Forests cover nearly a third of the planet’s landmass. Along with being home to many of the most endangered and threatened animals in the world, they provide fresh water, food, medicine, clothing and shelter to many of the world’s poor. In fact, of the 1.3 billion people worldwide who live in extreme poverty on less than $1.25 a day, forests directly contribute to 90 percent of their livelihoods. Forests also sequestrate carbon dioxide (CO2) and help regulate the global climate, as well as maintaining water and soil quality, rich biodiversity and fresh, clean air.

Deforestation is occurring globally at an alarming rate. In 2016, the global tree cover loss totaled an area about the size of New Zealand. As forests are destroyed, poor people – particularly women and girls – often lose access to the forest goods and services they depend on.  Additionally, forest loss is pushing millions of indigenous peoples into extreme poverty, and causing unprecedented extinction of species (habitat loss for millions of species). Fewer forests also means larger amounts of carbon entering the atmosphere—and increased speed and severity of global warming.

Sustinere creates sustainable solutions that give low-income people the power to change their lives, while restoring the ecosystem and biodiversity that will sustain the many species of plants, animals, good soil, clean water and fresh air. We are a global community, changing the way the world tackles poverty and environmental degradation.