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Stories from the Wabanaki forest of the Maritimes, the Spice Forests of Zanzibar, and the mangrove forests of Mozambique.
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Stories from the Wabanaki forest of the Maritimes, the Spice Forests of Zanzibar, and the mangrove forests of Mozambique.
Sign Me UpCommunity Forests International and Community Forests Pemba are excited to announce the newest collaborative effort—Zanzibar Women’s Leadership in Adaptation Project, ZanzADAPT. This transformative initiative is poised to empower women in vulnerable coastal communities, fostering gender equality and resilience to the increasing challenges of a changing climate. Ranked 160th out of 189 nations on the UN… Read more »
In the vibrant colours of Wete Market, Mwana Khamis Kombo shines as a testament to entrepreneurial prowess and unwavering determination. Juggling the roles of a farmer and a market vendor, Mwana defies conventions, making her mark in both agriculture and trade. Her business acumen extends beyond local boundaries, with Mwana Khamis strategically sourcing produce from… Read more »
Nestled in the vibrant landscapes of Zanzibar, Suleiman Mrisho Mwita’s farm stands as a living canvas painted by the hands of sustainable farming, guided by the seasoned expertise of Community Forests Pemba (CFP). His journey began in the early 2000s when he transitioned from a public servant to a steward of the land in 1998.… Read more »
At Community Forests International, we believe that collective action is the key to a thriving future, and you can play a pivotal role by joining our community of dedicated monthly donors. Getting to the Roots of Monthly Giving Just like the ecosystems we strive to protect, our collective efforts shape the world we live in.… Read more »
In the heart of Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Hassan Kombo, a seasoned farmer with two decades of experience, has not only cultivated the land but also sown the seeds of a transformative journey. In 2022, Hassan embraced a new chapter by joining Community Forests Pemba in hopes of elevating his agricultural practices. While Hassan possessed substantial… Read more »
The recent United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) has been a reminder for the conservation community about the need to place Indigenous and local knowledge at the heart of biodiversity efforts—including protecting and restoring the world’s forests. Forests are beautifully diverse ecosystems. Globally, forests contain over 60,000 different tree species, 80% of amphibian species, 75% of… Read more »
Just over two years ago, Community Forests launched the VIUNGO Project in Zanzibar. Translating to “ingredients” or “spice” in Swahili, VIUNGO is a four-year collaborative effort between local and international organizations in the region. Together, we are working to support small-scale farmers, empower women and youth, and boost economic growth and opportunity—key ingredients in a… Read more »
What do we mean when we talk about forest conservation? At Community Forests International, our approach has always been to put community and climate at the forefront. Community: building relations for solutions. While the well-being of all communities is at the core of our work, we increasingly aim to centre those most impacted by the… Read more »
Expanding Our Roots At the end of 2020, we announced that Community Forests was going to expand our reach to Mozambique. Last month a small team from Community Forests Pemba travelled to Mozambique as expert advisors to help build climate-adaptive livelihoods and community-led mangrove restoration. This is the first of many collaborations for Community Forests.… Read more »
On Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Abuu’s story unfolds as a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the transformative potential of sustainable farming practices. Abuu’s pivotal moment came with the support of Community Forests Pemba (CFP), which provided him with a vital water tank and a drip irrigation system. These assets not only sustained Abuu’s spices and vegetables… Read more »
In the quiet village of Kiuyu Maambani in Wete District, Pemba, Zamzam Salim Khamis models the initiatives and success of the Kitchen Garden programme developed by Community Forests Pemba (CFP). Let’s delve into the exciting changes Zamzam and many others have seen on their farms. Zamzam’s Story At 43, Zamzam found herself navigating the challenges… Read more »
There’s a small island in the Indian Ocean, in the Zanzibar Archipelago, that is home to vibrant communities, lush mangrove forests, and a rich history of spice farming. Community Forests International has worked in partnership with the people of Pemba Island for 15 years to support community-led projects that range from tree planting and agroforestry… Read more »
Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reductions Plan is here – but where does it leave our forests? On Tuesday, March 29, the Government of Canada released its 2030 Emissions Reductions Plan (ERP), announced as a “comprehensive roadmap” for greenhouse gas emission reductions. Community Forests International applauds the ambitious commitments to empower communities to take climate action, most… Read more »
A Resource Guide to Support Environmental Organizations in Decolonization Work In Canada, climate and environmental justice cannot be separated from Indigenous reconciliation. That is why Community Forests International is continually learning ways to centre Indigenous justice within our work to protect and restore the forest of the Wabanaki-Maritime region — all while working to inspire… Read more »
One year ago, Community Forests launched the VIUNGO Project in Zanzibar. Translating to “ingredients” in Swahili, VIUNGO is a four-year collaborative effort between local and international organizations in the region. Together, we are working to support small-scale farmers, empower women and youth, and boost economic growth and opportunity – key ingredients in a recipe for… Read more »
You may be wondering how Community Forests International came to work in Atlantic Canada and in Zanzibar, Tanzania — two very distinct regions. Let’s take a look! In 2006, Mbarouk Mussa Omar — a community leader and climate activist on Pemba Island, Zanzibar — befriended a young Canadian tree-planter, Jeff Schnurr, who was traveling in… Read more »
Translating to “ingredients” in Swahili, the VIUNGO Project is a four-year collaborative effort between local and international organizations in Zanzibar. Community Forests and our partners are working to support small-scale farmers, empower women and youth, and boost economic growth and opportunity – key ingredients in a recipe for resilience! In celebration of International Women’s Day,… Read more »
Tree planters are Community Forests’ roots. Back in 2006, co-founder Mbarouk Mussa Omar approached a young group of Canadian tree planters to discuss how to make tree planting a source of environmental and economic sustainability for communities of Pemba Island, Zanzibar. As Mbarouk said, “We started with an idea and then worked each and every… Read more »
At the end of 2020, Community Forests International was excited to announce the anticipated launch of the VIUNGO Project in Zanzibar. Translating to “ingredients” in Swahili, VIUNGO is a four-year collaborative effort between local and international organizations in the region. Community Forests and our partners are working to support small-scale farmers, empower women and youth,… Read more »
Anne and Daimen were recently invited onto the Femme Wonk podcast Katie Davey podcast to discuss the interplay between gender inequality and climate change vulnerability with host Katie Davey, drawing from our work in Zanzibar. “Without women being able to participate fully in income-diversifying activities and learning skills that will help them build resilience, whole… Read more »
In the spring of 2015, I put out a call for help. Our small team at Community Forests International was starting a new initiative — a spice agroforestry project on Pemba island, Zanzibar — and I knew we couldn’t do it alone. What happened next has taught me a lot about the process of innovation.… Read more »
Salume Khamis walks up a path between two small adobe houses; one is partially converted into a small store selling dried goods and a few household items. She smiles broadly and greets her teacher, Siti Makame. When Salume first met Siti two years ago, she had a no personal income and a small garden that… Read more »
Update: March 3, 2021 We’ve just received news from Zanzibar that the climate-smart school will be officially inaugurated at the end of this month! The Zanzibar islands are one of the poorest regions in the world and are increasingly at risk of the effects of global climate change. Climate change is causing sea levels to… Read more »