I'm not sure. Maybe someone can track down the language of the proposal. It's a good question. My hopes for it reminds me of the success of the Kenya GBM project though.

GBM Kenya: Environmental Conservation/ Tree Planting
Since 1977, GBM Kenya has led a nationwide campaign to conserve local biodiversity, enhance natural beauty and prevent soil erosion. Experts say that a forest cover of 10% is required for a country to sustain life naturally—forest cover affects the availability of rain, availability of underground water, soil fertility, and clean air, prevention of soil erosion, and the beauty of the landscape. At present Kenya's forest cover is less than 2%. GBM Kenya is therefore fully engaged in the campaign—promoting the planting of indigenous trees in forest catchment areas, private farms and public spaces to preserve local biological diversity. The GBM Kenya strategy is based on a ten-step procedure that culminates in the purchase of seedlings by GBM Kenya from groups. The groups benefit from the income generated through the sale of their seedlings, and the goal towards reforestation is advanced. In Muthetheni division of Machakos District, a water-harvesting project has been initiated to support conservation and food security activities in the area. In this semi-arid area, water is abundant at some times of the year and completely lacking in others. As a result GBM Kenya in collaboration with the Embassy of Germany, has piloted the construction of sand dams to capture water during rainy seasons.

The Tree Planting Program (Phase 1): Tree planting on private land (farms, schools, churches, etc)

In Phase 1 of the project (1977-1997), GBM Kenya focused on planting trees on farms with women groups as the main implementing agency. Each group had a nursery on which it raised tree seedlings. In addition, some group members planted some of these seedlings in their farms. However, they would give (free of charge) most of their seedlings to the farmers in nearby communities. The group members would then follow-up to make sure that the farmers took care of the trees. The women were therefore carrying our tree planting extension work. For this, they received 1 shilling for each exotic tree they distributed and 2 shillings for indigenous/fruit trees as a token of appreciation for the work they were doing. By 1997, over 20 million trees had been planted and survived. This was seen both as a significant contribution to environmental conservation worldwide and a contribution to improving livelihoods; the trees provided income (through sale of timber, firewood, fodder, fruits), food (fruits), improved food productivity (because of improved soils), building materials, fencing materials, fencing materials and many other life benefits. As the tree planting campaign continued to grow over the years, the methodology used in establishing a tree nursery has been revised and improved, resulting in the 10-step procedure as follows:

1. Staff members from the GBM Kenya office along with the field facilitators conduct sensitization and mobilization seminars to disseminate information on the importance of tree planting based on GBM Kenya goals and values. These seminars are open to anyone interested in starting a tree nursery. Following these seminars, individuals are invited to form groups to register with the GBM Kenya. The GBM Kenya does not register individuals because the objective is to engage as many people as possible within the shortest time.
2. GBM Kenya field facilitators assist interested persons in the formation and registration of groups. These are usually formed around women's social groups, church groups, farmers, schools etc.
3. Groups register as members of GBM Kenya with the assistance of the field facilitator and Green Volunteer (GV). This officially opens up communication and follow-up with the groups and GBM Kenya staff.
4. Once registered, the groups receive assistance on the preparation of tree nurseries and seed sowing. The group members collect seeds (indigenous, fruit, and exotic tree species) from the forest and plant them in their nurseries. GBM Kenya provides some initial seeds to get the groups started.
5. Once trees begin to grow, they are transplanted into individual containers or plastic bags in anticipation of distributing them. GVs assist groups with the writing and submission of monthly reports to headquarters. The reports contain information on the status of the nursery (numbers of trees: exotic, fruit, indigenous), the numbers that are ready for distribution, and any challenges facing the nursery.
6. Once seedlings are ready to be distributed, the groups announce to their communities that seedlings are ready for issuing and ask those interested to dig and prepare the holes. GVs assist in this activity as well. The idea is that no trees will be distributed to persons now known to be ready to plant them. This reduces wastage since all trees at this stage will be followed up to make sure they are actually planted.
7. Group members check the holes to ascertain they are properly dug prior to supplying seedlings (2 feet deep and wide, manure applied to holes when soil is poor).
8. Once holes are approved, seedlings are supplied and the report of seedlings distributed sent to HQ in the monthly report. Seedlings are only issued to those with properly dug holes. A partial payment for the seedlings is made to the group by GBM Kenya. This payment is a small incentive in recognition of the work the women have put into raising the seedlings.
9. Group members conduct the first verification of seedling survival at 1 month and that information is sent to HQ. This involved inspecting the trees planted and determining that they are being well taken care of.
10. A second verification of the same trees is conducted at 3 months and likewise that information is sent to the HQ. If reports are acceptable to the monitors GBM Kenya purchases the seedlings from the groups. By so doing, the groups get a small compensation for the number of trees surviving at the time of the second follow-up. It is also understood that survival of the trees is significantly increased if they survive the first 3 months.


Phase 1 of the project was a success in that people know the benefits of planting trees on their farms and have also learned valuable skills of raising tree seedlings and planting them. There was therefore no need to continue encouraging people to do what they had now come to appreciate as critical: environmental conservation. People could now on their own impetus continue to plant trees on their farms. In Phase 2, however, the aim was to move tree planting to public places: parks, road reserves, and other open green spaces. It would raise environmental consciousness to a new level.

The Tree Planting Program (Phase 2): Tree planting on public lands (parks, forests, road reserves, etc)

This phase of the program focuses on the planting of indigenous trees on public lands to enhance the impact of environmental conservation. The same ten-step procedure is followed in this phase. To compliment this strategy, individuals and groups are encouraged to continue planting both exotic and indigenous trees on their farms. Although GBM Kenya no longer compensates for these trees (on private spaces) the groups are encouraged to commercialize their tree nurseries for their financial gain.
The major changes to Phase 2 therefore involved the shift from private to public lands as the focus for the conservation campaign, and an increase in the monitoring and protests against the grabbing of public land, destruction of forests, poor governance, abuse of people's rights, and atrocities such as tribal clashes. Although some of this was already going on in Phase 1, it was not a focal area.
GBM Kenya is expanding its tree planting work to include the planting of indigenous trees in forest catchment areas and riparian reserves to preserve local biological diversity. The preferred tree species vary depending on the purpose as described below:

Purpose Best suited species Primarily planted in
Secondarily planted in
Environmental conservation Indigenous Public places Farm but sparsely
Household needs Exotics (fast growing) Farms —
Fodder Exotics (fast growing) Farms —
Medicine/Herbs Indigenous Public places Farms
Food Security Exotics & Fruit trees Farms Public places
Shade Indigenous Farms Public places
Increase Biodiversity Indigenous (to support birds, animals & plants) Public places Farms
Protecting cultural sites Indigenous Public places —