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Forest Garden Creation - Simiyu, Tanzania
The Forest Garden Creation - Simiyu, Tanzania project supports hundreds of smallholder farmers in transforming degraded agricultural land into diverse, productive Forest Gardens. Through trees, tools and long-term training, farmers combine food crops with fruit, fodder, fuelwood and soil-improving trees. More than 1.25 million trees were planted during 2024 and 2025, helping restore farmland while strengthening food security, household resilience and local livelihoods.
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Project information
Growing resilient Forest Gardens with Tanzanian farmers
The project works with smallholder farmers in Tanzania’s Simiyu Region to establish Forest Gardens: diverse agroforestry systems that integrate trees, food crops and other productive plants. Participating farmers receive seedlings, tools and practical training in garden design, tree planting, soil restoration, water conservation, composting, crop diversification and organic pest management. Farmers select species and products suited to their household priorities, with guidance from local project staff and lead farmers.
The project follows a phased approach. Farms are first protected using living fences and soil-conservation measures, then diversified with vegetables, fruit, nuts, fodder and timber species. As the gardens mature, farmers learn to optimise productivity, manage succession and produce a wider range of food and marketable products. By strengthening food security, nutrition and household incomes, the project supports SDGs 1, 2, 3, 8 and 10. Its emphasis on resource-efficient farming, reduced reliance on synthetic inputs, improved soil health, increased tree cover and climate resilience contributes to SDGs 12, 13 and 15. Collaboration with farmers, community leaders, local government and external supporters also supports SDG 17.
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Key information
Location
Tanzania
Credit type
Tree Planting
Assessment methodology
Keystone 3.0
Project performance
The Earthly rating
The Earthly rating is the industry-first holistic project assessment. Earthly researchers analyse 160+ data points, aggregating information across the three vital pillars of carbon, biodiversity and people. Projects in Earthly's marketplace all exceed a minimum score of 5/10.
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Carbon
1,257,713
trees planted during 2024–2025, increasing above-ground biomass
Biodiversity
231.49
hectares of degraded agricultural land being transformed
Social
600
farmers registered smallholder farmers receiving trees, tools and training
Project impact
Local impact
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Positive for people
The project addresses food insecurity, poverty, low agricultural productivity and vulnerability to droughts and unpredictable rainfall. Its central approach is to equip farmers with seedlings, tools and practical knowledge so they can improve their land rather than continually expanding agriculture into surrounding ecosystems. Forest Gardens diversify production beyond staple crops to include vegetables, fruits, nuts, fodder, fuelwood and other marketable products. This can provide food throughout more of the year, improve dietary diversity and create multiple potential income streams, making households less dependent on a single harvest.
Across programmes, farmers typically progress from growing around three food crops at enrolment to approximately ten food crops and twelve marketable products by programme completion. The project promotes women’s participation by making training more accessible, encouraging women to become lead farmers and providing vegetable seeds and productive tree species. Local staff, village leaders and lead farmers support planning, communication and dispute resolution. Farmers retain control over their land and select crops and trees according to household needs, helping ensure that benefits remain locally relevant.
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Good for earth
The project addresses land degradation caused by monocropping, declining soil fertility, exposed soils, erosion, chemical inputs and pressure on surrounding forests and grasslands. Farmers replace simplified cropping systems with diverse, perennial Forest Gardens that more closely reflect the structure and functions of natural ecosystems. Trees, shrubs and crops provide greater vegetation cover and structural diversity, creating potential habitat for birds, insects, mammals, fungi and other local biodiversity. Tree roots, mulch, compost and organic matter improve soil structure and fertility, while living fences and ground cover reduce wind and water erosion.
Measures such as contour ridging, cuvettes, check dams and rainwater-harvesting pits slow runoff and direct water towards crops and tree roots. Farmers are trained in composting, nutrient cycling, intercropping and integrated pest management. Synthetic fertilisers and pesticides are discouraged, reducing the risk of soil and water pollution. Forest Gardens also produce fuelwood, fodder and other tree products on farms, potentially reducing harvesting from natural forests and grazing pressure on surrounding ecosystems.
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