There were few cash-paying jobs on Padaido Island prior to the planting project.  55 people are now employed as planters and 'forest guards'.

This steady income helps to lift 55 families out of poverty and the bottom 40% of income levels in Indonesia.

Before this project started, villagers relied primarily on subsistence food sources. These can be unreliable and are threatened by natural disasters and climate change.

The community now the ability to purchase a more diverse food supply, including yams, sweet potatoes, taro, green vegetables, fruit, to supplement what they can grow or catch.

There is no national health coverage in the region; medical services are paid for in cash.

Families are now able to purchase medicine and visit medical professionals, which improves quality of life and can save lives. Just like local tree planter, David Sawek and his family. (Read David's story)

Consistent education is a challenge on the remote islands of the Biak region.

Long term employment enables families to make longer term investments into their children's education, including school fees, textbooks, and uniforms.

Gender equality is often heightened in communities where access to resources, wealth and education is limited. 

This project hires a minimum of 50% women for all planting jobs and female workers are often placed in managerial positions.

Fresh water is a significant challenge on remote islands, where groundwater supplies do not exist.

Cash income allows the purchase of rainwater catchment barrels for households. This is a critical source of fresh water for the families on the island.

Decent work means opportunities for everyone to get work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace, social protection for families, and better prospects for personal development and social integration.

This project ensures that men and women employees receive equal pay for the same work. People with disabilities are hired where possible.

Inequality within and among countries is a persistent cause for concern. Padaido Island is a very remote corner of Indonesia and populated by ethnic minorities.

Tree planting jobs lift employees out of the bottom 40% of income for the country of Indonesia.

Climate change is a global issues that threatens all societies. Carbon sequestration in blue carbon ecosystems is one of the most effective methods to fight climate change.

At the SeaTrees site on Padaido Island, 225,000 mangroves trees are planted each year. This will sequester 70,000 tons of CO2 over the 25-yr lifetime of the trees.

The majority of the mangrove forests on Padaido Island were wiped out by a tsunami in 1996. This affects coastal ecosystems because reefs are much healthier with a nearby mangrove forest, which serves as critical nursery grounds for fish, shellfish, turtles, and birds.

The restoration of the mangrove forest on Padaido Island is expected to have significant benefits for the local ocean ecosystems.

Mangrove forest restoration is critical in an area where 75% of the mangrove forests are degraded. Local villagers become the first line of defense for the restored forests.

Over a span of two years, 600,000 new mangrove trees will be planted on Padaido Island. As the mangrove forest matures, fruit and nut trees will be planted to further diversify the ecosystem and provide food for both humans and animals.