Update on Political Unrest
In April, hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans took to the streets to protest the policies of president Daniel Ortega and demand that he step down. Our partner Taking Root issued an initial update on this situation in April, and then another in June. These updates explained how CommuniTree’s operations have been largely unaffected and emphasized how community reforestation – a long term bet on livelihoods, the planet, and the future – is now more important than ever. Although things have settled down somewhat since June, these political issues remain unresolved and so tensions and anxiety remain.
Improving outcomes by analyzing data from Outer Space
In October, the project announced that it partnered with Belgian data scientist Pello Múgica Gonzalez (pictured) to analyze satellite reforestation data combined with data collected on-the-ground through the project’s pioneering Farm Trace system. Gonzalez’ work will help CommuniTree optimize its data-driven and cost-effective approach to ensuring tree survival in the remote regions where the project operates, including the creation of predictive algorithms which identify problems and recommend fixes… before the problems even arise!
Presenting Taking Root’s Model to the United Nations
Dr. Kahlil Baker and Elvin Castellon, Taking Root’s Canadian and Nicaraguan directors, presented CommuniTree’s smallholder reforestation model to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy. FAO invited Taking Root to present how the project generates millions of dollars of farmer income and utilizes a sophisticated and data-driven approach to manage its activities.
Additional Updates
- Photo albums of this year’s planting season can be found here for Q3, here for Q2, and here for Q1. In case you missed them, all photos from 2017 are here.
- This month, Taking Root’s co-founders were presented with the Meritorious Service Cross from Julie Payette, the Governor General of Canada. They were recognized alongside 36 other Canadians – including community volunteers to scientists, actors, members of the military, scholars, and everyday citizens – as individuals who have performed exceptional accomplishments which set an example for others to follow while bringing honor to Canada as a whole.
- The project has partnered with Peter Schleifenbaumn, founder of one of Canada’s largest and most sustainably-managed private forests. Peter is supporting Taking Root’s model through a new form of conservation finance, where funds invested into the launch of the project’s woodcrafts business will be re-invested into sustainable forest management and expansion. Check out the project’s woodcrafts for sale here.
Get Future Updates Directly from Taking Root
You can sign up here to get updates about CommuniTree, Nicaragua directly and as soon as they’re announced by our partner Taking Root.
When you donate to CommuniTree, you’re not only offsetting your unavoidable CO2 emissions, you’re also restoring landscapes and supporting farmers like Doroteo Benavidez Cruz and Elba Catalina, pictured below. They’ve earned $1,798.04 for planting and maintaining 3,355 trees which are capturing and sequestering 744 tonnes of CO2!
