WeForest

A bicycle built for… 🚴♂️ We’re only in February, but we’re already calling this one of the most striking images we’ll share this year. Captured by WeForest researcher, Sybryn Maes, this photo offers a glimpse into life in Malawi’s Miombo woodlands. Bicycles like this, stacked high with firewood, are a common sight - showcasing the resourcefulness of local communities who rely on forest resources in their daily lives. While Miombo woodlands are naturally resilient and can regenerate when managed sustainably, increasing pressure on forests for firewood and charcoal highlights the complex balance between conservation and livelihood needs. In many areas, the challenge is not just about protecting forests, but ensuring communities have access to alternative resources and sustainable income opportunities. WeForest collaborates with local partners and communities to highlight the value of forests, provide training in sustainable livelihoods and support long-term conservation by ensuring forests remain a vital and productive resource for people. 📸: Sybryn Maes #sustainability #restoration #sustainablesolutions

Why forward-thinking companies are acting now 💼 Even with ambitious net-zero targets, reducing emissions alone isn’t enough to combat the climate crisis. So how can businesses go further? Beyond Value Chain Mitigation (BVCM) is a critical solution. By investing in nature-based solutions like forest restoration, companies can address residual and historical emissions, while supporting biodiversity and resilient ecosystems. In WeForest’s latest blog, discover why BVCM matters and how businesses of all sizes can lead impactful climate action 🌳 Head to the comments for the link 🔗

Thousands of you have already signed up to our 'Seeds of Change' newsletter 🌱 The February edition has just landed, bringing you the latest updates from WeForest’s restoration projects around the world. This month, we’re sharing milestones in sustainable beekeeping, forest restoration, biodiversity conservation and new partnerships making a real impact 🌍 Not subscribed yet? Sign up to stay connected with the latest stories from our projects and the people driving change.

Mount Mulanje update ⛰️ Across seven villages, local farmers have been working with WeForest to establish demonstration plots, which will be used as hands-on learning hubs for more farmers and community members. In Mangombovi village, farmers meticulously laid out a new plot, marking planting stations for species like Gliricidia and Faidherbia albida – trees known to enhance soil fertility and provide sustainable fuelwood. Already, 238 households are actively participating in the project, with over 140,000 seedlings planted across the region. Women have been at the forefront of these efforts, including an all-female training session last November, which focused on proper planting techniques. Their leadership is driving this initiative, improving access to fuelwood, boosting agricultural productivity and building a sustainable future for their families. The results? Healthier soils, greener landscapes and stronger communities 🌳 Make sure you’re following us on social media and are signed up to our highlights newsletter for more updates from the field. 📸: Images: 1 - Sybryn Maes / 2 & 3 - WeForest Malawi #forestrestoration #sustainability #reforestation #agroforestry

The AfroGrow project officially launched! 🌍 AfroGrow is an EU Horizon-funded project that will shape the future of agroforestry across Africa, and WeForest Ethiopia is proud to be part of this initiative!. Running until 2028, AfroGrow brings together 25 organisations from 15 European and African nations to tackle urgent challenges like climate change, land degradation and inequality. The project will establish six Living Labs across Africa, creating spaces for innovative agroforestry practices to grow and thrive. In Ethiopia, WeForest is working alongside Hawassa University to lead local efforts, focusing on solutions that boost biodiversity, support communities and build resilience. AfroGrow is a huge step forward in strengthening EU-Africa partnerships and driving meaningful change. The journey kicked off with a virtual meeting in January and we’re looking forward to seeing all the partners come together in Kenya this March to set the course for the months ahead. We’ll be sharing updates as the project develops, so stay tuned 👀 #AfroGrow #Agroforestry #LivingLabs #Africa #HorizonEU Partners 🤝: ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Laboratory of Forest Management and Remote Sensing IRD Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) reframe.food White Research CABI Heidelberg University CIFOR-ICRAF ICIPE - International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Women Farmers Association of Kenya (WoFaAK) Hawassa University Institut Senegalais de Recherches Agricoles Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust CORAF | West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development Botswana International University of Science & Technology Elephants for Africa Université Nangui Abrogoua ABIDJAN LEGACY PROGRAM Associated partners: University of St.Gallen ETH Zürich Wildlife Research and Training Institute University of Nairobi

Because laundry and trees go hand in hand 🧦 🌳 Brabantia | B Corp Certified - a Dutch company known for its high-quality homeware products - started its partnership with WeForest 10 years ago! When we joined forces, their goal was to enhance the sustainability of their rotary dryer product line. They wanted to do more than just talk about sustainability, they wanted to take tangible action. The initiative was simple but impactful. For every rotary dryer sold, Brabantia would grow one tree. The result? More than 2.8 million trees growing… and counting 🌳 What better way to celebrate 10 years of working together than to show the real impact on the ground, with some of our favourite photos of what they have helped local communities achieve in the last decade 🎊 Images: Corrie Mauldin, Dominic van Corstanje and Aklilu Negussie Mekuria

Our newsfeeds are full of high-tech solutions to our global carbon emissions, so why are more organisations choosing forest restoration as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy over these newer methods?♻️ Because they know what we know - that nature got it right the first time round. Trees are nature’s own carbon-capture machines, and unlike artificial technologies, forests offer a whole host of bonus climate, environmental and community-supporting benefits. Read our latest article to discover why forest restoration is a superior climate solution, and why you should consider supporting it above high-tech alternatives 🌳 Link in the comments 💬 📷: Ruben Foquet, Dave Bircher and Sybryn Maes

We’ve got some very exciting news 🦋 WeForest has been selected as a Featured Partner by 1% for the Planet! 1% for the Planet is a global movement that encourages businesses and individuals to give back to the environment by contributing at least 1% of their revenue to environmental causes. We’re honored to be included in their Terrestrial Ecosystems Guide, which highlights impactful nonprofits dedicated to restoring and protecting ecosystems. Swipe through to learn more about what it means to be a part of this movement and the collective impact we’re achieving with partners like IllustrationX and Wikiloc Outdoor Navigation 🎠▶️

Trust: An overlooked driver of long-lasting restoration success? 🤝 Trust between restoration organisations and local communities is often overlooked, but plays a critical role in ensuring the success of restoration efforts. In this guest blog from Natasha Watts, WeForest's Head of Project Development, and Belgian researcher Sybryn Maes, we explore why trust matters, how it influences community engagement, and why local wisdom is key to creating sustainable, people-driven restoration. Discover how nurturing strong, collaborative relationships between communities and practitioners can heal both ecosystems and the bonds between people and their land. Link to read below ⬇️

New year, new success 🌱 The Wof-Washa seedling station in Ethiopia, fully supported by WeForest, is gearing up for 2025 by producing native and multi-purpose seedlings. This incredible nursery is planning to grow 238,500 seedlings for planting this year! So far, two blocks have already planted and nurtured more than 140,000 seedlings 🌳 What a brilliant start to 2025 and a huge thank you to the amazing people who make change happen 👏 #sustainability #forestrestoration #reforestation 📸: Hailemarkos Tilahun