growingtogether

strategy

2018-2022

International Tree Foundation (ITF) has a remarkable history dating all the way back to 1922, when what would become a global tree

planting movement began in Kenya with Watu wa Miti (People of the Trees). Established in the UK in 1924, ITF instigated the concept and practice of community forestry. This model spread around the world and has inspired communities to plant an estimated 26 billion trees.

ITF’s founder, Richard St. Barbe Baker, has been described as the world’s first global environmentalist. Baker spent most of his life

travelling the world to promote forest protection and tree planting. He appreciated that trees were not only important for purifying the air that we breathe, ensuring freshwater and maintaining biodiversity, but also in regulating the climate (long before science validated his conviction).

Baker understood the vital role of trees in maintaining soil health and preventing erosion and desertification; which are all essential

in enabling trees to provide nutritious food and natural medicines for our health and well-being.

our historyour founder, Richard St. Barbe Baker

our connection to the natural world

Our new Growing Together Strategy is first and foremost a reflection of growing community-led action to protect, restore and care for the environment and sustain livelihoods in response to deforestation, land degradation and climate shocks. We need our remaining forests more than ever and to restore much of what has already been lost.

ITF’s paramount strength is our community-led approach to forest protection and restoration and agroforestry.

We will continue to provide grant support to community based organisations working to protect and care for their local environments. And give additional support to build the capacity of these organisations to help grow a stronger civil society. ITF similarly needs to build its own capacity to fully realise its potential as a grant-giving, collaborative and educational foundation. We will invest in building our income generation capacity so we can:

• deliver a growing programme portfolio • manage a greater number of grantee relationships • develop more collaborative partnerships and

networks

Through collaboration we have learnt about the additional benefits that working together with partners

on larger scale and longer term initiatives can achieve in terms of sustainable impact and transformation. The natural world and notably trees grow and deliver vital services and products over a much longer timeframe and in a more holistic way than the predominant short-term and narrow project based approach. ITF will seek to co-create alliances and networks to enable grass-roots solutions to the environmental crisis we face.

Our new strategy builds on our education and awareness raising work. There is growing concern

about how industrialised and urban based societies have lost a connection with the natural world. Many young people rarely, or never, get the opportunity to interact with and learn from the natural environment. The Tree Power for schools programme has been developed thoughtfully over the past few years and is now ready to be rolled out a second time on a wider and larger scale.

VisionWe work with local communities in Africa and the UK to increase awareness of the value of trees, grow and regenerate trees and forest habitats rich in biodiversity that improve livelihoods and well-being.

A world where trees and forests flourish and their vital role in supporting planetary and human well-being is valued and nurtured.

MISSION

Promoting the planting and care of trees locally and globally

Respecting indigenous knowledge

about the wise and sustainable use of trees, plants, soils, water and other natural resources

Increasing public awareness

of deforestation, unsustainable agriculture and consumption; and the potential of trees to rehabilitate degraded land,

improve livelihoods and combat climate change

Building the capacity of local communities

to develop and implement their own strategies to use natural resources sustainably and increase resilience to

environmental degradation and climate change

Improving rural livelihoods,

food security, nutrition and health through the cultivation of traditional tree foods and medicines

Encouraging agroecology and agroforestry

practices to conserve biodiversity, generate income, create jobs and business opportunities

Supporting socially and environmentally appropriate local governance

and community by-laws

Advocating for regional and global policies

that recognise the role of trees in environmental conservation, landscape restoration and maintenance of

ecological functions, promote social equity and justice, and alleviate poverty

Accessibility

Ensure that grants and projects are accessible to all and in

particular to vulnerable and marginalised groups and

communities.

Listening, sharing and learning

Listening to and learning from our partners and creating

opportunities for our partners to share their knowledge

experiences.

Partnership and collaboration

Building long-term relationships with trusted partners and

increasing collaboration with other like-minded organisations

and funders.

Professionalism and competence

Ensuring that organisations and projects we support are

reliable and sound, with open and transparent application

and selection processes, with effective due diligence.

Transparency and accountability

Being open about our funding sources, grant assessment

criteria and award processes and decisions and providing easy-to-use monitoring and evaluation

tools.

VALUESIntegrity

Uphold ethical relationships between people, the natural

world and wildlife.

Respect for all

Respectful, equitable, sustainable relationships and partnerships with the

organisations and communities we work with.

Fair and equitable treatment

Addressing issues of social injustice, gender inequality,

exploitation and marginalisation. Complying with international guidance on child labour, and

ensuring animal welfare.

Rights of local communities

to make their own decisions

Implement community forestry projects in partnership with local

communities, civil society, and international agencies based upon self-defined local needs

and aspirations.

Consultation and participation

A participatory grass-roots approach led by

local communities for self-determination, self-help and

empowerment.

With nearly 100 years of experience working with communities around the world, we have developed a community-centered approach that builds on local knowledge to increase environmental sustainability and enhance wellbeing. Our holistic approach is rooted in four key elements: education, environment, livelihoods, and capacity-building.

