New Brunswick Community Land Trust (NBCLT) to Host Info Sessions

by on February 4, 2012

 

he New Brunswick Community Land Trust (NBCLT) will be hosting a series of information sessions concerning conservation tools available to farmers and woodlot owners interested in keeping their land in sustainable, healthy production for future generations.  These working lands conservation easements allow landowners to maintain ownership and production of their land while protecting all or part of their land from certain development and/or activities (ie: subdivision, clearcutting, ect…). These voluntary agreements are developed jointly by the land owner and NBCLT and are specific to each individual and their situation. The NBCLT is the only group in N.B. to offer this kind of working land conservation tool and we want to get the word out to farmers and woodlot owners who may be interested in learning more about the specifics of working land conservation easements.

Please join us at any of the following community information sessions:

 Sackville – Feb 9th -7:00-8:30pm
Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #26, 15 Lorne St. Sackville N.B.

Moncton - Feb 15th – -7:00-8:30pm,
Press Club,160 Assomption blvd. Moncton, N.B

Memramcook – March 1st, Location TBA. With New Brunswick Nature Trust (NBNT) and Canadian Parks And Wilderness Society (CPAWS)

*Sessions will be followed by workshops/discussions in late February and March. Dates TBA.

Who is The New Brunswick Community Land Trust?
The New Brunswick Community Land Trust (NBCLT) is a member based, volunteer, non-profit organization focused on holding conservation easements that ensure that farmland and woodlots are maintained in ecologically sustainable production and available for use by future generations of New Brunswickers.

Conservation Easements
A Conservation Easement is a voluntary, legally binding agreement which is developed between a landowner and a land trust. It outlines the land use restrictions which the owner wishes to place on their working land, so that it remains in sustainable production through time. A conservation easement allows land to be sold or passed on to the next generation. However, the future owners are required to abide by the stewardship principles of the Conservation Easement. As holder of the Conservation Easement, NBCLT is required to inspect the property annually, to ensure that land use and management practices adhere to the Conservation Easement.

For more info please visit www.nbclt.com

CFI at Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) – Feb 8 @ noon

by on February 4, 2012
The following has been taken from the NSAC News site.

Planting Trees, Growing Communities

Community Forest International to speak at NSAC

Representatives from Community Forest International will be speaking at Nova Scotia Agricultural College as part of International Development Week activities on Wednesday, February 8th beginning at noon.

“NSAC International wants to connect NSAC and our community with global issues and believe we have a responsibility to contribute to environmental stewardship through our work,” said Anna Haanstra, project officer, NSAC International. “Bringing the vibrant energy of Community Forest International to NSAC campus is one way of achieving this.”

Community Forests International is a volunteer-driven organization, working to connect people and their communities to the forests that sustain them.

Building on the belief that a few strong-willed individuals can motivate for positive environmental change, Community Forests International fosters environmental stewardship internationally by establishing community forests, promoting sustainable forestry techniques and initiating environmental education.

Daimen Hardie, program director,is a longtime tree-planter and graduate of Mount Allison University. Before co-founding Community Forests International he worked as an arborist and homesteaded on his family woodlot in New Brunswick.  Daimen now leads the organization’s projects at home and abroad.

Dale Prest, ecosystem service specialist, works to value the ecosystems services provided through good forestry. He has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Dalhousie University and is finishing up an M.Sc. at St. Francis Xavier University where he is investigating the long-term impact of clearcut harvesting on forest soil carbon storage in the Acadian Forest. Dale comes from Mooseland, NS, where he grew up logging in family owned woodlots.

Both will be speaking in Cox Institute room 24, Wednesday, February 8th beginning at noon.  For a complete schedule of international development week activities please visit http://nsac.ca/international/

 

Kokota Islet Update

by on February 3, 2012

A few months ago I wrote about a small islet off of the main Pemba island called Kokota. This islet houses about 500 people despite a few shortcomings – Kokota lacks a fresh water source and a school, forcing villagers to travel to Pemba daily to fill up buckets of water for drinking and cooking. Although a slight divergence from our usual community tree-planting gig, we’ve decided to see what we can do to help this small vulnerable island. You can read my original post here.

