The Tuungane Project – Unite for Families & Forests
Support improved livelihoods through large-scale tree planting & long-term forest conservation in Tanzania
LANDSCAPE Lake Tanganyika and the carbon-rich forests of the Mahale Mountains, western Tanzania © Roshni Lodhia
Mahale Ecosystem, Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania
They all call the world’s longest lake their home…
The mountains of the Greater Mahale Ecosystem rise sharply from the Tanzanian shore of Lake Tanganyika. Lush forests provide a haven for wildlife — including 90% of the country’s endangered chimpanzees. An “inland ocean” holding nearly 20% of the world’s fresh water, the lake teems with brightly colored fish found nowhere else. This landscape is also home to more than 500,000 people living in remote villages who farm and fish to feed their families. However, much is at risk.
One of the world’s most stunning, intact landscapes, Mahale is rich with natural wonders — but people here are struggling. Villages lack clean water, sanitation, and health care. Illiteracy is nearly 95%. Population growth is higher than almost anywhere else on the planet, and people lack the resources to plan their families. The health of mothers and babies, the economic well-being of families, the future of natural resources — everything is connected.
Here, Purpose for the Planet is supporting The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) work to address these interconnected challenges through The Tuungane Project. Named for the Kiswahili word meaning “let’s unite”, Tuungane is precisely–urgently– what is needed in Mahale. TNC and partners, including the organization Pathfinder, are developing practical strategies to improve the long-term health of families, communities and ecosystems. We are proud to have joined this unique collaboration between non-profits, communities and local government — all working together to create holistic solutions for this precious yet vulnerable region.
Community SpotlightPopulation growth in Mahale is higher than almost anywhere else on the planet.
It has one of the highest birth rates in the world — an average of 7.1 births per woman.
Impacting extreme poverty through tree planting & long-term forest conservation
Africa has one-fifth of the planet’s remaining forests but is losing them faster than anywhere else on earth. Better protection and restoration of these forests could reduce or remove 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year while helping hundreds of thousands of Africans earn a better living.
The Tuungane Project was launched by The Nature Conservancy and Pathfinder in 2012 to conserve Lake Tanganyika, its ecosystems and affected communities. The project has already expanded protected areas to cover more than 50% of Mahale’s total forest area. It has also proven the viability of carbon enterprises that would pay villages for protecting their forests. So far, 8,469,565 trees have been planted and the project has impacted at least 25,230 people – through income related to the pivotal work on the tree nurseries (seed preparation, seedling germination and distribution), plus the range of responsibilities undertaken by community-based tree-monitoring champions.
Purpose on the Planet’s support focuses specifically on the tree planting process within the overall framework of The Nature Conservancy’s Tuungane Project. We support the long-term survival of the trees by providing tangible work and income benefits for local people, plus support to the Tree Planting Associations. These important partners carry out the essential work of local advocacy and forest-conservation mentoring within the community. To date, this effort has been shown to achieve an exceptional 86% survival rate, thanks to the community-led stewardship of the two-phase process below:
Propagation and Planting: Community members receive materials and training to grow trees from seeds of indigenous species. They form co-op nurseries and work together to tend the seedlings until ready to plant. Then, after about nine months, they get support and payment to plant the seedlings.
Stewardship and Monitoring: Nursery owners conduct ongoing care activities in replanted areas, such as weeding off, watering, pest management and wildfire protection. Members of the Tree Planting Associations are also trained and equipped to conduct GPS-enabled tracking to effectively manage the field data and inform all Tuungane teams on any follow up actions required.
The Holistic Impact of Forest Conservation & Tree Planting
WOMAN PLANTING TREE Cecilia Tanu from Mwayaya village, Buhigwe district, Kigoma region; Ms Tanu is participating in the Tuungane tree planting project © John Daved
These trees benefit us in protecting our river protection and also improving our farm’s fertility and increasing our crop harvests. In my upbringing as I was growing up, I remember we used to harvest a lot of beans in our farm plots that had ficus trees, the productivity was very impressive. Therefore, we love planting ficus trees in our farms. We thank The Tuungane Project for this wonderful gift of life and renewed hope for our forests and farms.
Mrs. Cecilia Tanu,
Resident of Mwayaya village
TEAM MEMBERS AT A COMMUNITY-OWNED NURSERY Tending seedlings at the Tuungane tree planting project © John Daved
MAHALE CHIMPS Chimpanzees in the forest of Mahale National Park, western Tanzania © Roshni Lodhia
Wildlife Spotlight
Lake Tanganyika has more than 300 species of fish, 250 of which are endemic to this region.
The Mahale Ecosystem is home to 90% of Tanzania’s 2,800 endangered chimpanzees.
Restore nature, relieve poverty and support a 4-in-1 climate strategy!
The Tuungane Project has established a powerful track record of creating employment and improving livelihoods through forest conservation and restoration, as well as reducing and avoiding significant levels of carbon emissions in the fight against climate change. In one act, you can contribute to all of these areas too, by teaming up with Purpose on the Planet to support The Tuungane Project. Every $20 you contribute will be directly used to:
RELIEVE POVERTY – Fund a day of work and income for a Tree Planting Association member in Mahale
RESTORE NATURE – Plant and protect 45 ficus trees on your behalf as part of the Tuungane Project
REMOVE CARBON – Sequester an estimated 1 metric ton of CO2 during an average maturation period
REDUCE EMISSIONS – Keep you informed on the most effective low carbon lifestyle choices through our monthly Sustainable Solutions series.
In fact, if you opt to donate $20 a month (or $240 a year), we will also plant an additional 60 trees (for 600 in total) on your behalf, so that you can be part of Purpose on the Planet’s “Climate Positive” plan. According to our 2024 carbon modelling data from similar restoration sites, this volume of planting is estimated to remove more CO2 from the air during a typical maturation period than the 2025 average US carbon footprint (as projected by Statista).
The Tuungane Project – Let’s Unite!
Three different ways to support our tree planting and forest conservation program at Tuungane:
Create Work & Income by Restoring Nature
Give monthly & we’ll plant 60 extra trees
Impacts start at $10
Support 12 of the UN’s 2030 Global Goals
We share monthly insights on your impact
Impacts Start at $20
Be Climate Positive by Removing CO2
Economically offset your CO2 footprint
Only $20/month
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