Empowering Women in Conservation

Women play a central role in shaping sustainable futures in rural communities, particularly in Kenya and Senegal, where they are at the forefront of agroforestry and mangrove conservation efforts. Over 50% of the staff employed by our planting partners, Mother Trees and Earth Lungs, are female, with many of them holding leadership positions.

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Gender Equality at the Core of Sustainability

We prioritize gender equity, recognizing that real sustainability begins when women have the autonomy to make decisions and lead. In Senegal, female technicians work alongside their male counterparts, with logistical support to reach remote project areas safely. By ensuring women are empowered to lead, we’re building stronger, more resilient communities and ecosystems.

"When women are empowered with agroforestry, they gain options, decisions gain depth, a pathway out of poverty appears, communities thrive, and ecosystems are restored."— John Leary, CEO, Mother Trees

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A Holistic Approach to Empowerment

Gender equity goes beyond equal wages or representation, it’s about fostering opportunities for comprehensive empowerment. Partnering with the communities we serve, we support women through economic literacy, wellness initiatives, and access to savings cooperatives (SACCOs), including savings-matching programs and micro-loans. In areas with inadequate sanitation, we construct clean, private toilets to ensure women’s safety and dignity, particularly for menstrual management and reducing health risks. By offering these vital resources, we enable women to actively participate in community life, agricultural projects, and leadership roles, confident that their personal health needs are met.

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Tangible Impact: Results That Matter

Our gender-focused initiatives are already making a measurable difference. Here are some key outcomes:

These numbers demonstrate not only the success of our gender-focused approach but also the growing recognition of women as key agents of change in their communities.

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Supporting Women Facing Greater Challenges

The tangible impact we are seeing is even more significant when considering the women we work with, many of whom face severe, compounded challenges. Our project in Kenya specifically supports women from diverse, often marginalized backgrounds, including those who have faced widowhood, low-income households, limited access to land, early pregnancy, and orphanhood. This includes young mothers (18+), female orphans caring for siblings, former illegal loggers now rehabilitated as caretakers, and passionate young women who have volunteered in ecosystem conservation.

By working with these women, we provide them with the resources and skills needed to overcome barriers, enhance their livelihoods, and ultimately become leaders in their communities.

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Economic and Environmental Resilience

Agroforestry offers significant advantages for women by diversifying income sources and enhancing food security. Unlike monocropping, agroforestry provides women with opportunities to produce a range of high-value crops—such as honey, fruits, and vegetables—that they can sell locally and regionally. This diversified income stream builds resilience against economic shocks and restores ecosystems.

Agroforestry also contributes to nutritional security, improving community health through diverse, locally grown food.

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Tailored Training for Women’s Success

Our training programs are specifically designed to accommodate women’s needs, taking into account their domestic and agricultural responsibilities. Sessions are scheduled at convenient times, and small group sizes ensure that every participant can engage fully. In Senegal’s Kedougou region, we’ve also adapted our model to provide women with larger, collective farming plots—up to four hectares—empowering them to maximize their impact and overcome barriers to land access. Female lead farmers are being trained to manage cooperative start-ups, while the launch of a gender-balanced agroforestry federation in Kedougou ensures women’s voices are at the decision-making table. Additionally, Mother Trees works closely with community leaders to overcome cultural barriers, fostering an environment where women feel supported and confident in their learning.

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Building a Gender-Balanced, Resilient Future

As our restoration projects expand, we are committed to ensuring women are central to restoring our planet.  Looking ahead, veritree will continue empowering women to lead in environmental conservation. By prioritizing leadership, resources, and community engagement, we are building a sustainable, equitable future. The impact of women is already profound—and with ongoing support, their influence will only grow. Together, we are confident that women will drive thriving ecosystems, resilient communities, and a more balanced world.

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