CFP/CFI Getting ready to go to Kokota

Today the Community Forests Pemba team and I returned to Kokota Islet. We’ve been cooking up a way to provide this village with both water and an adequate school facility.

The school so far...

Over the past few years, the community has been trying to build a school with the few resources that they have and have managed to raise a few walls in a field near the village’s main cluster of houses. We’ve decided to help them finish the walls and put a roof on the structure. Once the roof is in place, we’ll work with Kokotans to build a huge 300,000 liter water tank behind the school, which will collect rain water from the school’s new roof. Two birds and one stone – water and education.

Future Kokotan Scholars beside soon-to-be obselete water buckets

Tree planting will come, but for now we want to make sure that these kids no longer have to help their parents travel to the island of Pemba for water. The dream is that they can instead spend their time learning under a roof that will do the water collection for them. Keep posted as updates will be sure to follow – the rainy season is 2-months a way, so we’re going to be busy.

-Jeff Schnurr

A final view of Kokota village

Why Susan wants CFI to save her farm!

by on January 9, 2012

Susan Tyler and Clark Phillips of Whaelghinbran Farm

 

Here’s what we think of the folks at Community Forests International:

They are young and full of positive energy.
They know how to work and they work hard.
They use their minds, their hearts and they use the rest of their muscles too.
They are intelligent and committed.
They do what they say they want to do.
They are joyful learners and teachers
And they inspire hope.

-Susan

For more information about the save the farm campaign please follow this link to the save the farm page. Over $100,000 has been raised to date.

Why I Believe in Whaelghinbran Farm – Zach

by on December 13, 2011

CFI Founders Zach, Daimen and Jeff Spot a Downy Woodpecker at Whaelghinbran Farm

Having worked as a tree planter for many years, I’ve spent a lot of time in clear cuts and what I’ve experienced has deeply affected me and changed my life. I have seen how greed has dictated management, with little trickle-down to rural communities. I have seen delicate forest ecosystems destroyed for short term profit, and I’ve seen it across the world. Sometimes it’s hard to watch unfold, for this is not the only way. Alternative forestry methods exist that allow people to cut trees and generate profit respectfully, without sacrificing the resources that will be available for future generations.

These are the future generations we seem to have forgotten, but there is a silver lining. Places like Whaelghinbran exist, where individuals like Clark and Sue want to share their knowledge and inspire people like me to learn a healthier more sustainable way of living. I have learned from my mentors that one can operate in partnership with the forest, rather than in opposition to it. I have also learned that the forest is far more productive when it is healthy and alive, and that respectful harvesting retains the values that are so intrinsic to our overall happiness and prosperity. I work to save Whaelghinbran Farms because I believe that it could come to be the place where traditional knowledge, innovative new ideas and scientific information come together to change how we do forestry in the Maritimes.

Whaelghinbran Farm is caught between two vastly different fates. The first sees the farm and forest as a hands-on learning centre for sustainable forestry and organic agricultural practices in the Maritime; a place where you and I can learn from those who have come before us; a place to build on our heritage and improve our relationship with food, the forest, and one another. The second outcome, is much more upsetting- where the land is sold to the highest bidder and laid to waste to make quick money. This has already taken place on portions of what was once the Whaelghinbran Farm property, and it is the most likely scenario if we are not able to raise the funds necessary to save the farm.

Please help us make a stand for future generations. For more information about how you can get involved please visit our save the farm campaign page.

Zach Melanson

Trees

The Valley Slope at Whaelghinbran Farm

Why I Believe in Whaelghinbran Farm – Dale

by on December 11, 2011

A Restored Field at Whaelghinbran Farm

 

Whaelghinbran Farm is about more than the 581 acres that it is composed of. It is about more than the uncounted fisher, deer, moose, birds, raptors and beaver that inhabit its forest. Whaelghinbran is about more than just the ecological integrity of this valley that feeds into the Kennebecasis River, into the Saint John River, the Bay of Fundy, Gulf of Maine and into the waters of the North Atlantic that go on to circulate the globe.

