Kilimanjaro Project – Mount Meru
A community-led reforestation initiative focused on restoring biodiversity, strengthening ecosystems and connecting local environmental action with meaningful travel experiences.
Project Overview
In 2022, I was invited to collaborate with The Kilimanjaro Project, alongside a local environmental awareness group working at grassroots level. The organisation focusses on large-scale tree planting around Mount Kilimanjaro to restore biodiversity and strengthen fragile ecosystems.
We were invited to help introduce this model around Mount Meru in Arusha, expanding the work into new communities and landscapes. Alongside the environmental work, we also connected this project to responsible tourism by occasionally bringing tourists/visitors to visit tree nurseries and planting sites, allowing them to experience the impact of the work first-hand.
Quick Facts
- Client/Partner: The Kilimanjaro Project
- Location: Mount Meru area, Arusha, Tanzania
- Timeline: 2022
- Role: Community Activation & Program Support
- Focus Areas: Reforestation, Biodiversity, Community Engagement, Education, Responsible Tourism
- Stakeholders: Local communities, schools, landowners, local environmental awareness group, visiting travellers
The Starting Point
The Kilimanjaro Project already had a strong foundation around Mount Kilimanjaro. The next step was to introduce the approach to the communities living around Mount Meru.
I was invited to support this expansion by helping to build local trust, awareness and ownership, ensuring the work grew in a way that respected local knowledge and long-term stewardship.
My Approach – From Idea to Implementation
1. Listening & Groundwork
We started by visiting communities to understand how they related to their land, trees and natural resources. This helped anchor the project in local realities.
2. Co-Creation with Communities
Together with community members, we shaped a shared understanding of how tree planting could strengthen soil, water systems, biodiversity and livelihoods.
3. Activation & Experience
We moved from ideas to action by:
- Giving community presentations and workshops
- Organising tree planting days, especially at schools
- Planting trees together with students and families
- Introducing and supporting the Pay-to-Grow system
- Hosting small groups of travellers at tree nurseries and planting sites, enriching their travel experience through meaningful conservation engagement
4. Continuity & Local Ownership
We supported simple systems that allowed communities to continue planting, monitoring and caring for trees independently
Project Impact
- Introduction of The Kilimanjaro Project’s work in the Mount Meru region
- Strong community participation in tree planting and long-term care
- Multiple school and community planting events organised
- Active use of the Pay-to-Grow monitoring system
- Greater local understanding of ecosystem restoration and biodiversity protection
- Deepened travel experiences for visitors through direct exposure to grassroots conservation work
Reflections
This project embodied what Project Rooted stands for: people at the centre, nature as the foundation, and long-term thinking over quick results.
Seeing both local communities and visitors connect through the shared act of planting trees showed me that real change happens when stories, land and people come together.
Project Gallery
Why Work with Project Rooted
Hands-on experience and a passion for meaningful projects transform ideas into initiatives that are sustainable, impactful, and aligned with a vision for responsible tourism. Each project is approached with care, curiosity, and a commitment to making a positive difference for people, communities, and the environment.