Jeff Schnurr traveled in over 35 countries before landing in Tanzania, where he began the tree planting initiative that grew into Community Forests International. With the dream of making conservation a rural livelihood, Jeff has spread the techniques of forest restoration around the globe and has planted over half a million trees in the process. In 2010, Jeff Schnurr was named one of Canada’s Top 10 volunteers by the CBC and Manulife. If you would like Jeff to speak at your event, please click here.

Mbarouk Mussa has over 10 years experience in environmental development and is known on the island of Pemba for his ongoing commitment to the betterment of rural communities and their improved livelihoods. A great asset to the Community Forest team, Mbarouk’s skills as a project manager and financial officer work to sustain Pemba’s forests for generations to come.

Said Suwedi is a graduate from the Forestry Training School in Arusha, Tanzania. He has worked extensively as a consultant and a full time staff members at the Department of Commercial Crops Fruits and Forests, Department of Agriculture and for CARE International. Said Suwedi is an expert in nursery set up and tree care and continues to act as CFI’s key forestry professional.

Ali joined the team in 2011 and brings 29 years of agricultural experience to the organization’s increasingly more diverse planting effort. Ali is working to incorporate food producing systems into the community forests, allowing communities to provide for their tables as well as their environment. Ali has held past positions as the Head of the Department of Agriculture Pemba and as a field officer for the Zanzibar Cloves Producers Organization (ZACPO).

After graduating Mount Allison University with a BA in International Relations, Intercultural Studies and Environmental Studies, Daimen Hardie worked in his family woodlot in New Brunswick before co-founding CFI. As CFI’s Program Director, Daimen leads the organization’s projects at home and abroad.

Zachary Melanson is CFI’s resident photographer and Communications Director. This rare split of talents resulted after a BFA from NASCAD, a course in Ecological Forestry and 4 summers of tramping around in the woods, planting trees in Ontario and BC. A passionate amateur Mycologist Zach brings a diverse array of skills to the organization he helped to found.

Estelle holds a Bachelor of Science from Mount Allison University as well as a Permaculture Design Certificate from the Blue Mountains Permaculture Institute. She is currently studying Ecological Restoration from the University of Victoria focusing on the biodiversity and conservation of the Acadian Forest. Estelle spearheads the Global Schools Link and environmental programming in Canada.

Mike Tritchler joined the CFI team after volunteering with Peace Corps for three years as a Math and Science teacher. Mike currently runs the Global Schools Link in Pemba and is developing a climate change education curriculum which will be available in both English and Kiswahili. Mike is originally from California and picked up a B.S. in Geophysics from UCSB.

Dale 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 a 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.