We are an NGO dedicated to protection, afforestation and reforestation
We started in 2009 and have projects in Madagascar, Togo, Benin, Cameroon and Ghana. Created as a non-profit organization under Belgian and Luxembourg law, our NGO enables the compensation of the ecological footprint of the inhabitants of our industrialized countries through the planting of trees in developing countries.
Creation of local tree nurseries
In order to ensure the monitoring and development of reforestation, we create a nursery in each of the planting sites and train local people to manage it. Through local authorities and schools, we are developing a program to raise public awareness of environmental protection. To achieve these objectives, all our members are committed to working on a voluntary basis to ensure that all funds entrusted to us are used directly and fully for the management of our nurseries and tree planting.
On the other hand, we pay the tree nurserymen and tree planting workers a salary and thus contribute to improving the life of the people living in the reforestation areas.
Compensate your carbon emissions
Carbon offsetting is ensured by planting trees in large-scale projects whose nurseries and plantations are managed by Graine de Vie. We work in partnership with Madagascar National Parks to secure, protect and even restore primary forests.
Raising awareness of the people
By training tree nurserymen and raising awareness in schools and villages of the need to preserve the environment. By creating unifying projects in isolated regions. By integrating women into the labour market in order to combat exclusion.
Economical benefits
We employ 10 FTEs on site and 350 daily collaborators (our European members are all volunteers). By planting cash crops in a sustainable way (fruit trees, essential oils, building materials). Biodiversity also enhances the country’s tourist attractiveness.
FACTS ABOUT GRAINE DE VIE IN 2021
We have offices in :
Belgium, France and Luxemburg.
144
Number of planted tree species.
45.000.000
Number of trees planted since we got started in 2009.
We have 445 active collaborators
45 are active in Europe (only volunteers) of which 10 are directing operations and 400 are active in Madagascar for reforestation (salaried).
20.000
Number of children that we can raise awareness of every year.
9
Mangrove restauration projects
17.500 people/year
On average one person produces 10 tons of C02 per year. The 35 million trees we planted compensate for the CO2 emissions of 17.500 people each year. (175.000 tons CO2/year).
Origin of donations :
Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Netherlands, Finland, Madagascar.
896
Number of reforestation sites.
12
Projects to restore and protect national parcs
Its time to act !
Frédéric Debouche, President of our NGO.
In just two centuries of industrial revolution, man has managed to damage his habitat, the Earth, which is the magnificent and fragile result of millions of years of evolution, often in irreversible ways.
The destruction of forests is taking on such proportions that, each year, more than twelve million hectares of forest disappear, an area equivalent to four times the total surface of Belgium.
We do not have the right to leave our children with the heritage of managing our failings. If we do not act now, we will be guilty of failing to assist humanity which is in grave danger.
GRAINE DE VIE
Celebrated its 10th year of existence (2009-2019)
20.000 trees will capture 1000 tons of CO2
for a total sum of 10.000,-€ that’s 30,-€ per month for 30 years or 400,-€ annually for 25 years you can compensate the ecological
footprint of ALL YOUR LIFE.
The average cost for Graine de Vie to plant a tree is 0.50 €.
Latest news about our projects
Scouts helping Graine de Vie with our direct seeding
Everyone participates in the efforts of reforestation of Madagascar. The local chapters of scouts helping Graine de Vie with our direct seeding reforestation efforts in the area of Montagne des Francais, Antsiranana.
#reforestation #fightclimatechange #treeplanting
Reforesting, conservation and accounting for our work efforts
Reforesting, conservation and accounting for our work efforts is a big job as the sites are often in very remote and difficult to access zones. Our teams travel for days to reach them. The last trip (couple of weeks ago) took 3 days: 5-hour river crossing by motorized canoe before reaching the village of Antanandavahely. From there, 2,5 days walk on foot to reach Betsirebaka restoration plot in Masoala Park, Madagascar, where we planted on 50ha of degraded land. #conservation #reforestation #treeplanting #carbonfootprint
Direct seeding produces fast results
Reforestation with direct sowing in Madagascar produces very fast results – young seedlings are visible in just a few weeks after seeds were panted in the soil. And in no time they are ready to absorb CO2. With the help of indigenous people we sow direct millions of seeds every year.
#climatechange #planttrees @grainedevie #carboncapture
Time to plant in Togo
It’s time to plant in Togo! 50,000 young seedlings were distributed yesterday to 100 local families and farmers at our nursery of Kusuntu in the town of Kloto 1. #planttrees #carbonfootprint #reforestation
Environmental awareness raising
Environmental awareness raising is a part of our NGO’s charter. This includes activities in schools with active involvement of schoolchildren. Recently we delivered seminars in schools of Cotonou (Benin) about the protection of the environment and in particular protection of trees. #reforestation #environmentaleducation
restoration of mangroves in Andovobe
This week’s day of restoration of mangroves in Andovobe, commune Ampondra, District Vohemar, Region SAVA, Madagascar. 3000 propagules were planted on 2 ha of mangrove to restore with the participation of local community, including 30 students.
