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At Impact Hero, we believe in funding impact that lasts. Not just tree planting, but tree growing. Not just restoration, but regeneration—of ecosystems, communities, and economies. That’s why we’re proud to support Earth Lungs, a grassroots powerhouse leading large-scale ecological restoration across Kenya and Tanzania.
We recently spoke with Victor, founder of Earth Lungs, to hear how a movement that began with bamboo and hope is now transforming entire landscapes and lives across East Africa.
Earth Lungs doesn’t just plant trees. They grow them, nurture them, protect them—and in doing so, they’ve grown a movement. Since 2022, Earth Lungs has planted and grown over 45 million trees. With a permanent team of nearly 700 people and a seasonal workforce of 2,000, this initiative is creating lasting impact from the soil up.
But behind the numbers lies a deeper vision.
“The real challenge is the cycle of degradation,” Victor explained. “Forests get restored—then collapse again. We asked: what happens after the planting? Our answer was: ‘Beyond Trees.’”
The Beyond Trees Strategy is Earth Lungs’ innovation: after planting, community members are trained as forest stewards, supported through sustainable income models like:
This model turns one-time planters into long-term caretakers—ensuring forest survival while improving lives.
“If you plant a tree at age 25, you should still be earning from it at 40,” Victor said. “We’re building forest-based livelihoods that endure.”
Earth Lungs’ work is not just ecological—it’s deeply human.
Zawadi’s story is one of many: once involved in illegal charcoal burning, she now leads local restoration. Her children, once out of school, are now students. Her village—once degraded—is now healing.
Earth Lungs uses a blend of indigenous knowledge and cutting-edge tech. From GPS mapping and acoustic sensors to drone-based NDVI scans and AI-powered growth models, they meticulously monitor every stage of the restoration process.
Their current tree survival rate? 82%—a figure made possible through ongoing care, dense planting, and community ownership.
“It’s not about just planting fast. It’s about growing right.”
Forests don’t recognize political borders—and neither does Earth Lungs.
They work across Kenya and Tanzania, focusing on connected ecosystems like mangroves, wetlands, and Lake Victoria’s watershed. They also collaborate with regional legislative bodies to promote cross-border restoration, recognizing that climate doesn’t stop at checkpoints.
Restoration here means economic empowerment. Villages are shifting from poverty to progress:
“When someone hears their phone chime with a salary payment, everything changes. They become proud stewards of the land.”
Victor’s message is clear: restoration is a shared responsibility.
“The ecosystems we heal in Kenya affect water in Uganda, in Sudan, all the way to the Mediterranean. This is our common home—and you don’t need to be here to be part of the healing.”
That’s what your support through Impact Hero helps make possible. Whether you’re a business planting trees with every transaction or a customer supporting brands that care, you are part of this movement.
With your continued support, Earth Lungs plans to:
Let’s grow more than just forests. Let’s grow futures.
Every tree counts. Every salary is paid. Every life uplifted.
From Impact with love,
Dr. Hannah Schragmann
Chief Transparency Officer
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