newTree, a charitable non-profit organization, is supporting people in Burkina Faso to sustainably improve their livelihood. In cooperation with local families and women’s groups they fence off wasteland of about 3 ha to protect it from logging and grazing animals. newTree provides the material for the fences as well as the know-how; the local people build the fence and maintain it. So far 193 local mixed forests have thus been successfully established. They are a source of food and income for the rural population.   

The 400’000 trees grown in this project are absorbing CO2 and thus contributing to a cleaner environment. With wood sources dwindling, newTree is also promoting the construction of improved cooking stoves, which need 60% less wood than the traditional open fire. The training for farmers on how to better grow their crops helps them to increase their harvests.

In 2012 Fontana Foundation made its first investment for 3 fenced-off land plots. The farmers are being trained in sustainable farming and learn new income-generating skills, such as beekeeping. Additionally 1’500 women living in these villages are learning how to build and use improved cooking stoves. In June 2013 we visited various installations in Burkina Faso and were impressed by the work of Franziska Kaguembega and her team of newTree. Our support continues over the next years. Together with Franziska we are piloting a solar lighting project using the solar lamp “Luci”.

For more information, please visit www.newtree.org