Pacte écologique features LIFE

“LIFE: practical action for a greener future”. In this article, Pacte écologique shines a light on our environmental work through our SAPOUSSE programme.

Launched in 2017, SAPOUSSE reflects our commitment to restoring damaged ecosystems while creating economic opportunities for local communities. In just five years, it has enabled us to plant more than 457,000 trees around the world, including over 13,000 in Benin, 120,000 in Indonesia and 320,000 in Madagascar, absorbing more than 11,450 tonnes of CO2. These figures show the tangible impact our NGO is having in the fight against climate change.

What sets SAPOUSSE apart is its sustainable, inclusive and deeply human approach. We don’t simply plant trees: we carefully choose species that are perfectly suited to local conditions, so the forests are resilient and thrive for the long term. Our projects also have a social and economic dimension. By encouraging income-generating activities and bringing local communities on board, SAPOUSSE raises awareness of why restored ecosystems must be protected. Every tree planted becomes a symbol of hope, embodying communities’ commitment to a sustainable future. This model creates a virtuous circle: protecting resources improves quality of life and builds resilience to environmental challenges, while supporting biodiversity and the fight against poverty.

Pacte écologique also highlights our drive to develop agroforestry, a practice that combines farming with reforestation. Not only is the land restored, it also becomes more productive, bringing communities many benefits. Trees improve soil fertility, reduce erosion and give crops welcome shade. By providing habitats for wildlife, this method also fosters rich, varied biodiversity, while generating extra income from forest products such as fruit, nuts and timber. By bringing ecology and economics together, SAPOUSSE shows that protecting nature can go hand in hand with community development.

A striking example of this approach can be seen in Indonesia, on the island of Sumatra, where, working with local partners, we have helped with restoring mangrove ecosystems by planting 50,000 trees. These initiatives do more than restore biodiversity: they also encourage the creation of micro-businesses that turn mangrove resources into food and handicrafts, bringing shared, lasting prosperity.

LIFE also invests in training and raising awareness among local communities. We help them strengthen their skills in the sustainable management of natural resources. These initiatives enable people to become guardians of their environment, making informed decisions to protect it and building a future in which people and nature live in harmony.

Through SAPOUSSE, our NGO is proving that reforestation is far more than an environmental intervention: it is a real driver of positive change. By combining ecosystem restoration with better living conditions for local communities, we are showing that building a sustainable future, where humanity and nature thrive together, is not only possible but already under way.