TerraFund defines non-tree restoration activities as essential components of ecosystem restoration. These include use of non-tree species such as shrubs, ground cover crops, and other plants, livelihood activities like beekeeping, fruit cultivation, and soil conservation practices; and gender and social equity practices like village savings and loan associations.
By adopting integrated, diversified land-use strategies beyond tree planting, restoration projects can enhance biodiversity, improve food security, strengthen community livelihoods, and promote long-term ecosystem resilience.
When applying for finance from TerraFund, champions must explain how their non-tree interventions are part of their holistic project design. All proposed activities should align with and support the overall objective of restoring land by growing trees.
Non-Tree Plants
Many non-tree interventions involve growing non-tree plants. A non-tree plant or crop is a plant used in agroforestry systems or any plant that does not grow into a tree. These include shrubs, herbs, grasses, vines, ferns, and ground cover plants.
TerraFund defines a non-tree plant as being any plant that restoration champions adopt and integrate into their restoration activities in addition to tree planting. A non-tree plant does not grow into a tree or grow above 5 meters in height. The purpose of growing this non-tree plant must be to enhance the growth of trees directly or indirectly.
Non-Tree Interventions
This list includes the most common non-tree interventions that the TerraFund team has encountered.
Beekeeping: A project establishes beekeeping or apiculture as an environmentally friendly livelihood activity that enhances pollination, increases biodiversity, and generates income through honey and beeswax production.
Snail farming: Snail farming is quickly becoming a sustainable agricultural practice requiring minimal resources. Projects have found it to be a low-maintenance, income-generating, and protein-providing activity for farmers and their families.
Non-Tree Crop Cultivation for Nutrition and Income: Projects cultivate high-value fruit crops like papaya and tree tomatoes to improve food access and diversify income streams.
Example crops for income: coffee, tea, sugar cane, Cajanus cajan, Carica papaya.
Crops for food and nutrition: Cyphomandra betacea (tree tomato), passion fruits, yams, Melliferous plants, banana/plantain.
Plants for fodder: alfalfa, Desmodium spp, Brachiaria spp, Sesbania sesban, Guinea grass. Fodder must be used to feed animals or can be grown for sale.
Gender & Social Equity Practices: Through training for women leaders, savings and loans groups, and support in health/education, many projects promote equity and long-term stewardship of planted trees.
Water Conservation: Activities may include rainwater harvesting, pond or well construction to conserve water as part of restoration efforts.
Non-Tree Plants for Soil Protection & Erosion Control: These species support tree growth by improving soil quality and water retention. Examples include Vetiver, Napier grass, Tripsacum spp., and Kikuyu grass planted along terraces or contour lines.
Energy Saving: Some projects distribute energy-saving stoves to reduce wood fuel consumption, saving women time and allowing more economic activities.
Biodiversity: Non-tree organisms like Vernonia amygdalina, Napier grass, marigold, basil, and even mushrooms are used to boost biodiversity and ecological function.
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