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Healthy planet, healthy communities, healthy people
Rapid deforestation and other human activity are leading to pollution, warming oceans, poor soil, and dirty water. Environmental degradation and climate change don’t exist in a silo: they’re linked to increasing health risks, such as higher rates of cardiovascular disease, and socioeconomic problems, such as food insecurity.
A new partnership between alive and veritree (veritree.com) seeks to change that narrative.
“What alive is doing is interesting because you’re in the wellness space,” says David Luba, veritree’s co-founder. “When alive helps create better environmental conditions, you’re cleaning the air, water, and soil we all need to be healthy.”
Where in the world is alive + veritree?
Our collaboration includes mangrove forest restoration in Madagascar and sustainable agroforestry in Senegal and Tanzania.
A measurable difference with veritree
Some organizations promise to plant a tree for every action you take as a consumer, or promise to offset your carbon when you sign up for a service. But can they tell you exactly where that tree is growing, or if any of these actions are making a real impact in a specific area?
The veritree team can. “We’re holistic and look at biodiversity, water health, soil health, and socioeconomic statistics,” explains Luba. “Then, we capture ground-level data to measure what’s truly happening.”
Co-created by locals
Local partners help guide where veritree works and what the ideal outcomes are for both people and the environment. In BC, for instance, veritree’s seaforestation efforts are restoring acres of underwater kelp forests—critical for the environment and important to the Sechelt First Nations.
Designed for long-term success
“We address the drivers of degradation before we start,” says Luba. For instance, is there access to wood and education so people aren’t chopping down critical trees? Is there a stable local government and proper land rights? This ensures veritree’s work lasts long after project completion.
Supported with evidence
Every local veritree planter has a refurbished phone to …
● track where they’re planting via GPS
● determine when and what to plant
● take progress photos
“The phones also allow our communities to access the internet, use mobile banking, and build new skillsets,” explains Luba as just one example of veritree’s big-picture thinking.
Phones are just the start. “Our partners get real-time updates linked to long-term monitoring technologies,” says Luba, including …
● satellite and drone mapping
● trail cameras and acoustic monitoring to determine how animal and bird populations are improving
● supplementary monitoring, such as sampling soil micronutrients or observing fish eggs
● blockchain technology for full transparency and accurate tracking of every individual tree
“Our platform delivers full transparency, so partners like alive can share tangible actions and measurable statistics about how you’re making a difference,” says Luba. “As we restore the planet, we’re not just sticking trees in the ground. The data and technology mean we keep getting better and better outcomes over time.”
For people and for the planet
The alive team is putting measurable action behind our deep belief that nature helps heal us all.
525,000 trees planted
When we hit this goal, we’ll have reforested 174.7 hectares of forests.
66,648 tonnes of carbon sequestered
That’s like taking 14,489 cars off the road.
Hundreds of locals employed
Our partnership requires nearly 5,000 full workdays in the communities we’re serving.
Food insecurity reduced
Within three years, our communities will see a more than 700 percent increase in access to nutritious food, in part because this work improves the biodiversity, soil, and water of the area. Meanwhile, food insecurity will drop from 56 percent to 8 percent.
This article was originally published in the April 2024 issue of alive magazine.
