Programs
Forest Conservation
Across Canada, the east coast Wabanaki Forest remains largely unknown — even to those who call the region home. This unique forest type has been listed as one of six endangered forests in North America, and what remains is vulnerable to threats caused by climate change. But it doesn’t have to remain this way.
With your help, a future with diverse, old forests is possible.
The out-migration of young people and poor markets leave a significant gap in forest stewardship in Atlantic Canada, which forces many landowners to clear-cut their forests for income or to retire—or sell their land to someone who will! If you have stewarded your forest with care, the prospect of having your land cleared can be devastating—but we’re here to help protect your property.
Together with responsible companies, we are transforming the Wabanaki-Acadian forest into one of Canada’s greatest carbon storehouses. Not all carbon offsets are created equal—when you purchase offsets from Community Forests International, you can be sure that you are making a meaningful contribution to climate action.
Community Forests International shares and develops knowledge and tools that help build the capacity of rural landowners to manage their lands long-term and adapt to climate change. We are currently working actively with Indigenous organizations in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to share stories and knowledge on the importance of this land and these forests for both settler and Indigenous audiences.
Ecosystem Restoration
The strong interlocking roots of mangrove forests hold soils in place against waves and flooding, but these critical ecosystems are threatened. We work with communities to grow and restore mangroves on Zanzibar’s fragile coast-lines.
We plant a wide diversity of trees in degraded landscapes to bring back the lost forests for future generations. Trees are important allies in the fight for a climate secure future, and although tree planting does not have an immediate climate impact within 10-15 years newly restored forests begin to draw a significant amount of carbon out of the atmosphere.
The coastal forest of Eastern Africa is rated highest worldwide for ecological diversity, and 40% of this forest type is found in the coastal regions of Tanzania. We work with local partners to establish community-owned and operated tree nurseries, growing and planting over 30 species of trees for restoration, food production and income generation.
Climate Adaptation
Community Forests International shares and develops climate-adaptive silviculture knowledge and tools that help build the capacity of rural landowners to manage their lands for climate mitigation and increase our forests’ ability to adapt to climate change. You can help the Wabanaki forests adapt to the changing climate and maximise their climate benefits.
From rising sea levels to shifting rain patterns, the effects of climate change are already being felt across the islands of Zanzibar — and are expected to increase over time as coastal communities face disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis. Through supporting climate-adaptive agroforestry and agriculture, we can improve both economic and environmental resilience for people and communities across Zanzibar.
The effects of climate change severely exacerbate the challenges women face as primary providers of household needs. In Tanzania, women are often responsible for providing food, water, and energy to households in rural areas and are more dependent on natural resources than men due to unequal access to assets and income.
The climate crisis disproportionately impacts Black, Indigenous, and people of colour in Canada and around the world. Moreover, countries Zanzibar are already feeling the effects of global climate change — while contributing the least to its causes. Supporting climate adaptation in communities and regions most affected is climate justice.
We know that dismantling the underlying inequalities in our society is critical to strengthening our ability to effectively respond and adapt to the increasing stresses that climate change will affect over the next decade and century.
