2020 - renewal and restoration

That which we value

Christmas is about the relationships we value. It’s about offering gifts to nurture those relationships, gratitude, and sharing with those most in need. This year, COVID revealed our shared vulnerabilities too. People around the world have taken the same measures, on a shared understanding. We can look to 2021 knowing that a vaccine is around the corner – for some.

Hopefully, one unintended consequence of the pandemic will be that when our attention turns to COP26 and the climate crisis, we won’t have had the time to forget that when faced with a threat of global magnitude, governments, businesses and civil society can achieve what was once thought farfetched. And that personally, we can change our behaviour radically to protect relationships we value, and may have taken for granted.

The restoration movement

Recent commitments made by countries such as China and the UK, and by major companies such as BP, show that a shared understanding of the threat, causes and dynamics of the climate crisis is now established globally. For COP26 to succeed, it needs to deliver legally binding targets and actions towards a sustainable economy and ecosystem restoration. There is no time to waste.

Changing our personal relationships with nature is critical too – to no longer take nature for granted. Facilitating this change in your own and your community’s relationship with nature is at the heart of ITF. This often involves helping to develop sustainable routes out of poverty alongside programmes to restore and conserve forest landscapes. It’s difficult to think about forest restoration on an empty stomach.

With thanks to you!

We are deeply grateful to all of our supporters, donors, and partners. Together, and under very challenging circumstances, we achieved a great deal in 2020 across 39 projects in ten countries. We started seventeen new projects with thanks to a grant from the Prince of Wales Charitable Trust. Our work in Ghana has also increased to five projects, and we started a new programme in Northern Ireland where ITF planted trees many years ago.

In Kenya, we planted our 1,000,000^th tree since 2016. And nearly 425,000 new trees are growing as a result of our Mount Bamboutos Initiative in Cameroon. Partners planted trees in water catchments, riparian forests, sacred forests and community forests. 3,000 hectares of degraded forest were restored.

A year of renewal

In important ways, 2020 was a year of renewal for ITF. Three new Board members joined, we have a new Chair, new Programme and Finance Managers, and a new social media manager to help strengthen our membership, and grow our movement. Despite the extraordinary challenges 2020 presented to us all, we end the year able to deliver vital community led forest restoration projects with more and more people.

Thank you, to everyone who shares and supports ITF’s vision, of a world in which trees and forests flourish and their vital role in sustaining planetary and human well-being is valued.

Have a lovely festive break, and see you in 2021 for what will surely be an historic year for the global restoration movement.