Fruitful 185,000 Trees Across Egypt: From Concrete to Harvest

Shagrha was founded in 2016 as a volunteer-led initiative rooted in a simple belief: everyone deserves access to nature and healthy environments. As active citizens facing the pressures of rapid urbanization and climate change, we set out to reconnect people with nature through tangible, community-driven solutions.

Egypt suffers from a severe green-space deficit—only 0.33 m² per capita in 2020, far below the WHO’s 9 m² recommendation. In Greater Cairo, tree cover is just 2–3%, intensifying heat islands, worsening air quality, and limiting access to healthy public spaces. Concrete landscapes have replaced ecosystems, disconnecting people from nature and local food sources.

Our model is community-led by design. Working with volunteers, schools, civil society, businesses, and public institutions, we plant fruit trees in streets and schoolyards—creating shared orchards that cool neighborhoods, absorb carbon, support biodiversity, and provide food people can care for and share.

Over a decade, Shagrha has grown from a grassroots movement into a nationally registered organization. Our impact: 750,000+ trees planted across 21 of Egypt’s 27 governorates, 1,100+ community activities, and 150+ partnerships advancing sustainability—sequestering 15,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually and building greener, healthier, more resilient communities.