About Forest Focus
Who We Are
Forest Focus is dedicated to rebuilding and reforming diverse forest ecosystems, from agroforests and forest gardens to natural forests. We believe humanity thrives when forests are well-managed and protected. Our mission is to ensure the sustainable stewardship of these vital resources.
Recognizing that natural resources are essential to all communities, we address the degradation of forestry ecosystems that contribute to global socioeconomic challenges. We plant multipurpose, eco-friendly trees that provide rapid economic and ecological benefits to communities.
Our Initiatives
Biodiversity Restoration
We promote the restoration of lost biodiversity and stabilize species populations in endangered forests.
Education Funding
We allocate resources to help young girls and disadvantaged individuals access education.
Soil Revitalization
We use traditional soil revitalization techniques to restore land fertility.
Employment Opportunities
We create jobs for youths and women, empowering them with sustainable livelihoods.
Vision
To foster communities with healthy environmental surroundings for sustainable development.
Mission
Our primary challenge is resolving extreme poverty in rural villages, which contributes to biodiversity loss. We introduce sustainable alternatives to reduce poverty and overdependence on natural forestry.
By planting agroforestry species, including nutritious and marketable nuts, fruits, and spice trees, we provide food and income, addressing both environmental and economic needs. These trees are planted for free on individual peasant land plots, reducing fire risks and encroachment on natural forests.
About The Founder
Born and raised in the tranquil village of Korogwe, Khalifa Mganga’s childhood was a love letter to nature. His world was painted in the emerald greens of the forest, the golden hues of darting goldfinches, and the shimmering blues of the river where he spent endless days swimming. At the heart of his village stood the ancient Mvule tree (Milicia excelsa) —a silent guardian, its sprawling branches a sanctuary for whispered stories, laughter, and the rhythm of life itself. Under its shade, weddings were blessed, disputes were settled, and generations found solace in its enduring presence.
But years later, when Khalifa returned home, the world he had cherished was unrecognizable. The mighty Mvule had been cut down—sold to fund school desks, its absence leaving a gaping wound in the heart of the village. The river, once alive with playful splashes, had withered to cracked earth. The songs of goldfinches had faded into silence, their delicate homes lost to deforestation. It was a homecoming laced with grief—a realization that the magic of his childhood was slipping away, and if nothing changed, the children of Koroboetanga would never know the beauty he once took for granted.
That heartbreak became his purpose.
Determined to heal the land and honor the spirit of his ancestors, Khalifa founded Forest Focus, a movement dedicated to restoring forests, protecting biodiversity, and empowering communities. But for Khalifa, it was never just about planting trees—it was about restoring belonging, rekindling lost traditions, and ensuring that no child grows up without a connection to the land that once embraced him.
Through Forest Focus, he has set out on an audacious mission: to plant 12 million trees by 2030 and spark a movement of collective action. His journey is a testament to love, loss, and the unwavering hope that if we fight for nature, it will find its way back to us.