These mist-draped slopes—split into the East and West Usambaras—are recognized globally as a biodiversity hotspot. Their ancient cloud forests are home to countless endemic species: rare chameleons, forest harriers, African violets, and a chorus of birds found nowhere else on Earth. Yet decades of logging, charcoal harvesting, and farmland expansion have shrunk forest cover dramatically—up to 85% in the West Usambaras alone.

That’s where Usambara Biodiversity Conservation steps in. Together with local partners like Friends of Usambara and conservation-focused NGOs, Tree‑Nation helps reforest buffer zones around nature reserves—especially the Magamba and Amani forest reserves—while distributing seedlings to households and schools. By growing native trees on farms and planting along public water sources, the project reduces illegal logging and restores ecosystems in a deeply sustainable way.

A key element of this work is community empowerment. Local villagers, students, and teachers collaborate to nurture seedlings in school nurseries and community plots. By engaging over 150 families and hundreds of children in planting and stewardship, the project builds local pride—and ensures forests remain protected for future generations.

The project also champions research and awareness. Thanks to support from organizations like the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, farmers are learning to integrate agroforestry with biodiversity goals—balancing food production with the needs of iconic local wildlife like the long-billed forest warbler and three-horned chameleon.

For Doorway, investing in this project means more than offsetting—the trees we help plant through Tree‑Nation don’t just sequester carbon; they rejuvenate springs, anchor soil, and give indigenous wildlife a chance to thrive.