FARMER-FIRST REFORESTATION
At the heart of Kijani Forestry's mission is a commitment to the success and wellbeing of the farmers we work with. Our Nursery Hubs are more than just centers for growing seedlings; they are hubs of empowerment, education, and economic opportunity. By providing farmers with the training, resources, and market access they need, we enable them to take ownership of their reforestation efforts. This farmer-centric approach not only enhances the productivity of their land but also ensures that reforestation is sustainable and community-driven. By putting farmers first, we cultivate a shared commitment to restoring the environment and building resilient livelihoods for future generations.
30,000
FARMERS
2,200
NURSERY HUBS
Identify Communities of Farmers
We initiate relationships with existing groups of farmers and invite them to join us in farming trees.
Build a Central Tree Nursery
We establish a central hub for the farmers, where meetings, trainings, and nursery activities take place.
We Provide the Inputs
We supply seeds, pots, and materials for building the nursery at no cost to farmers, often valued above their annual income.
Farmers Provide Land & Labor
Farmers plant the seeds on their own land, typically one acre at a time, and provide labor for weeding, planting, and caring for the trees.
Intercropping
Farmers plant lines of trees within their crops, so they don't have to manage any additional acres and keep their existing income.
Fast Growing Trees
We select indigenous tree species that grow quickly, allowing for the first harvest in just four years.
Contractual Partnership
We sign contracts guaranteeing that we will purchase the charcoal and ensure farmers benefit from the carbon project
Meet Weekly
Our field team meets with farmers weekly to produce seedlings, conduct training, monitor progress, and solve problems as they arise.
Incentive Payments
We provide annual per-tree incentives based on tree survival, starting early the year after planting.
Internships
We recruit and train community members as interns, often providing their first salaried jobs with Kijani.
Charcoal Harvests
After four years, the trees are ready for their first harvest, yielding a profit six times the average rural farmer’s annual income.
Effecient Kilns
We loan farmers our efficient kilns, enabling them to produce more charcoal from the same input, resulting in higher profits.
Access to Market
Kijani buys the charcoal directly from farmers, as guaranteed in our contracts, removing the burden of finding buyers.
Coppicing
After the first harvest, tree stumps regrow through coppicing, allowing farmers to harvest even more mass every three years.
FMNR
We train communities in Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) to maximize tree biomass and reduce pressure on natural forests.
Repeat
After the first harvest, trees naturally regrow, allowing farmers to harvest from the same acre every three years with minimal maintenance.
Planting Acres Annually
We encourage farmers to plant one acre each year for at least five years, creating a system of perpetual income.
Communal Success & Wealth
On average, farmers see a 600% to 1,500% increase in annual income, leading to improved food security, education, and healthcare in Uganda's poorest communities.
THE NURSERY HUB MODEL
WHY CHARCOAL?
TURNING BLACK MARKET GOLD INTO FUEL FOR GOOD
Uganda is facing a severe charcoal crisis, with over 94% of the population relying on charcoal and firewood as their primary sources of cooking fuel. This growing demand has led to rampant deforestation, as traditional methods of charcoal production involve cutting down entire trees and digging up root structures without any replanting efforts. As forests disappear, soil quality degrades, biodiversity is lost, and communities become more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Charcoal prices have tripled in the last decade, putting an even greater strain on already struggling households. This unsustainable cycle not only threatens the environment but also deepens poverty throughout the country.
Rural farmers in Uganda are often at the mercy of middlemen and charcoal producers who exploit their vulnerability. These farmers, needing cash to support their families, typically sell their wood at extremely low prices to charcoal producers who reap the majority of the profit. Without direct access to markets, farmers have no bargaining power, and the lack of transparency in the charcoal supply chain means they often receive just a fraction of what their labor and resources are worth. Additionally, these middlemen are generally unconcerned with sustainable practices, leading to unsustainable tree harvesting that further degrades the environment and leaves communities with fewer natural resources. This cycle keeps farmers in poverty and accelerates deforestation, creating a double burden of economic and ecological harm.
