This follows international recognition of the humanitarian crisis currently unfolding in the region, with many West African countries declaring a state of emergency in the face of a full-blown food crisis by June.

“It is incredibly frustrating that families in Africa are once again facing the devastating, but unnecessary, reality of famine,” comments TREE AID’s Chief Executive, Dr. Philip Goodwin. “It is critical that investment in programmes that reduce the vulnerability of poor people to future food crisis forms part of the response.”

TREE AID is appealing for funds to provide the trees necessary to protect communities against future droughts, failed harvests and erratic rainfall. 

The very presence of trees means more water in the atmosphere, and therefore increased rain fall.  Their root systems bind together soil, helping farmland retain moisture so crops can be grown for longer during times of drought. 

Trees are also more robust than other crops, providing a year round source of food through tree produce such as fruits, nuts, seeds, and forest honey.  And selling such produce helps communities generate much needed savings – providing a further safety net against disaster.

The people already involved in TREE AID programmes in the Sahel believe they are better able to endure the expected food crisis.

Yobi Korgo, a farmer in Burkina Faso, puts this into perspective.

“Our crops refuse to give any food in times of severe drought, whereas the trees act like mothers of man and animals by providing fruit, edible leaves and medicines.”

Dr. Jean Coulidiaty, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development agrees, “I am aware that as food crisis looms across the Sahel, the communities where TREE AID is working are better protected against famine thanks to better soils, additional income and the availability of tree foods.” 

TREE AID’s Sahel Appeal is running throughout 2012 – with the goal of reaching an additional 10,000 people by the end of the year. TREE AID is also looking for funding for a tree food programme to protect vulnerable women and children against malnutrition and hunger. 

TREE AID’s Tree Food programme is planned to commence in Burkina Faso later this year.  It is expected to directly benefit 50,000 people.

“The international community is aiming to respond early to ensure that resources mobilized match the scale of the Sahel crisis as it evolves. This is a solid response – especially if the associated development assistance is dedicated to ending this ongoing cycle of drought of famine by promoting long-term solutions like those offered by TREE AID,” concludes Dr. Philip Goodwin.

Notes to editors

TREE AID has been helping communities living on the edge of the Sahara desert unlock the potential of trees to both reduce their poverty and protect their environment since 1987. TREE AID is currently working with almost 400 communities in four countries in sub Saharan Africa; Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Ethiopia. We also support and advise national governments in our core areas of tree enterprise, forest governance, natural resource management and food nutrition and security. TREE AID has a turnover of just over £2m and employs 12 staff in its UK office and 26 staff in West Africa.

For a press interview with Dr. Philip Goodwin, please contact Kirstine Dunhill or Marian Rose on 0117 909 6363.

To support the TREE AID Sahel appeal visit our donation page

To find out more about investing in TREE AID’s Tree Food programme, contact Julia Paulson on 0117 9166 449.

“TREE AID has all our support with the Bongo River Trees project. We are all fighting a common enemy – lack of water and flooding.” Water Resources Commission

“I am very happy to be here for the Bongo River Trees project launch today. We know the environment is dear to our hearts. Everyone will work together to implement this project to benefit everyone in Bongo district and indeed as a benefit to the nation as a whole. The River bank improvement means improving water quality and soil fertility. We will do all we can to support it. The EPA is happy to be part of this initiative and to partner all the project stakeholders to bring the project to a successful conclusion.” Environmental Protection Agency

“I thank TREE AID for the wonderful assistance that they are bringing to the people of Bongo and the people of Ghana as a whole. We are seriously deprived of tree cover and so this project is very welcome. I will support this programme as MP and I urge the community Chiefs to support this programme as it will benefit your communities.”  MP for Bongo Constituency, Hon Albert Abongo

“MoFA will fully engage to ensure this project succeeds.” Head of Ministry of Food and Agriculture

Red rose

If love is blind

Then why do you suppose,

In a wood carpeted with bluebells,

You stand out like a rose?

‘Chalk and Trees’ costs £5.95 with every penny going to TREE AID.  Thanks go to Arthur Rose, the author, for his generosity in donating this lovely book to us.   Purchase your copy now

Environmentalists on Thursday described the situation as “critical and causing panic among people” particularly in the region of Bogandé.  The animals are reportedly attacking inhabitants, destroying rice and banana plantations as well as consuming livestock.

Landlocked Burkina Faso is said to host between 2,500 and 3,000 elephants, about 15,000 buffaloes and an unspecified number of hippopotamus, lions, tigers as well as 450 bird species

Mr Urbain Bélemsobgo of the Burkina Wildlife ministry explained that the government had spent about $180,000 dollars over the last seven months to provide water resources for the animals, but in vain.

To read the full article featured in Daily Nation click here  

To read more click here or visit the Blackmoor website

As leading aid agencies demand that governments, donors, the United Nations and NGOs ‘don’t delay’ if severe food shortages are to be avoided in West Africa this spring, TREE AID warns of continued cycles of deforestation, drought and famine in the region if the role of trees continues to be ignored.

From the charity’s offices in Ouagadougou, Dr. Goodwin says; “The government in Burkina Faso recognises the problem and is carefully considering the right response so as not to destabilise the local economy but to protect the most vulnerable. But they know all too wellthat without long term investment, and more specifically investment in trees, famine will continue to be a regular and devastatingoccurrence. This is where TREE AID is offering much needed support”

Dr. Goodwin was invited to meet with the Ministers to discuss TREE AID’s work in the country – work that has proved effective in protecting families from starvation.

Burkina Faso Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Dr. Jean Coulidiaty said “For 25 years TREE AID has been improving the environment in the drylands of Africa by unlocking the potential of trees. What has been most impressive to me is the way that TREE AID makes trees work for people. I have seen the lives of poor rural farmers, and especially women, transformed thanks to the income that they now generate from tree products. They are planting trees to support these enterprises and in doing so are protecting their environment for their children. I am also aware that as food crisis looms across the Sahel, the communities where TREE AID is working are better protected against famine thanks to better soils, additional income and the availability of tree foods.  TREE AID’s approach to sustainable poverty alleviation while improving the environment has worked in Burkina Faso. There is great need for more of this work here and across the drylands of Africa, especially in the face of continued deforestation, persistent drought and devastating famine.”

For communities in Burkina Faso, TREE AID projects are restoring land and livelihoods, thereby providing a safety net for families facing extended periods of drought.   There’s now a huge demand for TREE AID experience and expertise.

“Deforestation is a real issue for the whole of Africa. There are a number of reasons for this but planting trees for trees sake isn’t the solution. With increasing occurrences of drought and famine it really is time that the role trees play in helping people escape a life of poverty is taken seriously.  We want to see forestry initiatives that include people so they can protect their own futures.  We want to see an end to sticking plaster approaches that struggle to provide even a short-term solution,” concludes Dr. Goodwin.

A World Bank report last year on leasing agricultural land to foreign companies noted that some of Ethiopia’s leases last up to 100 years and favour rich foreigners over poor Ethiopians, with large investors receiving land and water free of charge along with tax benefits, while local peasants have to pay land taxes and other fees.

Ethiopia is forcing tens of thousands of people off their land to lease it to foreign investors, leaving former landowners destitute and, in some cases, starving.

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