Celebrating Incredible Women Everywhere
For those in the Northern Hemisphere, March brings glimmers of Spring and new growth. Nature starts kicking into gear, and the warmer, longer days mean butterflies and bees begin to emerge. In addition to sowing our seeds for the year ahead, March is particularly special as we celebrate International Women's Day on the 8th. At TreeSisters, we recognise that climate change is not gender-neutral. Women and girls experience the most significant impacts of climate change, and gender equality is critical to climate action. That's why from our roots to our projects, through to our team and leadership, TreeSisters has women at its core. While we celebrate incredible women this and every month, we also seek to bring a lens of gender equality and focus on women's empowerment into everything we do. You can help support this work through the link below. Thank you!
New Women-Led Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
TreeSisters is honoured to announce we are supporting a new program in the Democratic Republic of Congo led by the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) and Synergie des Associations Feminines du Congo (SAFECO). Based in the Itombwe Rainforest, this program works with over 700 local and indigenous women representing five tribes of over 25,000 residents. It aims to reforest devastated areas of the rainforest, as well as protect against further destruction of old-growth. The program is unique because the implementers and leaders are almost entirely female and indigenous. This provides local women with a platform to learn, strategise and protect the rainforest, their rich ecological knowledge and their communities. The Itombwe Rainforest is an internationally recognised conservation area with an extraordinary biodiversity of plants and animals. It is also part of the Congo Rainforest, the second-largest rainforest on Earth, which scientists estimate, at its current rate of deforestation, will be entirely gone by 2100.
International Women's Day 2023 #EmbraceEquity
Equity can be defined as giving everyone what they need to be successful. It differs from equality which would give everyone the same thing. But giving everyone the same and expecting that to bring about equality assumes we all started in the same place, which is often vastly inaccurate. That's why this year's IWD 2023 theme is so poignant; it highlights our differences and why embracing equity is essential in forging an equal and inclusive world - something TreeSisters are striving for. So, this IWD, we'll be celebrating, counting down, sharing and spotlighting just some of the incredible women who inspire us. Follow along between the 6th and 10th of March through the links below and get involved by sharing the women who have inspired you.
Green Cover & Planting Projects
Spotlight on... Foothills of the Himalayas, Nepal
While Nepal is a relatively small country, it is home to incredible landscapes and biodiversity, including the Bengal tiger, rhinoceros, wild elephant, corsac fox, red panda, snow leopard, and many more. Many of these species are in danger of extinction because of habitat loss from human-related activities. While forests cover approximately 44% of Nepal's land area, only 20% of the Terai forests remain today. By collaborating with local communities, this project, in partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects, aims to connect the remnant forests, expand green cover and increase habitats and biodiversity. The goal is to plant 200,000 trees annually, including 10% agroforestry trees, as an alternative to further deforestation.
Fundraising & Partnerships
Reflections on a Life-Changing Visit
"We intend to allow the learnings from Original Principles and the Elders to germinate and move us toward powerful actions. Still, as we reflect and attempt to give a taste of what an incredibly life-altering and awe-inspiring opportunity this was, we will leave you with the words of Grandmother Jyoti, who says, we go slow, so we can go fast. She advised us that "The Western mind wants to figure it out. The Elders are saying, be still."" TreeSisters team members Miriam and Rebecca powerfully reflect on their recent journey to Hawaii to strengthen alliances and consider how to build a global economic system that cares for all life and lives in harmony and balance with the Earth.
New Fiscal Sponsor for our US donors
Our incredible US donors who require a tax receipt can now donate to TreeSisters through our new fiscal sponsor, Chapel & York. Green America has been our fiscal sponsor in the US for several years, and we are very grateful for their support; however, our partnership ended on the 28th of February, 2023. Chapel & York will now manage these generous donations, ensure we receive the funds safely, and provide you with the necessary tax receipts. Details and more information can be found through the link below. Thank you for supporting TreeSisters; we are so grateful for your commitment to ethically expanding the green cover of our world and taking a stand for a better world for all. If you have any questions about making a US donation, please contact support@treesisters.org.
Events & Offerings
Join us on the 7th of March for the final gathering of this series of Full Moon Meditations. This month, we are Returning to Earth. Burrow deep within the soil and connect with one of the world's most diverse ecosystems, as well as the beautiful paradox that death and decay bring all that is needed for life and emergence. These live, audio-only, free meditations and co-creative poetry practices aim to educate and reconnect us with our natural world.
For this Indigenous Wisdom for the Earth, we were joined by the women of the Asociación de Mujeres Indígenas de la Medicina Tradicional “La Chagra de la Vida” (ASOMI), a grassroots organisation made up of five indigenous ethnic groups located in Putumayo, Columbia. The women speak of the importance of sharing wisdom, the critical role of young people, how women become defenders and how each of us has a role in the survival of the planet.
Did you know? By supporting TreeSisters, you help restore the world's tropical forests. Your donation supports our entire portfolio of planting partners and projects re-establishing the diverse forest ecosystems, protecting multiple critically endangered species, reducing poverty and mitigating climate change. Find out more about our work.
UK Charity ID. 1149961
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