Plant 30,000 native trees Costa Rican owned farms

One of the best things we have done at Project Tierras Morenas Costa Rica is include women in the center of tree planting activities. Traditionally, field work has been done exclusively by the men in the valley where we work. But for the past three years, women have been working  in our work crews and we can see the positive benefits at all levels of our rainforest tree planting community. More connection and more opportunities for women improve the quality of life for the whole family. 

Women can  swing machetes, collect seeds, load trucks, carry trees on their shoulders and cut away choking vegetation for good tree growth. They are experts with the shovel too! And they work efficiently while smiling and laughing and often picking flowers and even wild food! We watch the women gently nurture each and every tree as they plant it and then follow it for 4 years with constant care. The tiny  saplings really are babies in need of care out there in the cattle grasses and the women show great success by keeping death rates low and and growth rates high. We could not be more proud of the women who work with our rainforest community so well. 

After a half day of work, ( 6 am to noon), the women return to their homes and take care of their families with a heightened sense of self esteem and dignity. They share their tree work stories with their families from a positive place. They also feel good about contributing to the family budget. Conversations about reforestation and conservation pepper the dinner table and the whole family gets in on the excitement and the prosperity and dignity that comes from rural families reforesting their own land together. It is hard work but the benefits are obvious. Keeping women in the center of our tree planting and care work is a proven recipe for success for the whole family. Great examples are held out for kids and neighbors and we just keep growing more trees and empowering more people. Thank you for your continued support by sponsoring a tree today!