk to teach 50 students about how much we depend on trees and how often we use tree products in our daily lives. KSE also planted 350 fig, citrus and medicinal trees in local communities. The Rural Integrated Relief Service partnered with ten schools for a tree-planting event as part of their annual tree conservation efforts. A total of 2,000 indigenous trees were planted on the school grounds. The students served as the primary tree planters, giving them a sense of ownership over the project and the future of their schools. “Apart from the obvious environmental benefits, community uplift is central to this project.”

Kenya - a new woodland

With the support of the Global Forest Fund, 350 students from St. Lukes Shisango Girls Secondary School and other neighbouring schools planted a total of 1,000 trees.  Kenya Organisation for Environmental Education (KOEE) oversaw the implementation of the project. The school had acquired an additional acre of land and wished to establish a woodland. The woodland will be used by the school as a living laboratory, especially for biology and geography lessons. It is anticipated that the woodland will also attract many fauna, including birds and small animals. The woodland will also provide fuel for the school kitchen as well as timber for furniture construction. Sports, songs, dance and poems were used to highlight the importance of environmental conservation, particularly tree planting. Key guests and teachers gave speeches urging schools and the community to work together to ensure we safeguard our environment for future generations.