Deforestation is an immense problem for the Kenyan people. Each year, a staggering 120,000 acres of forests are lost due to illegal logging and urbanization. That also leads to a serious water shortage in the country because trees collect, filter, and release rain into streams and rivers. In an attempt to boost reforestation efforts, an organization has created ‘seedballs’, which are tree and plant seeds covered in a coating of charcoal and nutrients. The coating helps protect the seeds from predators like birds, rodents, and insects, as well as extreme temperatures, until the rain arrives. Once the seedballs get soaked from the rain, the coating retains and prolongs a moist environment around the seed to encourage it to sprout. While seedballs alone won’t stop deforestation, they have the potential to make a big impact in growing forests, saving ecosystems and reducing the effects of climate change.
Charcoal-coated seeds could help reverse deforestation in Kenya
More of Today's Solutions
New method uses sound waves to map soil health, stop famine, and restore farm...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Across the world, soil scientists are trading in their shovels for something unexpected: seismic sensors. In a breakthrough ...
Read MoreThis simple 15-minute mindset exercise can ease anxiety, science shows
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A growing body of research is revealing how a short, simple activity that is done in just 15 ...
Read More3 habits of the happiest people
Think of the happiest people you know. Do you find yourself often wondering what they are doing to maintain a general level of joy? ...
Read MoreChangemakers of the week: GRuB and SparkNJ
Every day on the Optimist Daily, we report on solutions from around the world. Though we love solutions big and small, the ones that ...
Read More