At Kijani Forestry, we’ve pioneered a sustainable solution to charcoal production. Our approach centers on planting fast-growing fuelwood trees specifically for charcoal. These trees are harvested using a method called coppicing, which allows them to regrow from their root systems, ensuring a continuous and renewable supply of biomass. By pairing this with our efficient Casamance kilns, farmers can produce more charcoal with less wood, reducing the pressure on natural forests. Farming charcoal not only protects Uganda's ecosystems but also provides farmers with a sustainable, long-term income source, creating a win-win solution for both people and the planet.
At Kijani Forestry, we understand that while farmers care deeply about their land and environment, their first priority is providing for their families. That's why we offer a solution that addresses both. Our sustainable charcoal production model equips farmers with fast-growing fuelwood seedlings and expert training in techniques like coppicing, ensuring sustainable land use. Beyond environmental benefits, we provide annual payments for surviving trees and guarantee market access by purchasing the charcoal they produce, offering a reliable and profitable income stream. We know that preaching climate solutions without addressing poverty won’t work, so we focus on creating tangible economic opportunities that improve livelihoods while protecting the environment.
Kijani Forestry's impactful work is strengthened through strategic collaboration with local and national governments. By partnering closely with governmental bodies, including Uganda's Ministry of Water and Environment, we align our goals with national environmental and development priorities. This synergy allows us to leverage resources, gain essential support, and ensure our initiatives are scalable and sustainable. Our Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with government entities not only facilitate access to land for reforestation but also foster community trust and participation. Through these collaborative efforts, we drive meaningful change that supports both local communities and broader national environmental goals.
How do we generate carbon credits while cutting down trees? Carbon credits can still be earned through a concept known as the long-term carbon stock average. This approach accounts for the balance between carbon sequestration from tree growth and carbon release during harvesting. Even when trees are periodically harvested, new trees are continually grown, ensuring that the overall carbon stock remains stable over time. By maintaining a sustainable forestry model, where harvested trees are replaced and regrown, the forest continues to act as a net carbon sink. This long-term carbon stock average allows us to generate verified carbon credits, even as we harvest, while ensuring that the environmental benefits of the forest are preserved for the future.
EFFECIENT KILNS
MAXIMIZING OUTPUT
MINIMIZING CARBON FOOTPRINT
4X
Our kilns may not be visually striking, but they are highly efficient. Traditional charcoal production is notoriously inefficient, with only 6 to 10 kilograms of charcoal produced from every 100 kilograms of wood. In contrast, our kilns, combined with the sustainable practices we teach, can increase that yield to as much as 35 kilograms. This improvement not only boosts income for farmers but also significantly reduces the number of trees required to produce the same amount of charcoal, promoting both economic and environmental sustainability.
TIMBER
Farmers working with Kijani have the option to diversify their income by planting timber trees alongside those used for charcoal production. Timber farming is a longer-term investment, with trees typically harvested after 8 to 10 years, providing a higher one-time profit compared to the more frequent charcoal harvests. This model allows farmers to benefit from the immediate, recurring income of charcoal production while also planning for a substantial future payout through timber sales. By engaging in both activities, farmers can build a diversified income portfolio that combines short-term stability with long-term financial gain, helping them achieve even greater economic resilience.
COPPICING
Coppicing is central to Kijani Forestry’s sustainable approach to charcoal production and reforestation. This method, which involves harvesting trees while leaving their root systems intact, allows the trees to naturally regenerate and grow back faster.
Coppicing ensures a continuous and renewable supply of biomass, reducing the need to clear more land and preventing further deforestation. By promoting this practice, we enable farmers to sustainably produce charcoal while maintaining the health of their land for future harvests. It’s a win-win solution that aligns with our mission to protect the environment, enhance biodiversity, and provide farmers with a long-term, reliable income stream.
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FARMER INCOME
Farmers partnering with Kijani will generate significant profits through sustainable charcoal harvests. The initial harvest occurs in Year 5, with subsequent harvests from the same trees in Years 8, 11, and beyond. By planting one acre of trees each year for six consecutive years, farmers create a steady cycle in which they harvest two acres of charcoal annually. This approach provides farmers with a consistent and predictable income stream, ensuring long-term financial stability and enabling strategic economic planning for their families and communities.