\n\n“The year: 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The problem: Mexico needs trees!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The solution: the Sowing Life project<\/a>, a $3.4 billion program that pays farmers to plant fruit and timber trees on barren land. Not only will this help spruce up the environment, but it will fight poverty and inequality by paying the farmers to maintain the new trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sounds like a great idea, with the best of intentions. What could possibly go wrong?<\/p>\n\n\n\n It turns out poor farmers need money. And since standing trees didn’t qualify for the program, the system incentivized farmers to cut down mature trees<\/a> to make way for new ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In one village, two-thirds of the program’s participants cut down forests<\/a> to get that cash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One study<\/a> found the program caused the deforestation of more than 280 square miles.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n