Whaelghinbran Farm is about our ability to live in consonance with the rest of the natural world. Cleared of its native forest to the extent that around 85% of the land was used for field or pasture by 1890, Whaelghinbran Farm has been slowly but surely, as is nature’s way, doing what land in this part of the world does best: grow forest and thrive. Upon Clark and Sue’s arrival, this process was vulnerable, but entrenched. At any point, as has happened more often than not in the Acadian Forest Region, the restoration of the forests could have been reversed by cutting ‘overmature’ or ‘decaying’ trees and ‘silvicultural jungles:’ justifications given every day to rationalize forestry practices we all see too often.

However, Clark and Sue would have none of it. Careful, thoughtful interventions with a chainsaw- the silvicultural equivalent of a scalpel – created conditions that mimicked and expedited the natural process that was restoring the Acadian Forest at Whaelghinbran Farm. To say they worked hard to walk their talk would be an understatement; just ask Sue how much 4 foot pulp wood she has piled by hand over the years. Even when fire took their home and barns they refused to liquidate the timber assets of Whaelghinbran Farm, and stayed true to their philosophy. The fruits of their sacrifice are blatantly obvious upon arrival at the farm.

In an age of green washing and propaganda, the story of Whaelghinbran Farm shows that we can live harmoniously with nature. Whaelghinbran Farm shows that we can restore our native Acadian Forest, and prosper along with it. Clark and Sue stewarded Whaelghinbran Farm through its most vulnerable period. CFI hopes to pick up here by helping Whaelghinbran through its next phase of realizing its full potential as a healthy, working Acadian Forest. For more information about how you can get involved please visit our save the farm campaign page.

Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org!

Endangered Forests – Saving Whaelghinbran Farm from Community Forests International on Vimeo.

 

Every dollar donated up until December 25th will be matched by an Anonymous donor!

Why I Believe in Whaelghinbran Farm – Jeff

by on December 5, 2011

 

CFI's Zach Melanson Took this Photo while Hiking at Whaelghinbran Farm

After launching the Pemba trees project with Mbarouk in Tanzania I came back to Canada and founded Community Forests International with Daimen, Zach and Estelle. At first we worked day and night to support the project in Pemba and our efforts were focused solely on helping the rural Tanzanians we’d come to care so much about. Although our work in Pemba was important, we realized that the change needed to be realized through Tanzanians and our first priority there was to assist Pembans in making their own change. Community Forests Pemba was born.

We wanted to do something positive in Canada. We knew we’d never give up our efforts in Pemba but we longed for a CFI project in the region that sparked our love for the forest in the first place – Atlantic Canada’s Acadian Forest. If Pembans could work to heal a degraded landscape and make a living through sustainable fruit and timber harvest why couldn’t Canadians make a sustainable living too? The more we talked with our mentors in the region, the more our ideas took form. Couldn’t we live and work in harmony with nature’s course? Couldn’t we function as responsible parts of a greater environment? Isn’t there a way for our time on this planet to improve rather then harm? We keep hearing it again and again – you’ve got to go talk to Clark and Sue at Whaelghinbran Farm.

CFI’s Ecological Forestry Course Participants Walk the Woods at Whaelghinbran Farm

Clark and Sue have been living in harmony with their woodlot and farm in Kings County, New Brunswick since the early 70’s.  Since then fields have been restored to forests and towering white pines and red spruce mark the landscape. Their farm is nestled in a valley and a sense of wonder fills you once you turn off the highway onto Cedar Camp Road. To go to Whaelghinbran Farm is to time travel. To go to Whaelghinbran Farm is to go back to a time when people moved a little slower, with a little more thought then we do in our internet charged and consumer driven age. To go to Whaelghinbran Farm is to go to a place where people care about their impact on the world and work to make the world a better place. Clark and Sue originally settled as organic farmers in the region and everything they touch bears the mark of master gardeners – even their woods. Clark and Sue weed out low value trees in order to let more valuable and majestic trees grow. They’ve managed to garden a landscape. I remember walking through their woods and watching as an owl flew from tree to tree in the canopy above.

