Location
Main Biome
Ha. Being Restored
Overview & Impact
Located in Tanzania’s Chalinze District, Pwani Region, the Saadani Restoration Project is a land restoration initiative dedicated to healing a once-thriving natural landscape.
Years of deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable farming have stripped the reserve of its rich biodiversity. Forests were cleared for timber and agriculture, threatening the delicate balance of plant and animal life.
This project is working to bring life back to the land, restoring habitats for birds, mammals, and native plant species. Part of that effort includes cultivating medicinal plants like Azadirachta indica, traditionally used to treat malaria and other illnesses. At the coastline, mangrove trees are being planted to fight erosion, restore marine habitats, and boost local fish populations – an essential step toward food security and improved livelihoods.
Fruit trees are also being planted, not just within the reserve, but at nearby schools, providing vital nutrition for children and communities. At the heart of it all is a commitment to equality: women are central to every aspect of the work, ensuring gender balance and meaningful, rewarding participation.
Impact story
The Usambara Forestry and Eco Tourism Forum, a dedicated community-based organization in Tanzania, is leading the charge in the Saadani Restoration Project. Their work has been especially impactful in empowering women’s groups to take an active role in land restoration efforts.
Local schools have also become part of the movement, with fruit tree planting projects providing students with nutritious food while nurturing a deeper connection to the environment. And the initiative’s commitment to restoring biodiversity is reviving both plant and animal life to bring the natural landscape back to health.
Volunteer
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Achievements & Partners
Since 2020, the Usambara Forestry and Eco Tourism Forum has planted over 45,000 trees and successfully restored 45 hectares of land, laying the foundation for an ambitious vision: the regeneration of 2,000 hectares of forest and coastal ecosystems.
More than 500 women have been engaged in the initiative, with groups formed to work on restoration initiatives, establishing the basis for lasting impact across their communities – socially, environmentally, and economically.
Planting of fruit trees at six local schools is providing daily nourishment to 800 students, many of whom walk long distances just to attend class.
Through the preservation of 10 natural water sources, the project is also securing reliable access to clean water for more than 4,000 community members living around the reserve.
Partner organisations
Plant for the Planet, GlobalGiving
Restoration Activities on Site
Water retention
Tree planting
Food growing
Habitat creation
Agroforestry
Community building
Restoration of livelihoods
Natural building
Volunteer Facilities on Site
Visualise this ERC's Impact
Many Ecosystem Restoration Communities are using platforms like Restor and iNaturalist to show how the work they’re doing on the ground is having a positive impact on the land and local biodiversity. Click the logo to view their impact!
