In 2006 Gashaw Tahir, an Ethiopian born American citizen, travelled back to his homeland and was horrified at the toll deforestation had taken on the landscape. The mountains were bare, rivers had dried up, and rising temperatures were killing other plant life. Tahir was motivated to do something to change this but he had no idea how influential it would be.
He decided that the first step was ask his local council for a plot of land to plant trees, they gave him two acres and some money to hire a dozen youths from the village to help him plant trees. He hired a mix of Christian and Muslim youths to promote coexistence and give them money to buy clothes and books for school.
"My ultimate vision is making Africa green again," he says. "That inspires me, touches me, and moves me into action." The initial project was a success so Tahir was given 1000 workers and 11,000 acres by the government. He is now recognised as a 'National Green Hero' and projects have received huge media coverage and inspired similar projects across Ethiopia and Africa.
The regeneration of forests will help stop the erosion of the landscape and provide food and additional income for the community. The new trees will be more sustainable as they will be able to provide food rather than being cut down for money to buy food.
As well as the forestation projects, Tahir set up an agricultural research centre to educate the 80% of the population who work as farmers. The centre teaches modern techniques for planting and harvesting new and traditional crops.
Since the start of the project in 2006, researchers have noticed some significant environmental changes, they documented a visible drop in the average temperature and a vast improvement in the regions ecology. Tahir not only aims to raise awareness of environmental issues in his country and continent but also aims to empower young people. "With these young people, when I give them a job, when I give them hope, when they get money, they are empowered," he said. "They see it.
He decided that the first step was ask his local council for a plot of land to plant trees, they gave him two acres and some money to hire a dozen youths from the village to help him plant trees. He hired a mix of Christian and Muslim youths to promote coexistence and give them money to buy clothes and books for school.
"My ultimate vision is making Africa green again," he says. "That inspires me, touches me, and moves me into action." The initial project was a success so Tahir was given 1000 workers and 11,000 acres by the government. He is now recognised as a 'National Green Hero' and projects have received huge media coverage and inspired similar projects across Ethiopia and Africa.
The regeneration of forests will help stop the erosion of the landscape and provide food and additional income for the community. The new trees will be more sustainable as they will be able to provide food rather than being cut down for money to buy food.
As well as the forestation projects, Tahir set up an agricultural research centre to educate the 80% of the population who work as farmers. The centre teaches modern techniques for planting and harvesting new and traditional crops.
Since the start of the project in 2006, researchers have noticed some significant environmental changes, they documented a visible drop in the average temperature and a vast improvement in the regions ecology. Tahir not only aims to raise awareness of environmental issues in his country and continent but also aims to empower young people. "With these young people, when I give them a job, when I give them hope, when they get money, they are empowered," he said. "They see it.
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Many sustainable timber suppliers use sustainable forestry to maintain their industry and the environment. hardwood timber production is the cause for almost all the worlds deforestation.
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