Work model pays farmers to plant trees for ecological restoration
Across the globe, innovative models are emerging that put farmers at the center of ecological restoration — paying them not just to plant trees, but to nurture entire landscapes back to life. These approaches are helping restore degraded land, boost biodiversity, fight climate change, and provide farmers with new income streams while strengthening rural communities.
🌍 1. Kenya’s “My Farm Trees” Project — Where Farmers Earn While Restoring Forests
In a pioneering initiative in Kenya’s Siaya, Turkana, and Laikipia counties, smallholder farmers are earning cash rewards for planting and caring for native tree species through the My Farm Trees project.
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Farmers are enrolled in the program using a blockchain-powered app that tracks seedlings from planting through growth.
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Participants receive free seedlings and training on planting and tree care.
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Once trees begin growing, farmers are paid for their stewardship, combining ecological restoration with economic incentives.
Over 100,000 seedlings have already been planted, involving more than 1,300 farmers.
This model doesn’t just pay for planting — it rewards long-term stewardship, blending modern tech and ecological goals.
🌲 2. Carbon Payments for Agroforestry in India: Meghalaya and Uttar Pradesh Examples
In India, states are experimenting with carbon credit and tree-planting incentive schemes that reward farmers directly for restoring landscapes:
Meghalaya’s Carbon Agroforestry Scheme
In Meghalaya’s Khasi-Jaintia and Garo Hills regions, over 10,400 farmers across 22,000+ hectares are receiving carbon income for tree-based agroforestry.
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The programme bridges ecological and economic benefits by tying payouts to the volume of carbon sequestered through diversified tree species planted on farms. Uttar Pradesh’s Advance Carbon Credit Payments
The Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a breakthrough model where farmers receive advance payments for carbon credits they’ll earn in the future.
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Registered farmers planting trees receive partial payments upfront — typically around ₹10,000 per farmer — incentivizing quick adoption of tree planting and better land care.
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These carbon credits are tied to long-term tree survival and verified growth over years, meaning farmers stand to earn additional income for decades as trees mature.
This forward-looking scheme integrates climate mitigation with rural livelihoods.
🌳 3. Proven International Models: TIST and Agroforestry Networks
Beyond Kenya and India, long-running global initiatives offer blueprints for success:
TIST (The International Small Group and Tree Planting Program)
Active in countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and India, TIST supports farmer groups in restoring degraded land through tree planting and sustainable farming.
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Farmers receive carbon revenue shares — typically around 70% of carbon credit profits — once trees are verified and sold on voluntary carbon markets.
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Over 26 million trees have been planted under TIST, directly benefiting hundreds of thousands of farmers and their families.
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