Organisations involved
Implementer
Referring partner
Our mission
Our mission is to restore degraded forests and landscapes across the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania through community-led ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, sustainable agroforestry, and climate-resilient livelihood development.
We work closely with local communities, farmers, schools, government institutions, and international partners to restore native forests, protect vital water catchments, improve soil health, and strengthen ecosystem resilience to climate change.
By combining ecological restoration with environmental education, community participation, and sustainable economic opportunities, we aim to create healthy, productive landscapes where biodiversity thrives and local communities benefit from restored ecosystems.
Our long-term commitment is to contribute to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration by scaling up sustainable restoration solutions that benefit both people and nature for generations to come.
Accepting volunteers
Yes | [email protected]Funding campaign*
Yes | https://usambaratravels.comClassification
- Farmlands
- Forests
- Grasslands, shrublands and savannahs
- Mountains
- Oceans and coasts
- Increases Health & Wellbeing
- Mitigates Climate Change
- Protects Freshwaters
- Reduces Disaster Risks
- Safeguards Biodiversity
- Supports Livelihoods
20
Employees10
VolunteersImpact
Friends of Usambara Society (FoU) works with communities to restore degraded forests, watersheds and farmland in Tanzania's Usambara Mountains. Across its wider restoration work since 1997, FoU reports planting more than 26 million trees, working in over 70 villages and engaging more than 250,000 community members. These are cumulative organizational figures, not results attributed solely to this initiative.
Environmental impacts include increased tree cover, rehabilitation of degraded land and support for native tree habitats. Planting native and agroforestry species helps protect water catchments, reduce soil erosion and improve landscape resilience. Tree growth can also remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, although FoU has not yet verified a total carbon sequestration figure.
Social impacts include environmental education through Green Clubs in 25 schools, community participation in planting and care, and knowledge-sharing on nurseries, agroforestry and sustainable land management. FoU supports 10 community tree nurseries and engages women, young people and farmers in restoration activities.
Economic benefits include paid seasonal planting and nursery work and opportunities for farmers to diversify production through fruit trees and other agroforestry crops. These activities can support food security and household resilience.
The initiative addresses the triple planetary crisis by supporting climate mitigation and adaptation, restoring biodiversity and helping limit erosion-related sediment pollution. FoU monitors planting sites, seedling survival, and restoration progress to guide long-term stewardship.
