Location
Tanzania
Summary
Nature-based solutions are now recognised as a key element of tackling climate change. Justdiggit, restores desertified, dry land using proven techniques including tree restoration (Kisiki Hai or Farmer Managed Natural Restoration or Treecovery). All projects are owned and implemented by communities that live off the land. A greener planet is a cooler planet.
Who is behind it?
Justdiggit, with offices in Amsterdam and Nairobi, whose mission is to regreen Africa working with millions of farmers and pastoralists across the continent.
Why did we choose this project?
Bringing back nature is a vital lever to pull alongside decarbonising the global economy if we are to maintain a liveable planet. Africa has a young and growing population, but it also has fertile soil and ideal growing conditions. Justdiggit’s work has proven effects and positively impacts thousands of people, biodiversity, food and water resilience and carbon sequestration.
What do we most love about it?
We just love the positive, solution-oriented approach of Justdiggit and the holistic, lasting benefits these simple, cost effective and scalable techniques bring to people and the planet.
How does it work?
By using the farmer managed natural regeneration or ‘Kisiki Hai’, trees that have been previously cut down but whose root ball still exists, can focus their energy on the main trunk and grow tall and productive again. These trees are more likely to survive than freshly planted trees and they are all indigenous varieties. First, you select the stumps you want to protect; then prune - select the best few shoots of the stump and cut all the others; put a mark by tightening a colourful piece of fabric around the stems that you want to let grow and finally, keep protecting the trees throughout the year!
What broader benefits does it bring?
Not only does Justdiggit bring employment to local people, but it also inspires whole communities to regreen their land. Much of Justdiggit’s work is on land close to national parks and thus helps provide wildlife corridors for endangered species, by connecting wild and semi wild areas. By bringing back millions of trees it helps protect the local people from the ongoing effects of a changing climate, making their lifestyles more sustainable and resilient.
How will we know it's working?
Justdiggit takes impact measurement very seriously and outline their methodology and metrics in their impact report. So far over 9.7 million trees have been restored, providing shade, improved soil health, occasional firewood, fruit and medicines.
By the way...
Kisiski Hai means ‘living stump’ in Swahili.
