Deforestation and land degradation in Tanzania’s coastal regions have been driven by a combination of drought, shifting cultivation, overgrazing and demand for firewood and timber. The effects of climate change are starting to become more and more palpable, as is the need to adapt to resilient and drought-resistant agricultural practices. The land needs to be restored in order to support food security, while creating new economic opportunities for farmers and their communities.

ambakofi implements ambitious agroforestry projects in two villages, Mkange and Mihuga, which are both in Bagamoyo District, on Tanzania’s coast. ambakofi has also undertaken mangrove restoration in Pangani District. Each of the villages has 50 acres of land under restoration. The organisation’s purpose is to invest in nature by restoring deforested land, improving soil fertility, and replenishing the water table and river channels. As it does so it will increase food production, produce sustainable timber, repair the ecosystem and progressively reduce the deleterious effects of climate change. Typically farmers are limited to seasonal cropping but ambakofi’s approach enables them to generate income year round. To date, more than 5000 trees have been planted, both for timber and fruit. The project has 246 direct beneficiaries and more than 3000 indirect beneficiaries. Ambakofi’s ambition is to scale up significantly through the creation of an agribusiness network – a business entity that organises and unites small scale farmers. The network will take care of marketing and connecting farmers with domestic and international value chains.