Run4Reforestation 2023 - Saturday 9th September 2023

We are looking for help to fund the Run4Reforestation 2023 :)

If you know of, or have any ideas about who could help us sponsor the event, please do get in touch!

The Run4Reforestation is a sporting event aimed at raising funds for TREEZ, our small conservation project, working on the south western slopes of Zomba Plateau.

We have been holding this event annually since 2018. Here is the link for the promotional videos made from the 2019 and 2022 events (the 2020 and 2021 were held virtually)

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/g4v1zlyntwevbbdv3tlyy/h?dl=0&rlkey=yr1nh8t0ltl6759i5s6jpnknd

The aim of TREEZ is to both preserve and protect forests, woodlands and water catchments, but increasingly, to help build resilience in the local communities and teach them more sustainable uses of the natural resources available while creating income through the provision of environmental services.

For the past few years, we have been sponsoring both football and netball teams, and various community conservation groups to help protect, reforest and preserve the south western slopes of Zomba Plateau. In exchange for an annual sponsorship amount, the groups are responsible for the protection of their designated areas. As well as this, TREEZ pays for community members from these groups to patrol throughout the fire season. This has reduced the number of fires on our side from 37 to 1, and the forest cover on this side of the Plateau is noticeably more abundant. In fact, community members were quick to say that it was thanks to the tree cover on the Plateau that their communities were protected from landslides in the aftermath of cyclone Freddy. Fore more information on what TREEZ does, please visit www.zombatreez.com

The Run4Reforestation budget totals around $13,500 and we do not expect anyone to be able cover the whole budget, but we would be grateful for any help possible to help raise funds and awareness to the cause.

Thank you all for any help anyone could provide :)

Tree counting time :)

Tree counting time :)

Many people ask us how many trees we can plant or how many trees we have planted... But we have realised that the answer lies not in the planting, but in the protection of the trees that are already there. If all everyone did was plant, we would end up with a gap during which there are no trees of useful size to be used, and no forest biodiversity left as all the woods and forests would have been chopped down. Yes, planting trees is vitally important, but protecting forest ecosystems and woodlands is equally so. Protecting areas of mixed natural regeneration means that there is a constant and sustainable supply of biomass that can be used for cooking and heating while preserving the flora and fauna within. TREEZ and the affiliated sports teams and conservation groups are protecting around 250 hectares and we are hoping to receive official permission any time from now 🌿🌱 Each group receives cash incentives to do so, thereby putting much needed money into the local communities. We call it a payment for ecosystem services as it is essentially an exchange of services. How the groups spend their money is entirely up to them; some put it into village banking schemes, some split up the cash, sports teams use it to buy kit and for transport to away games, but ALL of it is spent in their own communities. For forests and woodland ecosystems to be protected, there must be an incentive for them to remain standing. As long as the tree is worth more chopped than it is standing we will continue to face problems. A lot can be done through eduction, but not only in the rural communities; urban populations need to be trained in how to cook with electricity (many turn to charcoal as this is what they are used to), more alternatives should be available and subsidised as and when necessary. The solutions are out there. More will power would be a good start 💚