Clark Leading a CFI Workshop out of Whaelghinbran Forest

Since then I’ve come to know Clark and Sue and they’ve become more than mentors for me and CFI. They’re like Grandma and Grandpa Sustainability. Clark and Sue have played a very important role in the organic agriculture movement and I’m sure more than a few people though their approach was “crazy” over the years. They were ahead of their time and struggled financially as “buy local” and “organic” markets were yet to develop. In the 80’s Clark and Sue watched as their house and barn burned to the ground and haven’t been on solid financial footing since.

Clark and Sue have been working with a local land trust in order to conserve their property and have asked the CFI team if we could carry their torch and continue their legacy. We are honoured that they thought us up to the task and have been working for over a year to make succession a reality. Now Clark and Sue are depending on CFI to help them retire and ensure their lifetime of work serves to teach other Canadians the importance of sustainability.

Sitting Across the Table From Clark

We’re all excited by the opportunity but have been faced with the challenge of a lifetime. In April of 2011, while I was in Tanzania I received word that Clark was in the hospital and I realized how real the need was. I felt helpless and lacked financial resources – their was nothing I could do. Luckily Clark recovered but health complications have made future farming for the couple out of the question. In order to make ends meet approximately 350 acres have already been divided and sold and it’s been heartbreaking. We need to work to make sure that we can work together to save the remaining 580 acres. To date we’ve raised over $50,000, which is more than our organization’s entire 2010 annual budget but we’ve got a long road ahead. Thanks to the support of a generous anonymous donor, all donations made up until December 25th will be matched. I urge you to make a contribution in order to conserve this property. I believe in Whaelghinbran Farm and I hope we can save this place so you can come to believe in Whaelghinbran too. For more information about how you can get involved please visit our save the farm campaign page.

- Jeff Schnurr, Executive Director for Community Forests International

Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org!

Endangered Forests – Saving Whaelghinbran Farm from Community Forests International on Vimeo.

 

Every dollar donated up until December 25th will be matched by an Anonymous donor!

Don’t Cut a X-mas Tree – Give a Pemba Tree

by on November 25, 2011

Pemba Trees Greeting Cards

1$ = 5 Trees

Don’t cut a tree this holiday season – give a Pemba Tree! Make a holiday donation to CFI and we’ll plant trees on your behalf. We’ll also send a holiday card quantifying your gift in terms of trees planted to a recipient of your choice. A great way to both give a gift and support environmental sustainability.

1. 10x7 Boy(sm) copy

An example of a Pemba Trees Card, both front and back

Small Vulnerable Island – A Whole New Level

by on November 23, 2011

For the past few years, our local director, Mbarouk, has been telling me about a small island off of Pemba called Kokota. Kokota is one of those places where you have to ask – how did people ever come to settle here in the first place. Although the land is fertile and the fishing is good, Kokota faces one major problem. They have no fresh water.

Over the next few years we plan to expand our programming to develop new and innovative climate-change proof technologies. We’re planning on rolling out a whole host of new initiatives such as beekeeping, alternative energy, earth block building and fuel-efficient cook stove production. In light of our new initiatives, I thought I’d head over to Kokota and see things for myself.


Fishermen off of Kokota Islet



Approaching Kokota


When we first arrived we were greeted by a gang of kids. Not in school I asked? No school here, came the reply. No water, no school and no medical dispensary. This island population of 500 was truly the forgotten. Government, development groups and NGOs had completely missed this isolated islet.  As we walked up from the shore I quickly noticed the desperation. A pot was placed on a thatch roof to collect water.  A single gutter stood alone outside a hut.  All the wells that Kokota Islander have dug to date have turned up brackish seawater, unfit for drinking. I was told that people would make daily trips to Wete, Pemba, almost 4 hours away by wooden boat in order to collect water.


The Kokota Islet Welcoming Comittee



Rainwater Harvesting




More Rainwater Harvesting


I was told that the one person in town that could read and write would hold classroom sessions under a baobab tree. An effort was made to construct a school and the community had purchased bricks and assembled walls, but ran out of cash before they could put a roof on the structure. We talked to a group of women and quickly realized that trees, agroforestry and charcoal substitutes were far from people’s mind.

