Figure 11: Draft constitution of the Trees of Hope Association, Zimbabwe, 6 August 2024 - Understanding community engagement in forest restoration in rural Zimbabwe through intercultural dialogue and participatory action research

The decades-long decline of certain tree species in previously densely forested areas of Zimbabwe suggests that the forest’s capacity to regenerate itself sustainably is at risk. In an ecologically depleted, rural region outside Harare, Zimbabwe, community members created a tree nursery site, Trees of Hope (https://treesofhopeinzimbabwe.org), in 2019, where indigenous saplings now flourish as part of a locally valued sustainability plan. From 2023 to 2025, an intercultural, cross-disciplinary, learning initiative—Exploring and Exchanging Communications about Trees (EECAT)—investigated how reforestation practices are understood locally with partners comprising a primary school, a permaculture organisation, researchers from universities in Zimbabwe, South Africa and the UK, a UK community interest company, and an advocate of youth-led climate-resilient agriculture. Participatory action research captured shifts in understanding the value of trees between generations, and between formal and informal sectors engaged in climate change response. Participants’ reflections both on and through their actions include tensions between respecting and adapting traditional cultural practices within their communal lands.This item contains:Figure 11: Draft constitution of the Trees of Hope Association, Zimbabwe, 6 August 2024, from the multi-authored article: ‘Understanding Community Engagement in Forest Restoration in Rural Zimbabwe Through Intercultural Dialogue and Participatory Action Research’, by Amanda Bayley, Nick Clough,Crispen Dirwai, Philemon Manatsa, and Jane Tarr.Published in the <i>Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa</i>. Fall 2025.Figure copyright © Trees of Hope, Chinyere Village, Zimbabwe.The project title is: Exploring and Exchanging Communications About Trees (EECAT). Funded by Bath Spa University.

津巴布韦此前茂密林区内部分树种历经数十年的衰退现象，表明该森林的可持续自我更新能力已处于风险之中。2019年，在津巴布韦哈拉雷外围生态退化的乡村区域，当地社区设立了“希望之树（Trees of Hope，https://treesofhopeinzimbabwe.org）”苗圃；作为当地广受认可的可持续发展计划的一部分，本土树苗如今在此茁壮成长。2023年至2025年，一项跨文化、跨学科的学习倡议——“探索与交流树木相关传播实践（Exploring and Exchanging Communications about Trees，简称EECAT）”——联合多方合作伙伴，调研当地对造林实践的认知情况。合作伙伴涵盖一所小学、一家永续农业（permaculture）组织、津巴布韦、南非及英国的高校研究人员、一家英国的社区利益公司（community interest company），以及青年主导气候韧性农业（climate-resilient agriculture）的倡导者。本次研究采用参与式行动研究方法，记录了代际群体以及参与气候变化应对的正规与非正规部门之间，树木价值认知的转变。参与者结合自身行动所开展的反思，还涵盖了在其社区公有土地内，尊重与调整传统文化实践之间存在的张力。本数据集包含：图11：《津巴布韦希望之树协会章程草案》，2024年8月6日，出自多作者论文《通过跨文化对话与参与式行动研究理解津巴布韦乡村地区森林恢复中的社区参与》，作者为Amanda Bayley、Nick Clough、Crispen Dirwai、Philemon Manatsa及Jane Tarr。该论文发表于《非洲可持续发展期刊》（*Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa*）2025年秋季刊。图版版权©津巴布韦奇尼耶雷村希望之树组织。本项目名称为：探索与交流树木相关传播实践（EECAT），由巴斯泉大学（Bath Spa University）资助。