PSDI understands that without taking care of the environment, poverty will continue to plague all societies. One of the great challenges in the developing world is water – too much and too little. When the monsoons come to Bangladesh, they can be a mixed blessing. They must provide the necessary water to grow plentiful crops and provide for the needs of the people for an entire year, and yet, too much water washes away not only the crops, but homes, roads and infrastructure. It is a delicate balance.

The monsoons can wash away roads and destroy bridges keeping the poor isolated and unable to get to their jobs or markets. The loss of homes and crops leave many without shelter or income. To counteract the annual threat of flooding, a partnership was entered into with local government leaders to lease strips of land on either side of the roadways to plant trees, such as mahogany, timber and mulberry saplings, to reinforce the roadbeds and diminish erosion. Eight hundred and thirty kilometers (498 miles) of roadway have been planted on both sides by poor partner families. Fifteen families per kilometer, mostly elderly, disabled or infirm members watch over and nurture the young trees for the first three years of their growth. For this they are paid a small wage. The leaves from the mulberry trees feed the silk worms that are the beginning of a silk industry. As the trees mature and are pruned, the families receive 60% from the sale of the wood, the government receives 20% for the lease and the remaining 20% is used to purchase more young trees to grow the program. Nothing is wasted. To date 12,450 families have benefited from the program.


Donation Needed:

Planting 1,000 trees along 1 km of roadside                         $180.00

Annual salary for 1 caretaker per km                                      $257.00