Trees

One of the environmental challenges here is the deforestation of the region for sugar cane production and other agriculture. At a local landfill, they have an innovative program planting a buffer of native trees around the landfill. Rather than just hire some random group to do it, they encourage local residents to grow trees from seeds and plant them in the area. These "tree-preneurs" are paid in goods and services, like housing material and schooling, rather than cash. This seems to work well- the woman here has 1000 trees ready for planting, which will give her 5000 rand (look up the exchange rate) to use for bricks or books. A good deal for all.