The New Forests Project is a people-to-people, direct-action program established in 1982 in an effort to reduce the effects of deforestation in developing countries. Since its inception, the New Forests Project has supported more than 4,400 communities in over 120 countries. Its goals are to provide farmers, community organizations, and environmental groups with the training and materials necessary to begin successful reforestation projects, protect their watersheds and other natural resources. This component of the New Forests Project is now referred to as the World Seed Program Recently, New Forests Projects expanded its work to include the Clean Water Initiative which focuses on implementing water & sanitation projects in Latin America.
Since 1982 the World Seed Program, has distributed fast-growing, multipurpose tree seeds, technical assistance, small irrigation systems, training aids and educational materials to those working on agroforestry or reforestation projects. Additionally, the World Seed Program has promoted and encouraged the creation of agroforestry networks among individuals and organizations of the same country or region by facilitating access to its large database of contacts. Finally, a more recent initiative includes expanding programmatic support by securing financial resources to provide small grants to groups engaged in reforestation efforts mainly in Africa and Latin America.
Clean Water Initiative, our other exciting environmental and public health program provides sustainable clean water technology and community training to rural communities in Central America. This program is inspired by the tradition of circuit rider judges, doctors and ministers: individuals who would travel to a series of communities, providing their services to small communities and rural populations. The Circuit Rider program has been implemented in coordination with the Honduran Association of Water Boards for the Management of Water Systems, (AHJASA), and the Salvadorian Association of Water Systems, (ASSA). The Clean Water Initiative emphasizes the need for a community-oriented approach to water and sanitation programs in rural areas as opposed to simply installing water system infrastructure. The goal and expected health outcome is to build a network of regional organizations in Central America.
Another program of the Clean Water Initiative is the Chlorine Bank. The program, which works with the Circuit Rider Program, is a self-sufficient store that provides low cost water technology to local rural communities and training to local operators. The Bank provides everything from water chlorinators, chlorine tablets to other water system accessories such as tubes and pumps. Because the bank is run like a store, it gains a small profit margin, giving it the financial capacity to purchase more products, support the Circuit Rider Program and other educational and training services. Lastly, the Bank creates jobs that supplement the income for local community members. The Bank is key in making sure that the water systems installed in the rural communities remain self-sustainable. There are currently seven Banks in Honduras and El Salvador.
