Trees of Hope

The Kurna community in Kano State, Nigeria, implemented the Afforestation Drive, a locally-led adaptation project using nature-based solutions to combat extreme heat and air pollution. Led by Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim and the Panacea Foundation, the initiative planted over 2,000 adaptive trees in Kurna and expanded to plant 135,382 trees across Kano State. The project utilized an open-source digital data kit for monitoring and focused on indigenous species to improve air quality, reduce respiratory diseases, and create new livelihood opportunities through fruit trading. Despite success, the project faced barriers such as government bureaucracy and lack of funding, highlighting the need for a shift from top-down climate strategies to models that devolve decision-making and resources to frontline communities.

• The Afforestation Drive initiative used nature-based solutions, specifically planting over 2,000 trees in the Kurna community, to mitigate extreme heat, act as windbreakers, and improve air quality, which had previously led to increased respiratory diseases due to deforestation-induced pollution.
• The project implemented a digital monitoring system using an open-source data kit application to track tree plantations and identify rare indigenous trees threatened by the climate crisis, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• The initiative generated economic benefits for rural and smallholder farmers by providing improved tree seedling varieties and creating income streams through the trading of food crops and fruits from the planted orchards.
• The project's model of locally-led adaptation was replicated across Kano State, resulting in a total of 135,382 trees planted and monitored via digital kits.
• Local actors faced significant systemic barriers, including government bureaucracy, lack of funding, and a lack of technical know-how, which were partially overcome through strategic partnerships with the Forestry Department and other local institutions.

APA

Abubakar, A. (2023). Trees of Hope. Global Resilience Partnership. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/treesofhope/

Chicago

Abubakar, Azeez. Trees of Hope. Global Resilience Partnership, 2023. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/treesofhope/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Abubakar |first1=Azeez |title=Trees of Hope |publisher=Global Resilience Partnership |date=3 March 2023 |url=https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/treesofhope/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{abubakar2023trees, author = {Abubakar, Azeez}, title = {{Trees of Hope}}, institution = {Global Resilience Partnership}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/treesofhope/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }