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Trees for Homes

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Trees for Homes (TFH) is the most successful township, greening initiative in South Africa. Originally designed to address South Africa’s history of inequitable settlement policies, Trees for Homes grew to become the country’s benchmark of innovation in urban forestry.

18 years of experience, collaboration and passion have gone into this flagship programme.

TFH is currently driving greenbelt initiatives in a number of townships nationally. We aim to transform these townships into rich urban food forests, teeming with life and biodiversity.

Each household will get two trees:

  • 1 x fruit tree
  • 1 x indigenous tree.

With our indigenous trees we look to plant hardy, pioneer species as well as trees with cultural relevance. (E.g. Yellowwood – our national tree)

This is the only South African, community tree planting initiative registered under the international Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). We know it is possible to meet international carbon standards and survival rates while developing communities and environmental champions.

We don’t just grow trees. We grow people.

“The environment and the economy are really both two sides of the same coin.
If we cannot sustain the environment, we cannot sustain ourselves.”

 

– Wangari Maathai (Founder of the Greenbelt Movement & Noble Peace Laureate)

How It Works

  • We engage communities.
  • Township sites are assessed and distribution points are selected.
  • Community Educators (CEs) are trained on:
    • Environmental ethics;
    • Global climate change;
    • Urban forest ecosystems;
    • How to correctly plant and care for trees;
    • Social development basics, – including how to correctly engage with the community;
    • Carbon project administration.
  • Community Educators (CEs) start community engagement by going door-to-door, explaining the initiative, and transferring relevant information.
  • Households receive invitations to collect trees after holes are dug and checked by CEs
  • A tree distribution event is held.
  • Every tree is monitored at 1 week, 6 months and 1 year in order to ensure maximum survival rates.
  • CEs receive an FTFA Certificate for their participation.

Benefits

  • Short-term employment.
  • Training and skills development in order to aid CEs gain formal employment in environmental services, landscaping, agriculture or nursery production.
  • Building capacity, networks and skills in communities, government and civil society organisations.
  • Landscape Transformation – contributing to food security, health, biodiversity and pride.

Compliance & Tax

  • Socio Economic Development (SED).
    • FTFA has an SED B-BEEE Recognition of 100%.
  • Project receives 18a tax receipt to reduce tax liability.
  • Carbon Offset / Carbon Tax.
    • Programme is Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) registered.
    • Obtain carbon neutral status for company or products.
    • Can be used to offset a percentage of carbon tax liability.
    • Offers opportunity to build carbon assets / carbon credits which can be sold on an international market*.

Budget

  • Trees are R135 each for a 1.2m+ tree
  • This includes:
    • Training of Community Educators;
    • Short-term employment;
    • Monitoring and evaluation;
    • All printing and administration costs.
  • The minimum number of trees for distribution is 750.
No. of TreesCost*Tonnes CO2CE's Employed
750R101,25027710
1500R202,50055420
3500R472,5001,29247
5000R650,0001,84567

*Donations are tax deductible in South Africa through our 18a status.

Conclusion

Through this combined and targeted initiative, communities will experience a sustained and meaningful impact for years. The trees planted will beautify community homes and improve shared spaces, instilling a sense pride and inspiring greater environmental awareness. The fruit and nuts produced will contribute to improved food sovereignty and potentially promote a culture of growing one’s own food. Within the Trees for Homes programme, short-term job opportunities will alleviate unemployment and skills provided can potentially lead to job opportunities.

This initiative tailors nicely with our other programmes such as Food Gardens for Africa. Schools which receive trees become more open to planting and maintaining vegetable gardens. Tree planting therefore has the potential to spark a further, indirect impact on food security in the area.

Your company can help ensure that South Africa is a beautiful, environmentally stable, FOOD SECURE nation!

We strongly encourage corporate participation as this will build internal (team) relationships and external appreciation for the context of development in South Africa. At our tree events, company teams can have fun while contributing to change and making a positive impact.

This project offers one of the most efficient and sustainable ways to spend ones Socio Economic Development (SED) budget. It is becoming increasingly important that all companies have an environmental component to their Corporate Social Investment (CSI) strategies.

Thank you for your consideration with regard to this proposal. We hope to work with you towards a more sustainable, lower-carbon & food-secure future that offers a healthier, better quality of life for all.

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