Trees for Peace

A Renewed Push to Bring Back Our Forest

Even more than before, the One Million Trees for Peace Project is committed to restoring our lost forest in Africa. With our renewed commitment to forest regeneration, we are bringing back some indigenous tree species like Opepe, Omar, and White Afara. We are continuing to provide jobs for the less privileged people in Africa while also sustaining the African forest biodiversity. Without the support of the Bauknecht Foundation Germany, our Association Bernadette Strebel World Peace, and our GlobalGiving Partners couldn’t do this. We hereby send our deep-hearted thanks and appreciation to our loving partners.

16.5 Hectares of Deforested Land Planted

We are pleased to inform our donors that the 16.5 hectares of deforested land, which we reported as prepared in our last edition, have now been planted. Both indigenous and exotic tree species were used.

A renewed care for planted trees

In any forest regeneration project, weeding is the most challenging and cost-intensive operation. From August to September 2024, the 16.5 hectares of land planted in June and July were ring-weeded and subsequently weeded. This was a difficult operation as the workers had to work in the rain. Additionally, the 5.5 hectares of forest planted in 2023 were also weeded. These efforts are crucial to protect the young forest trees from competition for soil nutrients with weeds and climbers, as well as being eaten by rodents or grasscutters.

Beat-up operations 

We are pleased to report that some of the baby trees planted in June and July that did not survive could be replanted. After weeding, our forest supervisors carried out a forest inventory to identify dead trees, and those found dead were replaced. This is an ongoing process. Moreover, seedlings that were planted in other areas in 2022 and 2023 but did not survive, were replaced as well. To complete this work, we need an additional $3000 for seedlings and wages. We kindly ask for your continued support.

Worker’s welfare

Worker’s welfare is taken seriously by the Board of Association Bernadette Strebel World Peace. Even though, some workers sustained injuries during forest operations. The workers were treated, and they are fully back to work.

As part of our commitment to workers’ welfare, we are passionately asking for your support to build huts in the forest for our workers. These huts will provide temporary shelter for the workers during rain. Workers resume to forestry work by 8 am daily, and with the help of huts, preparing meals like roasted plantain, yam, or cooked rice, beans, and other edibles would be possible. 

The cost of this is estimated to be $7000. If funds are available, we intend to sink a borehole for water and install a small solar light, allowing the worker to charge their mobile phone and mini radio. 
This will go a long way in motivating them, as they love to enjoy more time in the forest. It will also help to reduce the cost of fuel and the usage of the worker's project vehicle. 

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Larger projects require greater support. In 2024 our initial budget aimed to regenerate less than 5 hectares, but due to our dedication to restoring the forest, the workers successfully prepared 16.5 hectares. This area also has been planted. We need more support to pay for these workers for the maintenance operations and replanting of trees that didn’t survive. Your contributions will help us pay the workers’ wages, allowing them to support their families and pay their children's school fees.

Finally, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Christian Gut for his generous donation of trees in commemoration of his dear mother’s transition to the LIGHT. We also thank the Association of Bernadette Strebel World Peace for approving funds that enabled us to pay for the restoration of the Project Manager's official Toyota Hilux.

If you are interested in Joining our team you can contact Laura Schirlo at laura@bsworldpeace.org

• Project Report with pictures (DOCX)

Thank you for your continuous support, which enables us to work tirelessly as we strive to save our world from climate change by planting forest trees. Our efforts remove carbon dioxide from the air, store carbon in the trees and soil, and release oxygen into the atmosphere. Our forest provides a safe home for wildlifeand ensures balanced biodiversity. Additionally, we are creating jobs for the underprivileged in rural communities. 

We extend our gratitude to our partners at GlobalGiving and the Bauknecht Foundation Germany.

16.5 hectares of deforested land will be planted in 2024

It is distressing to know that the world has lost one-third of its forests, resulting in climate-related disasters worldwide. Despite this alarming situation, we are pleased to announce to our partners that we have prepared an additional 16.5 hectares of deforested land for tree planting in 2024, which will take place in June and July. You can view the GPS map in the report.

At a recommended spacing of 3m by 3m, we have secured 15,000 out of the 18,331 forest seedlings needed for planting. We still require your support to procure the remaining seedlings and additional ones for replacement operations, estimated at $2,000.

Preventing Forest Fires in 2024

We are pleased to inform our sponsors that in 2023/2024, we successfully protected the forest trees from bush fires. This was made possible by the dedicated support and commitment of the forest workers, who conducted surveillance operations and created firebreaks in and around the planted areas of the forest reserves. With the return of the rains, the areas planted in 2023, 2022, and previous years are thriving and green.

One Million Trees for Peace Forest Declared an Environmental Protected Area by Edo State Government, Nigeria

In recognition of our efforts and the government's commitment to the project, Edo State Governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki has declares our Forest Regenerated Area Environmental Protection Area. This ensures that the forest trees, wildlife and other fauna are protected by law. Signposts have been placed in strategic areas to inform the public of this development, marking first in Edo State. 

Our way to the Future - Become an Ambassador for Climate Change

As we expand our operations, we appeal for more support to maintain both current and past forest areas, which are cost-intensive. We urgently need volunteer staff who are passionate about supporting this project as treasurers, project consultants, or representatives in Europe, the USA, the United Kingdom, South America, and Asia. If you are interested in joining our team, please contact Maria-Angela Sjögren at mari.sjoe@hotmail.com.

You may also wish to visit our forest in Nigeria as part of your holiday or vacation. The project manager, Dr. Festus Onogholo, will arrange an invitation letter and take full responsibility for your stay, provided your visit is restricted to our forest in Ehor and other locations in Benin City, Edo State.

We also appeal for support to repair a project vehicle, which is crucial for our operations but currently out of service due to a lack of funds. The repairs, including a new gearbox, tires, windshield, and internal engine work, are estimated to cost about $6,500, including transportation to Lagos, Nigeria, for the repairs.

We need your support to pay the wages of forestry workers and cover other expenses such as fuel for project vehicles, a health fund for the workers, and the salaries of six staff members. As a non-governmental organization, we depend on your generous donations. Your past contributions have sustained this project, and we need more as we expand with the additional 16.5 hectares of new forest to be established in 2024.

Finally, we are deeply grateful to Mr. Leslie Gould, who has volunteered for this project for the past 15 years. His dedication will forever be remembered in our hearts and the hearts of the forests we have nurtured over the years.

Links:

• our webpage :)

• Full Report with pictures (PDF)