Environmental Development Initiatives

About us
 Our Vision
To prevent and reverse desertification and the loss of fertile land.

Our Mission
We will achieve our vision through the reforestation of desolate areas and the promotion of
sustainability through technology.

Foreword
Environmental Development Initiatives (EDI) is a group of like-minded individuals from
across the globe. Our team believes the quality of life is greatly dependent on the
surrounding environment and the general happiness of people around you. We strive to
combine the improvement of both into a single goal, with communities of people working
together to grow prosperous forests that provide resources and jobs.

Summary
EDI sets out to tackle complex environmental and sustainability issues affecting struggling
communities around the world. Desertification, the process by which formerly fertile, arable
land is consumed by desert, is one of the largest threats to the environment today. As it
stands, the Amazonian rainforest is under threat, European forests are becoming more
sparse, and desertification threatens to strip Africa of almost all of its useable land. In order
to fight this, and avert environmental calamity, we propose a radical reforestation effort, and
have plans to work towards that goal. Environmental Development Initiatives seeks to take a
novel and innovative approach to this problem by working with local communities to bring
sustainable agriculture to those that desperately need it. The main focus of our efforts will be
planting pine trees in areas that are threatened by deforestation and desertification. Our first
project will be located in Namibia, a nation in serious need of reforestation. With EDI at the
helm of development in the area, Namibias deserts can become lush farmlands. Our plan
for this initiative is outlined in the document below.

Overview
The project will initially acquire a parcel of land in Namibia. Once we are established and
contact is made with local communities, we will begin the process of reverting desertification
by tending to the land and planting the first forest. Once small forests are beginning to pop
up, they will attract wildlife such as birds and small rodents at first. These creatures in turn
will help spread tree seeds to create a self healing forest.

Why Namibia?
We have decided on the continent of Africa because of the vast potential for massive growth
and development for relatively low input costs. Africa is also most in need as millions are
affected by climate change and desertification, often resulting in famine. A suitable and
stable start without disrupting established communities or getting involved in regional
conflicts would be an area in Namibia, one of least densely populated countries in the world.
It boasts an arid climate similar to what we wish to combat in the rest of Africa and across
the rest of the planet. Farm prices in southern namibia are reasonable and provide excellent
opportunity for this groundbreaking research endeavor to begin.

Why trees?
A great dream of ours would be to turn Namibia from an arid country into the breadbasket of
Southern Africa. One of the ways of achieving that is by the reforestation of desolate areas
and the promotion of lifestyle choices that support it, instead of the parasitic ways of modern
forestry and food industry. It's not realistically possible to blame a single worst culprit for the
increasing levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. However, an effective solution
becomes the reduction of greenhouse gases. In particular, carbon sequestration, the storage
of carbon. Large areas of permanent forest will bind carbon from the atmosphere and if left
untouched, further move it to the soil. The outskirts of the growing permanent forests provide
a great opportunity for agroforestry, with the goal of improving the quality of soil while
providing resources. Correctly planned and maintained, settlements will become self
sustainable and have room to grow with the forests. Local food production will reduce the
emissions from the logistics of delivering food to previously non-food producing regions, and
fossil fuels can gradually be replaced by resin based alternatives made possible by the pine
trees. A highly efficient biofuel. Trees, via their roots, are also an effective way to prevent soil
erosion and degradation. The forests act as a sanctuary for wildlife, when the human
interaction becomes minimal. Reforestation is the most simple solution that can save the
planet. If successfully done on a large scale it would slow down global warming immensely.

Self Regenerating Forest

It is very likely that this forest would attract a lot of wildlife. Birds would be essential to the
longevity of the forest because birds eat seeds and spread them when they defecate. This
fertilizes the land and allows plants, particularly trees, to receive the right amount of nutrients
needed for ample growth.Trees should essentially block out the sun mostly so that a lot of
shade can be allowed. Shade is good for giving new trees the chance at life, also good
because water won't disappear directly thanks to the sun. Leaves are great because once
they fall on the ground, they will be compost for newer trees. Shade also prevents water
from evaporating too quickly if present near the surface.
Sustainable Growth
Planting a forest provides economic and environmental benefits that could last for
generations if properly maintained. EDIs goal of planting forests will allow communities to
become self sustainable through extensive education and training in maintaining forests.
Aside from de-desertification benefits in desert environments, EDI forests will allow
developing communties to improve local soil quality, therefore improving local agriculture.
Wildlife too will flock to the forests, allowing for alternative food sources for communities and
rebuilding the ecosystem in the area. EDI forests will mostly consist of pines, which, despite
popular belief, can thrive in fairly warm climates. The pine trees were selected for their
valuable resin, fast growth time, relatively low rainfall requirements and ease of dense
planting. Pine resin has a plethora of uses, from medicinal treatments to glue/sealant to
even fuel for basic power generation.

Activities in the forests such as hiking and camping will be permitted within moderation. A
small lumber industry can also be permitted on younger trees, so long as specific quotas are
not exceeded. Potential employment opportunities include: park rangers, foresters,
agricultural sector work (mulch), harvesting of resin, planting and upkeep of the forests. EDI
will provide the basic guidelines required to sustain and create forests but it will ultimately be
under the communitys control. With proper care, the forests planted in these communities
could go on to improve economic outlook and give hope to the destitute for generations to
come.

Environmental factors include cleaner, more breathable air to improved water amounts in
aquifers. EDIs trees will not only improve local environment, but also the global ecosystem
by helping to counteract global Carbon Dioxide emissions. Cleaner air, water and general
environment will allow for healthier and happier communities. Reduced rates of evaporation
as well as improved mulch collection and wildlife will help fledgling agriculture to thrive. EDI
hopes to promote a sense of community pride in the forests, allowing for greater unity within
struggling communities.

In short EDIs forests allow for long term sustainable employment and environmental benefit
in impoverished communities. With training and guidance from EDI teams, communities will
not only become healthier, but also more independent and united for generations to come.

By planting trees in the Kalahari desert we plan to slow down increasing desertification, and
build a sustainable agriculture production off of the success of turning the sand of southern
Namibia into fertile soil. We plan to emulate projects such as the ones fighting desertification
in the Aral sea and South Western U.S.A. We will use proven techniques in order to change
the topography of Namibia in an environmentally sound way.
In order to begin creating this, we will establish an irrigation system on the future property
which can easily be supplied from the vast underground water that lies beneath the sea of
sand. It is no secret that a great basin of water is just below the dry surface. With our team of
highly trained analysts and with efforts in conservation, we plan to be as environmentally
friendly as possible when withdrawing from a non renewable resource such as underground
water.
EDIs team includes environmental experts with knowledge and backgrounds on forestry and
biochemistry, and we expect to see forestry growth increase exponentially within a few years
of funding and initial planting. We will continue to attract more experts in these fields and
more as we expand the project.