15 Reasons for LekkiLekki

  1. Employs people to their fullest. Micro tasking by paying families to plant and steward a tree (or three) in their yard or compound puts land and people to work in areas with high underemployment.
  2. Shades families’ living spaces. It takes less energy to cool down houses and yards in hot climates when living areas are under the leaves of trees.
  3. Retains moisture in dry climates. Canopies of tree leaves add moisture in the air through transpiration cooling.
  4. Mitigates the effects of heavy rainfall. Trees’ roots, leaves and even leaf litter help contain inundations that result from heavy rainfall and lead to flooding.
  5. Prevents erosion. Desertification, or the degradation of soil, is intensified by wind erosion. Tree roots, which hold soil in place, help counter this phenomenon.
  6. Provides food. Families can choose from fruit-bearing trees to steward, including mango, guava, lemon and lime.
  7. Supports the healthy growth of cities. While economic growth and the construction of concrete buildings go hand in hand, trees can feature in cities’ development when there is an economic incentive in place to encourage it.
  8. Captures CO2. While trees are only a temporary measure for carbon capture (except Old Tjikko which technically would qualify for the permanent carbon capture that Frontier purchases), the more that are in place, the more relief there is for the growing amounts of CO2 in our atmosphere, trapping heat and adding volatility to weather patterns.
  9. Makes remittances to developing economies a two-way street. The diaspora that frequently remits to family and friends in their home countries now have a way to remit with a specific ask, turning a handout into a job, and adding dignity to the process.
  10. Improves quality of life. Humans’ love of trees is shared across cultures. From burying storytelling griots in the hollows of baobab trees in Senegal to shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing”) in Japan, trees hold a special place in the hearts of humans, and for good reason: without them, we would not survive.
  11. Increases awareness of responsible resource allocation. Tree-planting events are opportunities to discuss the many aspects of stewardship, including why donors are paying to plant, the potential for some reduction of energy bills (and fossil fuel consumption) and the use of safe wastewater in place of fresh to irrigate trees.
  12. Empowers youth. That strong, long-standing organizations of enthusiastic and energetic young people are chronically underfunded is a waste of human potential. The benefits of tree-planting events by youth groups in cities are many, varied and lasting. What a legacy!
  13. Boasts a lower risk of planted-tree loss to forest fires. One of the greatest tragedies of mass plantings is the loss of hectares of healthy trees to wildfires, which are increasingly common. Interspersing trees within cities not only localizes their many benefits, but diffuses the concentration of flammability.
  14. Builds stronger communities. When neighbours in a community come together for a common cause that beautifies their surroundings, and they’re earning income in the process, they’re better equipped to deal with existing challenges and take on new ones.
  15. Reduces pollution. Growth of cities means growth of cars and motorcycles, which means growth of exhaust fumes, and tree leaves are like filters.