Tree planting is both an environmental and economic strategy for long-term community transformation. The Avraham Ben Avraham Foundation (ABAF) envisions a future where carefully selected economic tree plantations become a sustainable source of income for Jewish communities across Africa, while also contributing to climate resilience and land restoration.
Our focus is on planting economic trees whose seeds and fruits serve as raw materials for pharmaceutical, food, and industrial markets in Asia and Europe. This model presents a life-changing opportunity: if developed successfully at scale, it has the potential to lift entire Jewish communities out of poverty through long-term, renewable income streams.
In Akwa Ibom State, southern Nigeria, ABAF is in discussions with the Beth Ha’Arachman Jewish Community to establish a 20,000-tree plantation comprising: bitter kola, cocoa, coconut, and palm trees. This project is designed to combine food production, commercial value, and environmental protection in one integrated agricultural system. The community in Akwa Ibom already operate a palm oil mill where they process palm fruits from palm trees around their surrounding to produce red oil, which is an ingredient in making assorted type of soup and meal in the country. With this experience, it will enable operate a bigger red oil production if in the event the large plantation of 5 to 10k palm trees become feasible.
In Uganda, we are exploring the establishment of 20,000 bitter kola trees on Buvuma Island, creating a plantation that can support local livelihoods while strengthening ecological balance along Lake Victoria. If achieved, harvested bitter kola will be transported out of the island into waiting trucks returning to the sea port in Kenya’s Mombasa, making its way to Asia and European market for pharmaceutical companies.
In Kenya’s Rift Valley, ABAF is considering the development of a 100,000-tree forest project. This initiative is intended to support the fragile topography of the Rift Valley and aligns with Kenyan government efforts that promote tree planting and afforestation in this region. The project will contribute both to soil stabilization and would house a forest synagogue and guest house targeting Jewish tourists visiting Kenya for safari and sight seeing.
Through our network, ABAF remains open to collaboration with like-minded organizations, development partners, and investors who share our vision of tree planting as both: a tool for afforestation and environmental restoration, and instrument for community development.
As already stated, these plantations are designed not only for ecological benefit but also for commercial use. The seeds and fruits can be processed locally for consumption, sold in domestic markets, or exported to international markets where demand is high. Revenue generated from these trees can be reinvested into education, health, and local enterprise, creating a sustainable cycle of growth.
By combining environmental stewardship with economic opportunity, the Tree Planting program seeks to place Jewish communities on a clear path toward improved livelihoods, financial independence, and long-term resilience—turning land into legacy and trees into tools for lasting change.