The purpose of our projects in West Africa is to ensure better living conditions for the local population and reduce the urge to migrate due to consequences of global warming.
What are the effects of planting Jatropha trees in barren soil?
And best of all, the local population can make a good life in their own homes.
Every farmer in the forestation areas gets educated on planting Jatropha trees and optimizing the growth of crops among the newly planted trees.
The farmer and the village start by planting 1.000 seeds from Jatropha trees at the plantation. As soon as they plant the stems, they become the owners of the trees and the piece of land the trees are planted on, since this is the rule and practice of West African law.
Africa as a continent is in serious need of humanitarian aid. Since some of the poorest countries in the world are found in West Africa, this is where we have decided to focus our forest project.
We began with Mali, but will move on to the surrounding countries, who are also dealing with serious challenges. The population is motivated and ready to act on the aid they receive.
Happy® Xmas Trees is collaborating with local farmers, our partner in the Netherlands, Trees for All, and local NGO’s in order to help the local population.
We will continue to support Mali and the local farmers, since our current project has proven to be successful.
The Sahara is moving faster and faster. Climate refugees are increasingly a challenge both for the refugees themselves and the countries who wish to welcome them.
There are only a few who genuinely want to leave their family, friends and their own country behind unless it is absolutely necessary. It's a risky voyage and often has terrible consequences.
The forest project can prevent this and ultimately provide a permanent home to these people by eliminating the need to leave.
Forest planting projects in West Africa extends beyond sustainable forestry which benefits the environment and the climate. It also provides a unique opportunity for the local people to establish a permanent home with a stable everyday life. To plant food crops in a persistent and nutritious soil, where there are currently very poor conditions, often tormented by harvesting very few crops if any at all.
We are proud to make a difference to those we help and at the same time make a difference for a better climate and a greener environment. That is our goal of sustainability.
We have taken the next step and are ready to share the Happy Xmas Trees forest project in Africa with you as a co-partner.
There are 150 Jatropha trees needed to CO2 compensate 1 workplace, including the facilities used during a working day, calculated for an average Danish workplace *.
It takes no more than 7 co-partners to set up 1 Farmer with family, which may be similar to a smaller village, with a hectare of approx. 1,000 Jatropha trees.
As a business, you can join Happy Forest and plant trees with us. You get your very own place on our Happy card, where you can see your commitment and be able to present this as a gift to your staff and customers etc. CO2 compensation to 1 employee through sustainable forestry where both the environment, the local population and our common climate will benefit from the project. You can make a big difference and it's easy because we're there to guide you in the process.
* Approx. 4 tons discharge of CO2 P.A Calculated for an average Danish workplace.
The creation of Happy® Xmas Trees sculptures in 2010 and 2015 resulted in the planting of more than 120,000 trees, parallel to approx. 240 soccer fields. The 120.000 trees have now become more than 400.000 planted trees through the sustainable forest project. One Jatropha tree compensates between 25kg and 100kg of CO2 depending on where it was planted. The production of biodiesel also saves the environment from the burning of fossil fuels and provides the local farmers with a steady income from the sale of nuts.
Happy® Xmas Trees have successfully planted over 120,000 trees, and the project as a whole has generated more than 400.000 planted trees.
Each Farmer, often with large families representing a smaller village, starts by being trained in planting Jatropha trees and optimizing the growth of food crops.
The farmer starts with planting approx. 1,000 seeds that grow into 30 cm stems of Jatropha trees which are then ready to be put into the soil over an area of 1-2 hectares around the farm the village.
When they plant the trees, they simultaneously become owners of the land on which they plant trees, since in West Africa the law states that you become the owner of the piece of land on which you plant trees.
As the trees grow, they are ready in the first year to harvest nuts and the planting of food crops can begin. Once one hectare of planted trees is successful, the local farmer will plant the next hectare and the next. Creating a sustainable system on which the farmer and the village will thrive.
Jatropha trees are a true wonder tree when planted in the right place.
The Jatropha tree can grow in very dry conditions and won't die, even during longer droughts. Eventually reaching a height of 9 meters.
The roots of the tree have a high content of nutrients and spread in a way that in relatively short time it nourishes the surrounding soil. So much so that one can also plant food crops where it was previously impossible or with very poor results.
In addition to creating a better climate for all of us and neutralizing CO2, the Jatropha trees also help to reduce desert migration and regenerate the soil around the trees so that food crops can be planted to the benefit of the locals.
The nuts that grow on the Jatropha tree have a high content of oil, up to 40% which is converted into Biodiesel and BioEthanol which can then be sold and used locally by the population instead of fossil fuels which in turn causes less CO2 emissions.
The leaves on the trees are toxic and bothersome for animals to touch, so the Jatropha trees form a natural fence that protects the food crops.
Another residual product you're able to produce is, among other things, soap.
