Bees and Trees: Restoring Land through Agroforestry in Uganda
Bees and Trees motivates smallholder farmers in Uganda to restore degraded land through incentives. They gift beehives and coffee seedlings to farmers. This motivates the farmers to plant coffee shade trees and bee forage species, integrating trees into their farms. So far, 734 trees have been planted and marked on the GainForest Green Globe. The trees contribute to land and habitat restoration, mitigate climate change and prevent landslides. At the same time honey and coffee sales provide additional income to the farmers; while the bees enhance food production and biodiversity through pollination.The social enterprise also purchases coffee grown under agroforestry at premium prices, further motivating farmers to integrate and preserve trees on their farms.
$1.44
Landscape
1.1 ha
Agroforestry
Curacao
$28.95
⭔ 35 ha
Community
Inhaã-bé Village
Clean Water
Help Inhaã-bé Village Access Clean Water
$11.29
⭔ 4 ha
Restoration
SORALO
Women-led
$21.71
⭔ 691 ha
Conservation
Oceanus Conservation
$7.23
⭔ 101 ha
Science
GainForest
XPRIZE Rainforest
Kolektivo
Food Forest Work Day | Hofi Kolektivo | February 4th, 2025
Hofi Kolektivo is an Agroforestry farm in Curacao. It produces local, organic fruits and vegetables, which are donated to local non-profit organizations and individuals in need. The farm includes a nursery, a small fish tank, and a series of endangered local plants.
The Inhaã-bé village, a close-knit indigenous community, is facing a severe crisis as two consecutive years of extreme drought have left them struggling with limited access to water, food, and essential supplies. The situation has particularly impacted their children, who must endure a six-hour walk under the scorching sun to reach school. In response, Gainforest and Oya Institute have partnered with the community to launch a fundraising campaign aimed at constructing an artesian well and purchasing a quad bike. These solutions would provide reliable access to clean water and safer transportation, helping the community maintain their traditional way of life while building resilience against the increasing challenges of climate change. The campaign seeks donations and social sharing to support these vital infrastructure improvements that would significantly impact the daily lives of community members.
Grass Seed Banks
SORALO Women-Led Grass Seed Banks
SORALO’s Women-Led Grass Seed Banks restore degraded rangelands while creating economic opportunities for Maasai women. At the Lenkobei site, one of four sites across 80 hectares, 20 women are actively involved in cultivating and harvesting native grasses to reseed overgrazed lands, revitalizing grazing areas, and strengthening ecosystem health. So far, the initiative has restored over 80 acres, ensuring sustainable pastoralism and wildlife coexistence. Beyond ecological impact, the seed banks generate income that supports families and funds school bursaries, fostering long-term community resilience. By combining restoration with economic empowerment, SORALO is securing a healthier future for both people and nature.
Thinking Machines
BKCF
Oceanus Conservation: Integrating Local Knowledge and Technology for Mangrove Conservation in Barangay Tumanan (December 2024)
The BKCF Project: AI/Machine Learning-powered Digital Monitoring of Mangrove Ecosystems is a collaboration between Thinking Machines, Oceanus Conservation, and GainForest, conducted in Bislig, Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Oceanus trained 11 local surveyors to use smartphones for data collection, replacing traditional pen-and-paper methods. Combining their local knowledge with technology, the surveyors documented 600 mangrove trees, recording species, diameter at breast height (DBH), height, GPS coordinates, and photos of tree barks, leaves, flowers, and fruits. These parameters are key in determining the carbon potential of each tree. The surveyors collectively earned 40 pesos per tree, providing a form of supplemental livelihood. A total of 48,000 pesos was distributed through two wallet accounts managed by field officers, who facilitated cash withdrawals and ensured transparent payment distribution. By integrating local expertise with technology, the project provided exposure to digital tools and actively involved communities in mangrove conservation efforts.
GainForest is co-lead of ETH BioDivX, the XPRIZE Rainforest bonus prize award winner recognized as the “single most impactful approach/technology”. GainForest has worked with over 28 communities to bring crucial biodiversity data onchain, distributing $32K in conservation data income to local communities in 2024 for their role in recording crucial forestation and wildlife information, and co-hosted 13 workshops with local communities across 3 continents. GainForest is fostering global climate action through capacity building with local communities and scientists, maintaining a public database of AI+Environment models. By purchasing this ecocert, you are supporting the teams’ work on the ground to protect the world’s rainforests and incentivize local participation in climate initiatives. This is a special Celo x GainForest celebration edition.