The Tree Serves as Kokota's Public School



And Here are the Students


As we left the island, I knew we’d found a new community to partner with. Trees and agroforestry will come in time but before that, we’ll put a metal roof on the school, collect rainwater and build storage tanks in order to store the thousands of liters of fresh water that fall from the sky during the rainy season. If people are going to plant trees and care for their environment, they’re going to need some drinking water first.  Kokota, Community Forests International will be back.

-Jeff Schnurr

Thanks to our Supporters!

by on November 22, 2011

We’ve acknowledged your donations at http://forestsinternational.org/support/. Thanks to everyone who supported CFI this past year. Our reach has continued to grow thanks to your generous contributions. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Individual and Business Contributions

$10,000+

  • Brinkman and Associates Reforestation Ltd – $47,183 raised by Canadian Tree Planters and Brinkman to date
  • Glen Estill
  • Manulife Financial

$1000-10000

  • The Tritchler Family
  • Lululemon Athlectic Canada – Whyte Ave, Edmonton AB
  • Christie Melanson
  • John Melanson
  • Maritime Farm Supply Ltd
  • Anne Crocker
  • Isabel Crawford
  • Pearl and Banning Hardie
$500-1000
  • Folklore Contracting Ltd
  • Torrent Silviculture
  • Cathy McElroy
  • Craig Applegath
  • Kathleen Cooper and Peter Hardie
  • William Harany
$100-500
  • Mae Daly
  • Anonymous
  • Andrew Fraser
  • Monica Kennedy
  • Judy and Banning Hardie
  • Robert and Heather Gauvin
  • Charlie Hunter
  • Bernie and Ray Pentland
  • Ron and Alice Dalgleish
  • Barb Clayton
  • Jessica Shapiro
  • Cité des Jeunes
  • Janice Melanson
  • Olga Gladkihk
  • Jamie Simpson
  • Ranger Tree Services Ltd
  • The Manchester and Callaghan Family
  • St Mark’s Presbyterian Church
  • Bradley Walters
  • Anonymous
  • Marian White
  • Kassim Abdullah
$ -100
  • Anonymous
  • Stephen Brown
  • Craig Applegath (Monthly Donor)
  • Gregg Mitchell
  • Colleen Freake
  • The Town of Truro
  • Antonio Massarelli
  • Sarina Piercy
  • Julia Whitney
  • Tantramar Regional High School
  • Melissa Grey
  • Jennifer Wilson
  • Meghan Slattery
  • Jodie Penwarden
  • Andrew Rusnock
  • Pat Collins
  • Margaret McCain
  • Wendy Rogers
  • Karen Dunnett
  • Byrne and Ginette Melanson
  • Alicia Steeves
  • Anna Murray
  • Glenn Bartley
  • Kate McCullough
  • Emily Schnurr
  • Christian Rachowicz
  • Gracie Halpern
  • Julia Bustos-Vasquez

The EU Delegation in Tanzania and the The Ministry of Finance – Tanzania support the organizations efforts in Pemba through the The Global Climate Change Alliance.

Brinkman and Associates Reforestation Ltd. supports Community Forests International through a company wide fundraiser.

The Finnish Embassy in Tanzania supports the Pemban Tree Planting Project through the Finnish Fund for Local Cooperation

The United Republic of Tanzania donates land to shehias (villages) for community forest management.

DIALOG supports projects in Canada and abroad by offsetting their carbon footprint in partnership with CFI.

Environment Canada funds the Acadian Forest Biodiversity Initiative through Ecoaction Community Funding Program.

Canadian Wildlife Foundation supports the Acadian Forest Biodiversity Initiative.

New Brunswick support the Summer Workshop Series through the Environmental Trust Fund.

Evergreen Canada funded the Community Food Forest project in Canada

Renaissance Sackville funded the Community Food Forest project in Sackville, NB, Canada.

Eco Canada supports CFI through the Environmental Youth Corps internship program.

YMCA Canada has supported CFI Interns through the Youth Eco Internship Program.

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