Research Conferences Forest

In 2010 a 7 Euro green fee was incorporated into the conference fee. This money contributes to the offsetting of the CO₂ emissions created when participants travel to our conferences. For 2011 conferences, 4 EUR of each conference fee is used to make its conferences more ecologically sustainable. More information about the project will be posted in autumn.

The Research Conferences Forest will have 5833 Moringa Trees which will contribute to the offset of CO₂  emitted through Conference travel in 2010. Within their life span, these trees will be able to offset 1750 tons of CO₂. In addition to the carbon offset, the trees also counter desertification, enhance soil fertility, and provide nutrition & work to local inhabitants in Dosso, Niger. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world according to the Human Development Index and one of the most affected by desertification. 

* * Autumn Update! * *

During the summer a 140m deep water well was drilled and an electric pump at a depth of 80m pumps the water up to the surface. To complete the system, a water tank is close by where water is first stored once it gets out of the ground. Afterwards a network of water pipes was created: these are buried at a depth of about 50 cm, to gain water access across  the plantation.

Now the pump is run by solar panels only and it runs 50m3 of water/day. This is enough for our actual needs: to supply water for the nursery and the Moringas althought considering that more moringas will be planted within the next few months, there is the need of a  better management of our current water resources. Luckily the aquifer supply is giant and not used at all in the region and this will not interfeer with the implementation of the micro-irrigation project.

You can read the whole report and look at the picture clicking here.

The Moringa Plantation - The two hectares of moringa trees planted last year gave a good weekly leaf harvests over the summer and the products were sold right away at the market in the nearby city of Dosso.  The nursery has produced some 40,000 plants over the last few months, which have either already been planted or are about to be. Together with the villagers and landowers, Tree-Nation is attempting to expand the scale of the project. Are you are curious to know what the moringa leafs taste like? You can discover it here!

* * Spring Update * *

The Moringa Oleifera, better known as Moringa tree, is native from North India and can grow up to 10 meters in 3 years in both tropical and dry climates. In addition to help to reforest the land and enhance soil fertility, Moringa leafs have more nutritional value than most of the common fruits and vegetables. The habitants of the villages make good use of these as they represent a big portion of their daily food.
All trees will be kept in a nursery until the rainy season will start and ideally will be planted in the arch of time from March to June 2011. The trees will also be a disposal to the farmers who wish to plant them in their gardens. All workers occupied in the plantation and in the maintenance of the forest are locally employed. So this project has also an important social footprint.
For more information about the Moringa tree and the project please click here.

Supported by the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Billion Tree Campaign, Tree - Nation is dedicated to planting trees in order to fight poverty, desertification, deforestation and climate change. Together with local communities, nurseries and local organisations they create the best possible environment for the trees to grow steadily.

If you are interested in calculating your travel emission, please click here.

If you wish to receive bi-annual updates on your tree and the project, please subscribe to the ESF Research Conferences Forest mailing list: