Understory Alliance

IN 2022, UNDERSTORY ALLIANCE ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGH ITS PROGRAM SERVICES. THE ORGANIZATION MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MALA LA'AU FOREST GARDENS. UNDERSTORY ALLIANCE SUCCESSFULLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT BY FOCUSING ON THESE CRITICAL AREAS. UNDERSTORY ALLIANCE ACTIVELY ADVANCED ITS MISSION OF CREATING SUSTAINABLE FOREST SYSTEMS BY ESTABLISHING MULTIPLE MALA LA'AU FOREST GARDENS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THESE POCKET SIZED FOREST NOT ONLY PROVIDE A DIVERSE RANGE OF NATIVE AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT PLANT SPECIES BUT ALSO OFFER ACCESSIBLE SPACES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CONNECT WITH NATURE AND LEARN ABOUT ECOLOGICAL PRACTICES. FURTHERMORE, UNDERSTORY ALLIANCE PLACED A STRONG EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION. THROUGH WORKSHOPS, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES, THE ORGANIZATION EMPOWERED INDIVIDUALS TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FOREST GARDENS. UNDERSTORY ALLIANCE ENABLED COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP BY FOSTERING A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING. THE PROGRAM ALSO ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES IN PROMOTING FOOD SECURITY AND BIODIVERSITY. UNDERSTORY ALLIANCE CONTRIBUTED TO LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION AND IMPROVED ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS AND CULTURALLY SUBSTANTIAL FOOD SOURCES BY INCORPORATING APPROPRIATE NONINVASIVE FOOD TREES INTO THE FOREST GARDENS. THE ORGANIZATION'S DEDICATION TO NATIVE PLANT SPECIES AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT PLANTS PRESERVED BIODIVERSITY AND HONORED THE RICH HERITAGE AND TRADITIONS OF THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVED. OVERALL, UNDERSTORY ALLIANCE'S PROGRAM SERVICES IN 2022 SUCCESSFULLY PROMOTED SUSTAINABILITY, COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, FOOD SECURITY, AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MALA LA'AU FOREST GARDENS. THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS REFLECT THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMITMENT TO CREATING POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS WHILE FOSTERING A DEEPER CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE AND NATURE.