Project OSISI (tree) is combating deforestation and climate change in Africa, leveraging ancient community-based tree-planting festivals. OSISI enables impact donors to efficiently sponsor climate change awareness and tree planting events with real-time data and impact reports. By organizing tree-planting events and raising climate change awareness, we aim to restore ecosystems and support biodiversity. OSISI is a Climatebase (Cohort 7) project, supported by Silvi Protocol, Regen Coordination, Gainforest and Gitcoin.
We are on a mission to scale regenerative finance and indigenous carbon removal methods in Africa
Temperatures in the Sahel region are rising 1.5 times faster than the global average. Deforestation and climate change are significant contributing factors to severe temperatures in Africa. Nigeria alone has lost 96% of its primary forest due to deforestation. This has increased climate change-related impacts such as biodiversity loss, flooding, heat waves, and land erosion. Unfortunately, a shortage of climate adaptation funding has hindered tree planting efforts, especially in rural farming communities. According to FAO data, more than 90% of African smallholder farmers do not have access to formal credit, limiting their investment in agricultural real estate and nature-based solutions. 61% of Nigerians, including farmers, do not understand what climate change is, highlighting the need for climate education in Africa.
Climate-induced displacement has led to a rise in violent extremist groups, rural-urban migration, talent flight, and dead assets across the continent. Climate change costs Africa $15 billion annually—more than the GDPs of 26 African countries. By 2050, it could reach $50 billion. Climate impacts and risks will increase without action.
Blockchain open data and protocols provide a solution for event organizers, tree growers, and event sponsors. Project OSISI is digitizing real-world impact by connecting impact donors to fund tree-planting projects, as well as providing nature stewards (festival organizers) with tools for capturing ecological data and reporting impact. OSISI is rooted in the ancient mbo-uzo festival, an indigenous environmental preservation festival observed by some communities in Southeast Nigeria.
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Africa