The idea

In an essay entitled ‘Now or Never’, Professor Tim Flannery argued the merits of establishing a virtual marketplace for rainforest carbon offsetting. The purpose was to establish projects that connected donors in developed countries with tropical subsistence farmers in vulnerable communities.

The donors – individuals, companies and organisations in developed countries, would contribute to reforestation and the reduction of global greenhouse gases by making a financial contribution for the planting of trees. This would enable the subsistence farmers to enhance their farming capacity through reforestation of their land and the development of sustainable agroforestry processes.

Flannery’s proposal was based on a simple but compelling premise that the people who live in and around these forests and habitats must also benefit if these habitats are to be protected.

How one seed can change a community?

WithOneSeed supports subsistence communities in Timor Leste to make environments sustainable, to end poverty and hunger, to deliver universal education and to create regional partnerships. 

These four objectives are based on the United Nations Millenium Development goals and form the corner stones of the WithOneSeed project, which aims to improve the social, environmental, educational and economic health of societies in the Asia-Pacific region.
 

Seeds for trees

WithOneSeed - Community Tree Cooperatives
We do this by helping vulnerable rural communities adapt to climate variability, build local economies, boost education and training and grow stronger, more resilient communities, through village-based reforestation initiatives called Community Tree Cooperatives.

WithOneSeed's foundation project is working with subsistence farming and school communities in Baguia, Timor Leste, to adapt to climate variability, build the local economy, boost education and training, and grow stronger, more resilient communities through village-based reforestation Community Tree Cooperatives. 
 

Seeds for change

WithOneSeed - Universal Education
We underpin this, by working to influence sustainability and build environmental awareness and regional understanding through WithOneSeed Universal Education Programs in schools across Australia and Timor Leste.
 

Seeds for growth

WithOneSeed - Computer Emissions Fund
It is estimated that in 2012 a quarter of the world population of 7 billion people are using computers that are connected to the internet, generating significant global emissions from personal and business use of computers.

WithOneSeed encourages citizens and business to take responsibility for the impact of their computer use on the environment. Individuals and organisations who wish to voluntarily offset their technology use can make an annual donation of $5 per computer and device to the WithOneSeed Computer Emissions Fund.

The fund will be used by WithOneSeed to support Community Tree Cooperatives to plant trees in projects across Timor Leste. And, at the same time, support the continuing growth and viability of this vital reforestation initiative in our neighbouring region.