For more than a decade, Brinkman has worked alongside Community Forests International and the people of Pemba Island to restore millions of trees, improve food security, and help communities across Zanzibar adapt to climate change.
Since its beginnings around 2008–2010, Plant 4 Pemba has grown into one of East Africa’s most successful grassroots reforestation efforts. Led by Community Forests International and their sister organization, Community Forests Pemba, the project restores mangroves, spice forests, and agroforestry systems while strengthening community resilience. It began with four Brinkman planters and local environmental champion Mbarouk Mussa Omar, and has flourished thanks to the enduring connection between communities in Zanzibar and the tree-planting community in Canada.
Brinkman has been a foundational partner, offering steady encouragement, fundraising, and long-term support through its planters and leadership. Community Forests International’s mission is to protect and restore forests, help communities adapt to climate change, build economic prosperity, and advance social equality — with climate justice at the heart of its work.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Zach Melanson of Community Forests International shared:
“Our relationship with Brinkman is fundamentally different, and a foundational part of our story. Without the encouragement and early (and sustained!) support from management and planters, we truly might not exist as an organization.”
Together, the teams have achieved remarkable results. Brinkman planters have raised $417,625 since 2010, including $21,767.02 in 2025 alone, with $121,329 in corporate matching from Brinkman. Their efforts have supported the planting of 1,978,062 trees, the propagation of 4 million seedlings in more than 40 community nurseries, and training and opportunities for over 43,600 people in climate-smart horticulture, agroforestry, and conservation. The partnership has also contributed to the construction of two off-grid schools, seven rainwater systems, three solar dryer facilities, and four solar hubs across Zanzibar.
Work continues across Pemba and Unguja Islands, where community-led reforestation and climate adaptation programs have now reached more than 70,000 people and restored over 4 million trees across 90 communities. Each project is designed and led locally by Community Forests Pemba, with Brinkman providing the consistent commitment and encouragement needed to keep these initiatives thriving.
Plant 4 Pemba demonstrates the power of long-term collaboration. With support from Brinkman planters, Community Forests International has restored ecosystems, improved food and income security, and built resilience for tens of thousands of people across Zanzibar.
This success would not be possible without the incredible dedication of the Brinkman planting community, whose generosity continues to drive meaningful change. Deep gratitude also goes to the teams at Plant 4 Pemba and Community Forests International for their vision, leadership, and passion in restoring forests and strengthening communities across Zanzibar.
To learn more, check out this short documentary about Kokota Island on National Geographic.
