TIST empowers Small Groups of subsistence farmers in Africa and India to combat the devastating effects of climate change, deforestation, poverty and drought through an innovative yet simple solution: planting millions of trees.

The TIST Program

Our TIST carbon (CO2) sequestration project has been underway for eight years now. Farmers form TIST Small Groups. The Small Groups plant trees. Trees create carbon credits. Carbon credits are sold. Farmers make money. The idea is straightforward - the results are remarkable.

Sustainable Development

TIST farmers own the trees and benefit from the fruit, nuts, timber and other forest products that they sell. TIST volunteers provide training in Conservation Farming, fuel-efficient stoves, nutrition and HIV/AIDS.

Healthier Local Environment

Carbon dioxide, the number one contributor to global warming, is stored in soil and trees. TIST trees grow, soil becomes more fertile, crop yields increase, and the landscape and biodiversity are restored.

Sustainable Income

Most subsistence farmers in India and East Africa survive on less than $2 a day. TIST members make money from the carbon their trees sequester and from the fruit and nuts harvested from the trees. TIST then sells these low-cost GhG carbon credits on the global market.

Visit www.TIST.org to learn more about our community forestry, carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas reduction operations in East Africa and Asia. On the website you can get direct access to up-to-the-minute information on I4EI's TIST project activities and tree planting among Small Groups in all TIST locations, including India, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Click here for a one-page PDF describing the TIST Project.

From TIST Website

TIST empowers Small Groups of subsistence farmers in countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and India to reverse the devastating effects of deforestation, drought, and famine. Since 1999, TIST participants have been identifying local sustainable development goals that include tree planting and sustainable agriculture. TIST creates a communication and administrative structure that also addresses health (including HIV/AIDS), education, and nutririon. TIST expects to provide long-term revenue for the Small Group participants through the sale of greenhouse gas credits (GhG).

TIST was pioneered by Clean Air Action Corporation. CAAC monitors and markets the CO2 credits created by over 40,000 TIST participants. I4EI, in partnership with CAAC, implements sustainable development and health training and activities to further benefit the TIST farmers.