TreeSisters' Head of Learning and Engagement, Ashley Tamburello, recently spoke at VCOP20, sharing insights into our community-led restoration projects and the ethical foundations that guide our work. From reforestation efforts to fostering deeper connections with Nature, Ashley highlighted the growing opportunities for transformative change.
You can watch Ashley's presentation on the Climate Healers YouTube page or at the bottom of this blog. Read on to explore the key themes and how TreeSisters is weaving together restoration, ethics, and advocacy for a thriving future.
At TreeSisters, we believe that true climate action is not just about planting trees—it is about restoring relationships with Nature, empowering communities, and shifting our collective consciousness from consumer to restorer. That’s why speaking at Climate Healers V-COP 2025 was an honour, an inspiring gathering of changemakers dedicated to accelerating solutions for our planet.
Why This Conversation Matters Now
The climate crisis is escalating at an alarming rate. In 2022 alone, the world lost 4.1 million hectares of tropical primary forests—the equivalent of 11 football fields of forest disappearing every minute (World Resources Institute, 2023). Vulnerable communities, those who have contributed the least to climate change, are experiencing the harshest consequences, from droughts and flooding to food insecurity (IPCC, 2023).
But there’s hope. Hope in the forests that can be restored. Hope in the leadership of women. Hope in communities that are reclaiming their relationship with Nature. This is the heart of TreeSisters' work and the message I was privileged to share at V-COP.
The Power of Community-Led Restoration
TreeSisters’ projects are less about counting trees and more about creating lasting impact through community-led, women-centred reforestation initiatives. Here’s what this looks like in action:
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Over 700 Indigenous and local women are leading the reforestation of the Itombwe Rainforest, restoring vital ecosystems while defending women’s rights. They call themselves “forest guardians,” protecting old-growth forests and planting new ones in one of the world's most ecologically and socially fragile areas.
Kenya: The Mount Kenya Forest Landscape Restoration Project is not only reforesting one of Africa’s most deforested regions but also ensuring women are at the forefront of leadership and decision-making. By restoring critical water catchment areas, this project directly supports local livelihoods, biodiversity, and water security for countless people.
Borneo: The Peat Swamp Reforestation Project is reconnecting environmental restoration with community healthcare. Over 50 hectares of peat swamp forest are being regenerated here, enhancing biodiversity and supporting sustainable livelihoods—all through a project that integrates healthcare access for local communities.
These projects—and many more—demonstrate that reforestation is about so much more than trees. It’s about justice, empowerment, and the restoration of ecosystems that sustain life.
A Shift in Consciousness: We Are Nature
One of the key themes I shared at V-COP is that we are not separate from Nature—we ARE Nature. This is the philosophy behind our Rooted in Ethics framework, which ensures tree planting is done ethically, respectfully, and in alignment with Indigenous wisdom and ecological integrity.
Our work is about more than just reforestation—it’s about changing the way we see our place in the natural world. It’s about listening to women, Indigenous leaders, and communities on the frontlines of climate change and supporting solutions that come from within.
Our work is about more than just reforestation—it’s about changing the way we see our place in the natural world. It’s about listening to women, Indigenous leaders, and communities on the frontlines of climate change and supporting solutions that come from within.
Now Is the Time to Act
The science is clear: restoring forests is one of the most powerful nature-based solutions for tackling climate change—but we must do it in a way that is ethical, community-led, and regenerative.
At TreeSisters, we are growing a movement where everyone can be part of the solution. Whether through planting trees, supporting women’s leadership, or advocating for a Nature-centric world, your contribution makes a tangible difference.
Join us in this mission. Every donation helps sustain and expand these life-giving projects. Together, we can restore forests, empower communities, and heal our planet.
Donate today to support this urgent work. Your generosity allows TreeSisters to continue our vital charitable mission, ensuring forests, people, and ecosystems thrive together for generations to come.