Farmers for Forests was founded in December 2019 from a profound urgency: the devastating toll of climate crises - human lives lost, cyclones, wildfires, species extinction, and the relentless march of extreme heat - galvanized a small cadre of friends and fledgling environmentalists into action. What especially struck the founding team was the stark neglect of nature-based solutions in the funding ecosystem then. As the already limited climate funding got funneled disproportionately into other solutions like renewable energy, our natural ecosystems continued to crumble. Yes, slashing carbon emissions is crucial. But safeguarding our diverse habitats and life forms is equally, if not more, vital. Our survival hinges on them.

From Delhi's blistering 53-degree Celsius heat to the heartbreaking displacement of birds and big cats seeking refuge in higher altitudes; record cyclones lashing our shores to droughts and deluges threaten rural livelihoods. The signs are stark and urgent. And yet, from 2000 to 2022, India lost a staggering 2.3 million hectares of forest. The most alarming spike occurred between 2015 and 2022, when nearly 670,000 hectares vanished - making India the world's second-worst deforestation hotspot after Brazil. This is nothing short of madness.

Armed with over 30 years of collective experience in poverty alleviation and agricultural projects across South Asia and Africa, our founding team knew that forging enduring solutions at scale meant partnering closely with farmers and indigenous communities. And that is exactly what we do. We make multi-layer, biodiverse farms and forests economically viable for rural India to grow and protect. Thriving ecosystems alongside thriving communities is the only way we can survive the ongoing crisis.