  
The New Forests Project (NFP) was established in 1985 as an environmental and health program of the International Center, a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. The New Forest Project’s mission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the health of the Earth's ecosystems and the people depending on them by supporting integrated local efforts in agroforestry, reforestation, protection of watersheds, and water and sanitation
Through the World Seed Program, NFP distributes fast-growing, multi-purpose tree species and educational materials to those working on reforestation and/or agroforestry projects around the developing world. For over twenty five years NFP distributed its seeds in small quantities to all those who requested them such as farmers, local environmental organizations, women’s cooperatives and local municipal governments. This effort has supported over 4,500 projects in 120 countries, mainly in Africa and Latin America. Since 2008, due to increases in costs and restrictions of sending seeds, the World Seed Program decentralized its seed distribution and is currently sending seeds in larger quantities directly from its suppliers to in-country organizations who then re-distribute the seeds locally and provide assistance to local people. Additionally, the World Seed Program has established an initiative that provides small grants for training and financing different aspects of reforestation efforts.
Another focus of NFP has been on supporting clean water systems in Central America through the Clean Water Initiative, a program where ‘Circuit Riders’ -or water technicians- travel among small rural communities providing technical assistance and training on how to manage rural communities’ water systems. The essence of the project is to emphasize a community-oriented approach to water and sanitation in rural areas over the traditional focus of simply installing water system infrastructure. The ultimate goal of the program is to reduce the prevalence of water-borne diseases by creating effective water programs and building a network of regional organizations in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
For more information on the program you can visit its website: www.newforestsproject.org
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