Imire Climate Wise Reforestation Project

Based in Zimbabwe, Imire is dedicated to protecting wildlife and strongly believes that rural communities and conservation programmes can successfully thrive side by side, working together to ensure the protection of our natural heritage. Their vision is to enhance the relationships between tourism, conservation programmes and community areas through long-term, sustainable environmental management and positive community projects. Wildlife and endangered species conservation is Imire’s primary focus.

Climate Wise has selected to partner with Imire on this project as the organisation is a third generation, respected, and well-established conservation organisation who share the vision that Climate Wise holds of working hard to try and leave the planet in a better state then when we found it.

The reforestation and regeneration of indigenous woodlands is a major area of focus for Imire as an organisation. The vision is to reforest land that was historically cleared for agriculture with indigenous trees, with the ultimate aim being to guarantee and accelerate the re-establishment of healthy forest structures by regrowing the forest canopy and preserving biodiversity within the ecosystem.

The project will section off by fence concentrated areas of between 15 hectares and 18 hectares in order to intensively regenerate old agricultural land back into indigenous forest. The areas are fenced off from the main conservancy area and isolated in the initial phase to protect the young trees from over browsing by wildlife, thus giving them the optimal opportunity for establishment and best possible growth rates.

Indigenous trees will be purchased from locally owned tree nurseries at a mature and established stage of 2 years old, transported to Imire and planted within the concentrated areas by locally employed community members. Phase 1 of this initiative will be fully funded by Climate Wise and sequester 8,255 tonnes of carbon.