Peace with Nature: How Sustainable Shambas Project Transforms Rural Communities into Climate-Resilient Food Systems

COP16 and the Call for Nature-Positive Solutions

As the 2024 COP16 to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) unfolds in Cali, Colombia, a critical theme emerges: “Peace with Nature.” Leaders, policymakers, and environmental advocates gathered to confront the twin crises of biodiversity loss and food insecurity, a dilemma deeply intertwined with Africa’s environmental and economic landscape. From soil degradation to water scarcity, the harmful impacts of conventional agriculture demand immediate change. But COP16 doesn’t stop at calling for change; it’s spotlighting solutions. Nature-positive systems, such as the Sustainable Shambas Project’s food forests, stand out as sustainable models capable of restoring ecosystems while supporting rural livelihoods.

At Sustainable Shambas Project , we’ve dedicated ourselves to reimagining Africa’s agricultural systems. By planting biodiverse food forests, we create resilient ecosystems that support food production, protect biodiversity, and strengthen rural economies. We believe each acre of food forest can serve as a cornerstone of a sustainable future where African communities and ecosystems thrive in harmony. And we’re here to show that, with your support, we can make this vision a reality.

The Global Imperative for Biodiverse, Sustainable Food Systems

The statistics from COP16 are alarming: Over 50% of global arable land has been degraded, directly impacting half of humanity and threatening approximately half of global GDP (US$44 trillion). Conventional farming practices worsen these losses. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate. Without intervention, achieving climate resilience in food production will be nearly impossible.

For African countries, this crisis is especially pressing. Home to vast landscapes and unique biodiversity, Africa is also the site of some of the world’s fastest population growth rates, with youth unemployment rates among the highest globally. Sustainable Shambas is addressing both these issues by establishing nature-positive food forests that protect and restore biodiversity while creating stable, year-round jobs in rural areas.

The food forest model aligns directly with COP16's goals. Each forest is designed to function within ecological limits, enhancing biodiversity by creating habitats for pollinators, supporting soil regeneration, and offering year-round food production—all while providing meaningful employment.

Sustainable Shambas Project: The Food Forest Model in Action

What is a Food Forest?

A food forest is an ecologically based agricultural system that mimics natural forests by integrating layers of annual crops, perennial fruit trees, shrubs, and trees. This creates a rich tapestry of biodiversity that supports both plant and animal life. Unlike conventional farming, food forests improve soil fertility, conserve water, and foster a resilient micro-ecosystem that can withstand climate shocks. They are self-sustaining systems that provide long-term, diversified food sources without the need for pesticides or intensive chemical inputs.

Why Food Forests? Meeting COP16 Targets Through Nature-Based Solutions

COP16’s targets for climate resilience, biodiversity restoration, and sustainable food systems call for scalable solutions—and food forests provide precisely that. By planting a diverse range of crops and trees, each Sustainable Shambas food forest sequesters carbon, improves soil quality and builds resilience against extreme weather. These food forests require minimal inputs after establishment, allowing for consistent yields without the resource depletion that conventional agriculture often entails.

Economic and Social Impact on Rural Communities

1. Direct Employment: Each acre of food forest directly employs 2 full-time workers—a farm manager overseeing operations and sales, and a groundskeeper who also doubles as a caretaker. During high-demand periods, such as planting, weeding and harvesting, additional local casual workers are hired, creating seasonal job opportunities.
2. Community Resilience: Beyond employment, each food forest serves as a learning centre. Every year, at least 10 farmers receive hands-on training, and with the support of our corporate sponsors, we hope to reach 2,000 more through digital training initiatives. Over five years, we estimate that each acre of food forest will impact approximately 10,000 people, from digital trainees to community members who benefit from increased local food availability and income opportunities.
3. Scalability and Replicability: By focusing on one-acre models, we ensure that each food forest is adaptable to local ecosystems, making it scalable across diverse African regions. Our goal is to replicate these food forests in regions with similar agroecological characteristics, offering a blueprint for food security and environmental resilience.

Measuring Impact: Lessons From Sustainable Shambas’ Food Forests

Data from our project underscore the power of food forests to create resilient communities:

1. Environmental Impact: Each acre of food forest absorbs carbon, restores soil quality, and supports biodiversity, with native plant species drawing in pollinators that improve yields and foster healthy ecosystems. In turn, these thriving ecosystems serve as natural carbon sinks, helping mitigate climate change in the process.
2. Economic Benefits: Local food production stabilizes prices and offers a reliable source of income for farmers. Unlike cash crops, which are often exported, food forests prioritize local needs, ensuring food security even as the system generates income through market sales of surplus produce.
3. Skill Transfer and Knowledge Sharing: Training and education multiply the food forest’s impact. By training local farmers, each acre equips them with the skills to implement and expand sustainable practices, benefiting surrounding communities. With corporate-backed digital outreach, this model expands further, reaching 2,000 farmers each year, providing communities with vital knowledge and empowering individuals to replicate and benefit from the Sustainable Shambas model.

How Sustainable Shambas Project Aligns with Your Interests

For Corporate Sponsors: Investing in Long-Term Community and Environmental Health

For corporates with sustainability mandates, partnering with the Sustainable Shambas Project provides a pathway to meaningful impact. Supporting food forests allows companies to invest in tangible, long-term community benefits, contributing directly to COP16’s sustainability goals and enhancing their social responsibility profiles. Together, we can establish food forests that serve as cornerstones for rural economic stability and environmental stewardship for generations to come.

For Individual Donors: A Direct Path to Transforming Lives and Ecosystems

Every dollar matters in building this vision. Contributions from individual donors fund essential aspects of each food forest, from seeds and tools to training and labour. A donation as small as $50 can provide a farmer with essential tools for sustainable agriculture. A contribution of $500 can establish a nursery for fruit and nut trees, which will offer long-term food sources that benefit entire communities. Additionally, a donation of $1,000 funds the installation of a sustainable irrigation system, crucial for maintaining productive forests year-round, regardless of seasonal rainfall.

Supporting the Sustainable Shambas Project offers eco-conscious donors the chance to leave a lasting legacy, creating sustainable, food-secure rural landscapes.

A Vision for the Future: Scaling Sustainable Shambas’ Food Forests Across Africa

The Potential Impact of Scaling Up

The scale of Africa’s employment crisis and food insecurity demands immediate, scalable solutions. By establishing food forests across Africa, our project aims to create thousands of rural jobs, especially for young people. Each established acre of food forest creates permanent jobs, seasonal work, and a multiplier effect that empowers surrounding communities, addressing both Africa's unemployment and food security challenges simultaneously.

Partnering for Sustainable Development

The Sustainable Shambas Project stands ready to be a vehicle for bridging peace with nature. With adequate support, we can create a continent-wide network of food forests that empower communities, stabilize economies, and restore biodiversity. But to reach this vision, we need partners—individuals, corporations, and donors—who share in this vision of living in harmony with nature.

We invite you to join us in planting the seeds of a sustainable Africa. Every dollar contributed goes toward building resilient, biodiverse food systems that support Africa’s communities.

In a world grappling with climate change, biodiversity loss, and economic inequality, food forests provide a blueprint for a brighter, more sustainable agricultural future. Let’s build it together—one acre, one community, at a time.