GREENING a Desert WITHOUT planting a single tree?

Witness how Tony Rinaudo uncovered a hidden forest beating beneath the cracked soil of the Sahel — and helped spark large-scale restoration without planting a single tree. This is the true story behind “The Underground Forest” and the power of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) to bring life back to degraded land.

Can dry, exhausted landscapes turn green again simply by changing how we prune? 🌳✨
In Niger, the secret was hiding in plain sight: what many people called “weeds” were often living tree stumps trying to return.

In Season 2, Episode 2 of Nature Made Me Curious, Savia guides you through the humility of observation — and the science behind regrowth.

In this episode, you’ll discover:
• Why traditional tree-planting often fails in harsh drylands
• The science behind the “Underground Forest” (roots, shoots & plant hormones like auxins)
• How FMNR — and Tanzania’s Kisiki Hai (“living stump”) — empowers local communities
• A simple Plantastic mini-challenge to rewild your own pots at home

Sometimes, nature doesn’t need us to build it. It just needs us to stop breaking it.

📌 Chapters
00:00 – Intro: The Forest Nobody Planted
01:35 – Tony Rinaudo’s Failure in the Sahel
03:35 – The “Aha!” Moment: It’s Not a Bush, It’s a Tree
04:33 – The Science (Roots, Shoots & Auxins 🔋)
05:32 – What is FMNR & Kisiki Hai?
07:24 – A Continental Impact
09:37 – Your Plantastic Challenge: The Art of “Not Doing”

📖 Sources & Inspiration
• Book: https://amzn.to/4b575uf

• FMNR Hub (World Vision): https://fmnrhub.com.au/

• Right Livelihood Award – Tony Rinaudo: https://rightlivelihood.org/laureates...

• Organisations mentioned: LEAD Foundation, Justdiggit

🔔 SUBSCRIBE and hit the bell for Season 2 — more true eco-stories coming soon!
👍 LIKE & SHARE if this episode restored your hope.
🌿 Explore more rewilding stories on our blog & newsletter:
https://www.plantastics.co.uk/
https://plantastics.kit.com/newsletter

📸 Follow Plantastics:
Instagram:   / _plantastics_  

Facebook:   / plantastics1316  

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@_plantastics_

TikTok:   / _plantastics_  

💬 Comment prompt:
Have you ever seen a “weed” that turned out to be something valuable? What’s the biggest challenge in your garden right now — and what would you rewild first?

Keep exploring, stay curious and remember: there is always more to learn in the green mysteries of our world.
I’m Savia. Plants have the answer. Find out how. 🌱

#FMNR #TonyRinaudo #TheUndergroundForest #NatureMadeMeCurious #Plantastics #Rewilding #KisikiHai #LandRestoration #Desertification #EcologicalRestoration #RegenerativeAgriculture