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Did you know that the simple act of planting a tree can help build healthy communities in rural Africa? That's because...
Everything is connected
- Without adequate forest cover soils become depleted
- Without fertile soil, food production declines and hunger increases
- Without secure food supplies and clean water, good health is impossible
Often, we don't think about the fact that trees are a crucial ingredient to sustaining good health - especially in rural African communities.
Yes, it's true - trees are a source of life!
In Africa, trees provide many of life's day-to-day necessities:
- Trees help increase food production by returning moisture and nutrients to the soil
- Trees add moisture to the air, which can increase rainfall and help combat famine producing drought
- Trees provide food, medicine, wood products, fuel and income
- Trees clean the air for the entire global community and help prevent global warming
Cutting down too many trees leads to a cycle of soil degradation, reduced food production, hunger and drought. In countries like Ethiopia and Malawi for example forest cover has fallen below 10 per cent.
When concerned global citizens like you support PAT, your gift will fund tree planting projects and help provide food, income and shelter, while preventing soil erosion, pollution and famine.
CPAR has been raising funds and awareness in support of tree planting and community forestry projects since 1986. Since that time, we have planted more than 50 million trees!
Yes, we are making progress and with your support we can do even more to help build healthy communities in rural Africa.
Everything is connected
You can Plant a Tree in Africa today. Make a PAT donation in your name or in the name of a friend or relative, or purchase a PAT product. Proceeds will go towards tree planting and building healthy communities in rural Africa.
Click here to find out about how CPAR's current projects which are supporting environmental sustainability (PDF document)
You can support PAT by making a donation in either your name or in the name of a friend or relative.
The more you give, the further it goes!
- $60 plants 120 trees
- $100 plants 200 trees
- $250 plants 500 trees
A donation of $30 plants 60 trees, $100 plants 250 trees and $200 plants 500 trees. Give a gift that changes lives.
Plant trees today!
Plant a tree in honour of a friend or family member.
Plant a tree in memory of a friend or family member.
Show your support of PAT by purchasing earth-friendly PAT products.
From T-shirts and tote bags to greeting cards and gift certificates, PAT products make a meaningful and unique gift for any occasion. Proceeds go towards planting trees in Africa.
- Purchase a PAT product online now!
- Request a PAT brochure at info@cpar.ca or 1-800-263-2727
PAT = Healthy Communities
When you support PAT, you'll be helping to build healthy communities in rural Africa. By planting trees you help:
- Improve crop production and food security by preventing soil erosion and degradation
- Improve soil quality by adding nutrients naturally to the soil. For example, farmers plant Acacia seedlings around homes, fields and among crops, as a source of nitrogen.
- Preserve water by percolating rainfall and reducing run off
- Create jobs in the community at CPAR nurseries or in planting (most often done on a food-for-work basis which supports food security)
- Create income generation opportunities for CPAR trainees who set up family or community nurseries
- Provide communities with nutritional fruits and nuts
- Help rural communities to overcome poverty
Quick PAT Facts
- CPAR's PAT program is active in rural Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda and Malawi
- Over 200 community run tree nurseries have been started in rural Africa that grow more than 40 different species of trees
- Some of the species grown include Cordio Africana, Olio Africana, Cypress, Leucenia, Incense and various fruit trees. Indigenous species of trees have been reintroduced into areas where they had disappeared
- Seedlings planted in the PAT program have a very high survival rate, 60-80%, due to the close care given to them by local communities
- Grown trees are made accessible to communities for essential building materials, fodder for animals and fuel. Only tree branches are used to avoid destroying the entire tree
Trees in Africa face many serious threats including:
- Extreme weather and drought
- Growing human populations
- Conversions of forests to cropland
- Use of trees for charcoal fuel
because... Everything is Connected
Plant a Tree in Africa - Offset Your Carbon Footprint from Air Travel
About Plant a Tree in Africa
CPAR has been planting trees in Africa since 1986 as part of overall efforts to build healthy communities. Trees are planted as part of reclamation of agricultural land and for community uses such as fuel wood and construction materials as alternative to cutting natural growth forest.
CPAR works with communities to establish tree nurseries which provide a steady supply of seedlings which include local varieties of trees and which are suited to the local environment. Average survival rates of transplanted seedlings from these nurseries is 70%.
Tree planting complements CPAR's efforts to help communities become more food secure as trees help restore nutrients to the soil and can also be used to prevent erosion and run-off thereby increasing the fertility of agricultural land. Trees themselves also provide food in the form of fruits and nuts which are used to supplement local diets.
How the Off-set Program Works:
You fly. You donate. We plant.
CPAR uses the international Trees for Travel standard for calculating the number of trees needed to offset air travel (1 tree for every 3000 passenger kms) and also factors in the 70% average survival rate for seedlings from CPAR nurseries in Africa. The donation required is based on the average cost to CPAR of 50¢ per tree plus an additional administration charge of $5 per order.
Here's how it works:
Round Trip from Canada to Ethiopia = 24,000km = 8 Surviving Trees = 12 Trees Planted
= Donation of $6.00+$5.00 administration fee = GRAND TOTAL DONATION $11.00
