The Role of Forests and Trees in Refugee Settings

Sketch of a Sociable Tree by Scarlett Towse

Forests have long been an essential resource for human societies, providing not only raw materials but also a source of sustenance and shelter. This relationship is particularly significant in humanitarian settings, where forests play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable populations such as refugees and impoverished communities.

A 2018 research study by the UNHCR revealed that up to 85% of refugees depend on forest products for various needs, highlighting the intricate connection between humans and forests in these critical environments.

With both the refugee and local communities utilising the local canopy, this can often cause tension between the communities over this (often already scarce) natural resource. This tension has been noted to affect women more than men, as women and girls are often sourcing wood-fuel on a regular basis for cooking. The scarcity and distance between the dwelling and the wood-fuel source having a direct correlation to female safety. Whilst our research team was investigating for our recent Air workshop, we found that the dependence of displaced communities on wood-fuel for cooking and heating not only impacted individuals safety but also the health of all concerned, as the constant inhalation of wood-fuel smoke has a negative impact on human health and life expectancy. Have a read of our research summary around Air pollution.

Humans’ relationship with trees and forests shouldn’t only be one sided. Alongside offering visible commodities in human communities, trees and forests also provide valuable ecosystem benefits such as shelter from strong wind and/or rain episodes, soil stability, assistance to soil health alongside providing fodder and shelter to the local fauna. Therefore exploiting trees, without any planting or protection for young shoots, only degrades the landscape and the environment of future generations. Refugee settlements are often perceived to be temporary with space and resources often the main factors. But these settlements/ communities often remain for 20 + years, which is more than enough to establish a good and productive tree canopy. ”Even if camps are politically controlled as temporary sites, we can still plant trees, encourage home-gardens and support small-scale food production which will preserve the natural resource base, because host communities [will] also benefit, particularly when the remnants of a long-gone refugee camp become agroforestry” (Transforming land, transforming lives, Adam-Bradford et al, 2016, p48).

The species and location of the planted trees are the cornerstone to the successful planting of a tree or forest grouping. But when considering trees for humanitarian purposes a third factor should be added: the role and purpose of the tree in the community. Whilst researching this blog I uncovered three main types of tree plantings in refugee settlements:

1. The social tree or trees: A tree or group of trees which is there to provide a visual and sheltering role in the community. “At home we have a large mango tree next to our homes under which we can sit up to 15 people,” said Keji Reida, a young refugee from Yei in South Sudan told Cathy Watson (Greening the Humanitarian Reponse, The Parlimentarian 2021-02).

   
   

2. Agroforestry: Planting a tree or rows of trees for productive uses - either for providing shelter to crops or for the production of wood through coppicing.

   
   

3. Shelterbelts: Providing a group of trees against negative visual or environmental factors.

Many of the studies highlight that refugees want trees for both shade/shelter as well as productive purposes. Therefore a mixed canopy should be planned for and implemented in future settlements, as is already being implemented by organisations, such as: Lemon Tree Trust, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, World Agroforestry. I’m sure others are out there too (if you know of any we’d love to know more) and Landscape Architects and nature-based professionals should be part of this conversation and be encouraging Aid organisations, governments and charities to consider trees as a vital part of refugee communities/settlements.

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 1. Please note this document has since been updated and the updated version can be accessed via the Lemon Tree Trust)