Appreciating the livelihood value of trees

We support communities to adopt agroforestry to restore and rehabilitate degraded landscapes, provide essential food, medicines, tools, shelter and improve livelihoods.

Environmental and social justice

We support communities to voice their concerns about the economic and environmental effects of the unsustainable demand for forest resources, and the misuse and unfair trade of timber and non-timber forest resources.

APPROACH

Agroecology

We support sustainable, regenerative farming systems that: improve the well-being of small-scale farmers; create diversity to make food production resilient to a changing and unpredictable climate; produce sufficient nutritious food; enhance biodiversity; improve gender equity and local governance.

Building capacity

We support newly emerging community organisations that promote community- based forestry and agroforestry. We seek to assist them to build their capacity and thereby strengthen civil society.

Appreciating the intrinsic value of trees

We encourage people’s appreciation of the value of trees, forests and woodlands as a source of tranquillity, peace and happiness.

Appreciating the environmental value of trees

We recognise the immense environmental benefits of trees in providing oxygen, climate regulation, conserving water, enriching soil and conserving wildlife.

A holistic community-centered sustainable development model

Our Theory

of Change

People understand the ecological,

environmental, social and economic value of trees

Problem

Activity

Outcomes

Aims

Failure to recognise the importance of trees.

disassociation with the natural world, deforestation, consumerism, land degradation,

diminishing freshwater, climate change, food insecurity, poor nutrition and health, inequality.

Educational programmes for young people

Training for teachers and

youth workers

People have an emotional connection to the natural world

Appreciation of the local and global importance of trees

African and European youth share ideas

Communities increase global tree cover and reforestation

with appropriate tree cultivation

Communities grow trees to improve livelihoods in

sustainable and productive landscapes

Civil society builds capacity to advocate for and implement

community-led forestry

Communities protect and care for local forests

Local governance of forests improves

Policy makers increase funding for community-led

forestry and agroforestry

Smallholder farmers scale-up agroforestry

Communities gain skills and experience in building their organisation and implementing successful projects

Women are leading organisations and projects

ImpactCivil society action to end deforestation and promote reforestation

Active citizens for forest friendly consumption, diets and behaviour

Restored forests, watersheds and

wildlife habitats

Carbon storage and climate change mitigation

Community engagement to sustain change

Sustainable natural resource management

Improved agro-ecological functions and soil fertility

Food security, improved nutrition and health

Improved livelihoods

a flourishing world of trees & forests

nurturing ecological & human Well-being

An African movement for trees

Improved local and national policies

Empowered rural communities and

smallholder farmers

More women in leadership roles

Communications to raise awareness

Grants for sustainable community forestry

and agroforestry

Vision

Skills training

Tree nursery establishment

Tree planting for restoration and production

(food, medicine and fuel)

Forest protection and management

Stakeholder partnerships

Capacity building with community partners

Support for women-led organisations

Peer to peer learning and networking

Advocacy to policy makers and donors

programmes

ITF will deliver a diverse portfolio of programmes to achieve our strategic objectives:

Fruit-full Communities

Mount Bamboutos Initiative (MBI)

Agroforestry Alliance for Africa

(AAfA)

CORE PARTNERSHIP

Africa Drylands

Sustainable Community

Forestry

UK Community Tree Planting

Foundation

Tree Power for schools

Centenary Campaign: 20

Million Trees for Kenya’s Forests

Strategic AimsOur strategic aims are the cornerstone of our community-centred holistic model for A transformative, equitable and sustainable relationship with the natural world. through this model we will make a distinctive contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.

collaborations

StrategicWorking together with other organisations who share our values is a core component of our Growing Together strategy. ITF will engage with networks and alliances for forest landscape restoration, food sovereignty, agroecology, agroforestry and organic agriculture. We will also support our local partners to participate and contribute on an equal footing and to create pathways for them to access appropriate funding and support.

Grass rootsITF will facilitate a space and platform for our local CBO and NGO partners across Africa through the African Community Forestry Network (ACFN).

InnovativeRecognising the diverse practices and variable quality of tree planting initiatives globally, ITF will spearhead the development of an NGO Ethical Tree Planting Code. This will establish core standards for NGOs engaged in funding and supporting tree planting and be developed through an open and participatory process.

communications

As one of the oldest tree planting charities with a rich history and track record, ITF deserves to be

better known to the general public.

We run a unique sustainable development model that puts local communities and their goals at the heart of our work. To achieve this we aim to build ITF’s global profile and brand.

Communications will be key to growing as an organisation, securing funding and building strategic partnerships. We will continue to provide a platform for our community partners and beneficiaries in the UK to share their stories and for their voices to be heard.

Growing Together is printed using 100% recycled paper, a 100% waterless process, in a factory powered by 100% renewable energies, producing zero waste to landfill and which has a positive

impact in reducing climate change and is beyond Carbon Neutral in its impact on the environment.

www.internationaltreefoundation.orginfo@internationaltreefoundation.org

A global community of people planting trees

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