WHO WE ARE ?
Can food-forest be a game changer?
Aron Katosho, born and raised in Itaba village, Tanzania, witnessed the struggles of deforestation and poverty in his community. He founded a printing company funded by the prime minister’s office under the YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND, creating employment opportunities for youth in Morogoro, Tanzania. He then returned to Sokoine University of Agriculture to complete his BSc in Forestry.
In 2020, Aron had the idea to domesticate Anisophyllea boehmii, a native tree valued by local communities in Kigoma, Tanzania, for its edible fruits, juice, jam, and nuts. The tree’s wood ashes are also used as grain pesticides. However, a knowledge gap between researchers and communities hindered its planting. Aron saw that many scientific findings remained in academic journals and didn’t reach the local communities.
In 2021, Aron’s research project focused on this tree, assessing community needs and the challenges of deforestation. He discovered the critical role of Anisophyllea boehmii and the community’s reliance on its resources. This research inspired him to act. In March 2022, Aron presented the problem to 60 forestry students at Sokoine University of Agriculture, sparking a movement. Twenty-five students joined him, along with committed staff member Mr. Patrick Cyprian for Research and Innovation.
The group, named Dreamnature, officially registered as an NGO in April 2022. We started actively disseminating the concept of native tree domestication, gathering insights and feedback from the public to ensure their initiative addressed community problems effectively.
About Aron Katosho
Dreamnature’s president, graduated in Forestry, has exiperience training hundreds farmers and worked in sustainable syntropic agroforestry. He attended various certified short courses training on nature-based solutions, organic regenerative farming, Training of Trainers (ToT), Esri GIS and remote sensing software for data analysis.
He is currently participating in the Hero TREE program, that plants trees in agroforestry systems in Ulugulu mountains. As part of the program, Aron coordinates and implements tree planting and runs community workshops to teach farmers and stakeholders the principles of syntropic agroforestry and carries out research to establish best practices for adapting agroforestry to Tanzania’s local environment. Syntropic agroforestry offers the most advanced solutions to climate change, thanks to its principles of maximization of photosynthesis and stratification it turns the problem of climate change into a practical solution for high food production.
He spoke at public events to inspire youth on personal and professional development and participated in the formulation of Tanzania’s national youth development policy of 2024.
About Asmin Kitukulu
CEO, holds a degree in Agricultural Economics and Technology. She is currently undergoing training with OIKOS EAST AFRICA, an Italian NGO, where she is enhancing her expertise in community project management, resource allocation, and governance. Prior to this, Asmin contributed to the FAIR CARBON FOR US program of the NGO Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT).
Our mission:
To unlock the potentials of native trees in sustainable development, ensuring community involvement, conducting applied research and growing native trees in agroforestry systems.
Our vision:
Our vision is to see a world where native trees play a central role in sustainable development
incorporated in agroforestry systems fostering regenerative economy.
Theory of change:
Dreamnature believe that healthy forests are essential partner earthling for human well-being and natural diversity, by domesticating native trees at the edge of threatened ecosystems and promoting sustainable practices creates a harmony of life for both people and nature.
OUR TEAM
OUR ADVISORS
OUR MENTORS
