In places like Maziwa Ngombe, a northeastern community of Pemba Island, the original coral forests were lost to deforestation many years ago, leaving the soils exposed to the high winds and heat. Under these conditions, stress-tolerant Casuarina can be used to help rebuild soils and provide shade for long-term natural ecosystem restoration — all while providing valuable pole wood for nearby communities.

Local community support is fundamental to the long-term success of restoration projects, and to growing just and resilient climate solutions. After all, we know forests can only thrive when the people most closely connected to them do too.