Who are we?

Graine de Vie is a Belgian non-governmental organisation (non-profit association created in 2009) dedicated to protecting the environment, combating deforestation and restoring ecosystems. From Le Roeulx, we coordinate the actions of a whole network of volunteers, partners and donors to respond to one of the major challenges of our time: climate change and land degradation.
Graine de Vie now constitutes a network of non-governmental organisations working in the field of reforestation integrated into local life in Belgium, Madagascar, Togo, Benin, the DRC and Cameroon. Each structure has a board of directors whose members are volunteers, as well as a multidisciplinary executive team.

A Belgian NGO structured around a network
Our DNA is based on a network organisation:

👉 A central entity in Belgium, supported by a team of dedicated volunteers, which coordinates, develops strategies and
liaises with institutional partners and donors.

👉 A network of branches and local teams in Africa that directly run reforestation and community support programmes.

Why local branches are essential ?
Our actions are not carried out remotely: they are supported by teams on the ground who are integrated into local communities. These branches are much more than just relays:
– they manage nurseries and plant production,
– they encourage and support local populations to become active participants in the preservation of their territory,
– they adapt projects to local socio-economic and environmental realities,
– they promote the creation of sustainable jobs and family autonomy.
It is this strong link with local actors that makes the difference between a one-off action and a lasting impact, because environmental solutions must be those that communities adopt and maintain.

Our mission in a few points

  • 🌱 Rehabilitate and restore degraded forests through planting programmes adapted to local environments.
  • 👩‍🌾 Mobilise and train local populations in sustainable land management, through technical knowledge and strengthened local governance.
  • 💚 Create economic and social opportunities, particularly for women and young people, through the management of nurseries and the cultivation of productive plants.
  • 🌍 Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by combining environmental action with improved living conditions.

Carbon offsetting

The creation of certified carbon credits on our reforestation projects is an opportunity for our NGO to develop projects while at the same time granting village populations significant income enabling them to initiate other local development projects. Our ambition is to combine our reforestation actions with improving the well-being of the local population, and thereby increase villagers’ support by motivating them to protect the reforested plots.

At the same time, we enable our partners to combine their efforts to reduce CO2 emissions with voluntary offsetting through our projects.

It’s time to act!

In just two centuries of industrial revolution, mankind has succeeded in damaging, often irreversibly, its habitat, the Earth, the magnificent and fragile result of millions of years of evolution.
The destruction of forests has reached such proportions that, every year, more than twelve million hectares of forest disappear, an area equivalent to four times the total surface area of Belgium.

We do not have the right to leave our children the sole legacy of our shortcomings. If we fail to act, we will be guilty of failing to assist humanity in danger.

Frédéric Debouche, Chairman and founder of Graine de Vie