#mangroves #reforestation #planttrees #carbonoffsets
Cameroon reforestation
Cameroon is quickly becoming a key area of reforestation activities for Graine de Vie. In only 6 months we already stablished 11 tree nurseries. This week we distributed cash crop seedlings to the local population so that they plant on their own tree lots: 7,000 seedlings in the Commune of Doumé (East region) and 21,000 seedlings in the Commune of Mbandjock (Central region). The species we distributed include: cocoa, citrus, non-timber forest products, acacia carabinia, safflower, nymier, wild mango, wild olives, badamiers, mango, jackfruit and more. #agroforestry #treeplanting #reforestation #carbonreduction
Back to school in Madagascar with help of Graine de Vie
Back to school in Madagascar with help of Graine de Vie. Each year we provide the necessary supplies to school pupils and the admin staff in the villages where we have tree nurseries.
Firewalls to protect 1,200 ha of forest in the Ambohitantely National Park
It is just as important to protect the forest as it is to reforest it and that is also a part of our charter. Recently, together with the team from Madagascar National Parks, we were hard at work to create firewalls to protect 1,200 ha of forest in the Ambohitantely National Park. In 3 days we drew a firewall of 1.3 KM long and 15 m wide. #reforestation #forestconservation
SENSEO’s sponsored nursery in Madagascar
While drinking Senseo’s coffee we now compensate for its footprint by planting trees. SENSEO’s sponsored nursery in Madagascar (Fokontany Vohidragnay, commune Tatao, district Manakara, region Fitovignany) has a forecast of 40.000 young trees to be planted this year.#senseo #reforestation #planttrees #carbonoffsetting
Direct seeding
Our #reforestation method of direct seeding in Madagascar has shown great success over the years. And because Madagascar has favorable climate conditions, the results are visible in only few months. Here we see young seedlings grown from direct seeding activity 5 months ago (February 2022) in the village of Antolojahary, one of the villages of Father Pedro. #planttrees #carbonoffsets
400 tree nurseries
Since our inception in 2009 we created and maintain over 400 tree nurseries in 5 countries. All of them exist because they are created and maintained with full support of indigenous communities. They improve livelihood thousands of villagers: they provide jobs, produce food (fruit trees) and they become a focal center of local activities. #reforestation #fightinghunger #carbonoffset
From seed to tree
From seed to tree – that’s what we do and it’s all 100% organic. So what is our source of seeds? We collect them straight from the local trees/plants, store them in specialized storage facilities (constructed by locals with all local materials) and before they are planted in nurseries or in situ we pre-treat them in a natural process. Graine de Vie owns the process from A to Z to ensure that all is done with respect of the local nature. #climatechange #carbonoffset #planttrees
Youdo play Ltd.
Thank you Youdo-play our UK EcoPartner – for giving us the opportunity to share our story with your network. Youdo play has been our partner for a while now, compensating their business’ footprint by planting thousands of trees in Madagascar.
Burkina Faso educational seminars
In collaboration with the headmaster and school director of high schools in villages of Koro and Kotedougou, Burkina Faso, Graine de Vie delivered education seminars to pupils to raise their awareness of negative impact of bush fires on their living environment. Bush fires in the are often caused by children.
#carbonemissions #carbonfootprint #environmentaleducation
First nursery in RDC
Graine de Vie inaugurated our first tree nursery in Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC). With the help of our Togo team, our newly established RDC team was trained to begin our reforestation activities in the vast regions in the country.
#climatecrisis #reforestation #carbonreduction
Benin Sterculia foetida trees
Climate conditions in Benin are very favorable for tree growth, giving us an opportunity to sequester CO2 very quickly after sowing. Sterculia foetida trees which we planted only 2 years ago have grown several meters high and terminalia catapa’s trees planted 3 years ago are already producing fruit.
#reforestation #carbonfootprint #carboncapture
Commune de KIIKI
For 5 days this month Graine de Vie Cameroon’s team, with help of local villagers, carried out intensive situ seeding of 20 hectares. The project includes reforestation of this 180-hectare reserve within the next 2 years.
#planttrees #carboncapture #carbonfootprintreduction
VOHIMARINA
Our annual distribution season of young seedlings has began. Thousands of local villagers and associations line up at our nurseries to receive free plants to be replanted in their own plots and reforestation zones around their villagers. In VOHIMARINA : Commune AMBATOASANA Centre, Region ITASY (Madagascar) 10,000 seedlings were distributed. The tree species include: citriodora, accacia, jacaranda, ravitsara, moringa and coffee. #reforestation #treeplanting #carbonoffset
Burkina Faso
Another country joins the ranks of our cause: Burkina Faso. Our new team on the ground just started few weeks ago and is already very much at work establishing our first nurseries on the Burkinabe soil. #reforestation #carbonfootprint #planttrees #grainedevie
