Efforts to reverse decades of deforestation in Afghanistan are seeing people learn nursery and agroforestry skills, and plant fruit trees to feed their families, shade trees and trees that help prevent soil erosion.

A story in the Christian Science Monitor outlines how Mariam Raqib founded the non-profit organization, Samsortya, which translates as revitalization in Pashtu.

Over the past several decades, Afghanistan has lost a large portion of its forests, partly due to conflict in the country but also as people collected fuel wood, building materials and expanded farmland.

Raqib fled Afghanistan with her family in the 1980s and is now based in the US where she has been fundraising for Samsortya. She says the organization’s work is a step towards democracy and human rights.

“Once we have our basic needs met we can go on to think about other things,” says Raqib. “It will take decades to reverse the damage, but the replanting [of] trees, is something that can meet the needs of the people.”

Read the full story: Mariam Raqib brings the gift of trees to Afghanistan

For more information on Samsortya, visit: http://www.afghanistansamsortya.org/