The Fincons Forest, situated in Africa, is now three years old and grows stronger and taller by the day but it’s never far from our thoughts. We thus decided to interview one of our trees and hear how things are going.
“My farmer visited me today to take stock of my growth and check on the health of my leaves and bark. He thinks I’m doing pretty well and that I’ll definitely start producing fruit next year when I turn four years old. He’s pleased because he’s been eagerly waiting to harvest and sell my fruits at the market. I was planted by Fincons in Kenya on May 14th, 2021 — World Environment Day — and named Dunia. Since then, I’ve been reaching for the tops of the bigger and taller trees around me. Although I’ll never grow much taller than a bush, the sky’s the limit, and that’s what I’m aiming for.
Back in my youth, when I was a little seedling poking through the soil, I had no idea a whole forest was out there! When I was moved to the nursery, a small plot of land where lots of other baby guava trees were first planted, I heard stories about being transplanted into the big, dark forest. It sounded terrifying at the time. But since Fincons Group planted me in the smallholding of Kitutu Central in Kenya, life has been grand!
My farmer takes care of me with dedication, and the diversity around me enriches my soil. I’m nourished by drops of rainwater from the taller trees, whose thick leaves shield me from the scorching sun on hot days. It helps that I’m a pretty adaptable fellow—I don’t stress over small things like high soil pH levels. I’m more than happy for my seeds to be scattered naturally by birds.
Although I’m still a little tree, I’m becoming a pillar of the community. In about 120 days, you might notice a rather pungent odor around here... that’s right, because that’s when I’ll produce my first fruit, which has a very distinctive scent. Love it or hate it, I’m really excited about this!
My pink fruits will be processed into different drinks, jams, jellies, and preserves, but they are also crucial for promoting human health. Guava is rich in vitamin C, which is known for its ability to kill disease-causing microbes and boost immunity. Besides the fruit, my leaves can strengthen your immune system, and they have strong antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. I also help soothe upset stomachs and play a key role in the cosmetics and dermatological industries. After all, my name, “Guava”, literally means “Beauty.”
So you see, I’m a very useful little plant—not just for my smallholder here in Kenya and his family, who can eat or sell my fruits and leaves for a good profit, but also in my larger mission. When Fincons decided to plant around 2,000 new trees in Africa, their objective was to help offset CO2 emissions and contribute to reforesting the African ecosystem. Personally, I’ve already absorbed 60kg of CO2 and might account for 200kg in a decade!
The Fincons Forest—my family—is big and varied. Together, all these trees form a large and biodiverse forest. I have brothers in Kenya, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Madagascar. Together, we’re helping restore the different ecosystems we live in by providing nutrients, protecting coasts, cleaning water, absorbing CO2, and offering shelter to the tickly little insects and animals that come to nest in our branches. Together we represent Fincons’ green sentinels and will contribute to clearing up 486,000kg of CO2 in a decade- that’s equivalent to the yearly emissions of 106 cars. As if this wasn’t enough, I am proud to contribute to economic development, bringing my farmer and his community food security as I stretch my little limbs further up each day.
I look forward to becoming a tall and reliable plant that my farmer can count on for abundant fruit and income. As I grow, I’ll also protect smaller sapling with my shade, and my fallen leaves will provide even more nutrients to the soil. Day by day, with the other plants in this little forest, we’re making a change that impacts local communities as well as the wider world—not bad for someone who started as a tiny seed!”
Discover more about the Fincons Forest on our Treedom page.