Closure of the Félix agroforestry project: mixed results and a new support opportunity

Pyrénées-Atlantiques region of France, February 2025

Thank you for supporting Félix’s agroforestry project in the Pyrénées Atlantiques. Your contribution has led to 1,510 trees being planted on his farm to create a  sustainable agroforestry system that benefits both the cow herd and the environment.

Despite Félix’s commitment and efforts, the project was unable to achieve all its goals. Tree growth was impacted by technical challenges, including inadequete protection from trampling by cattle, hydromorphic (water saturation of soils) issues on some plots, and difficulties in managing overgrown planting areas. These difficulties have been exacerbated by a lack of work on the ground, partly due to Félix’s involvement in promoting agroecology throughout the region. To date, around 70% of the plantations have survived.

However, these challenges have not dampened his determination. Indeed, Félix has continued his efforts by planting a further 600 metres of biodiversity hedges and transforming his farm into an agroforestry learning centre.

To date, €2,694.99 remains outstanding from the initial budget. Since the project is now closed, we propose to reallocate these funds to a project in Brittany that shares the same values and objectives as Félix: the ‘Agroforestry and animal welfare in Brittany’ project. Just like for Félix,, this new project aims to introduce trees to grazed meadows to create a sustainable agroforestry system. Transforming 30 hectares of grassland by planting 1,869 trees of 28 different species, will deliver the following benefits:

• improve the well-being of the cowsby providing areas of shade and a favourable microclimate, just as Félix sought to do for his herd;
• regenerate the soil and boost the meadow productivity by improving water infiltration, protecting the grass from drying out, and enriching underground biodiversity;
• store carbon, while diversifying production thanks to the different species planted;
• create a resilient environment in the face of climatic challenges, while diversifying the farming income, an objective dear to Félix in the Pyrénées Atlantiques.

By reallocating the remaining funds to this project in Brittany, you will be maintaining your initial commitment to agroforestry and animal welfare, with the guarantee of supporting a project that offers sustainable solutions for agriculture and the environment. If you would like your donation to be redirected to another project currently being financed, please let us know by mail before 31 March 2025: contact@atreeforyou.org.

Once again, all our thanks for your generosity and for supporting projects that are shaping farming of tomorrow. Together let’s continue planting trees for a more sustainable future.