Projects

India: village forestry meeting

United Kingdom: Wych Elm

Uganda: quantifiers at work

Berkeley Reafforestation Trust projects have been located in a wide range of environments. Conditions have varied in terms of climate and terrain as well as in the culture and way of life of the communities involved.

We have worked in areas of high rainfall (Ecuador) and semi-arid regions (Sudan). With settled farmers (Madagascar) and with pastoralists (Niger). With extensive reforestation programmes (Indian Himalayas and Uganda) and with fruit tree planting initiatives with individual farmers (coastal India).

We also work in the UK and are currently involved with a large number of schools promoting an understanding of the importance of trees.

Core characteristics of our projects include:

• Emphasis on self help
  We do not believe in “doing things for people” but in helping people to help themselves. Local commitment and volunteer inputs are preconditions to our involvement.
  A major component of all our work is training and local empowerment.
• Sustainability
  Projects must aim to become sustainable long term without ongoing dependency on outside funding. The alternative is that they will inevitably wither on the vine.
• Priority is given to indigenous trees
  Indigenous trees have many advantages over exotic species which do not form part of the natural eco-system and are not acclimatised to local conditions including threats such as drought and pests.
• Limited expatriate involvement
  The aim is to build up local capacity from the start.
• Forestry being part of wider development programmes
  Our projects focus on trees but form part of wider programmes incorporating health, education and agricultural development.