Remember the acronym FMNR. It stands for Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration. It is changing the landscape of Africa, one country at a time.

The brainchild of this simple farming technique is Tony Rinaudo. He is a man who has devoted his entire adult life to helping those living in poverty grow enough food to feed themselves.

Back in 1980, Tony discovered almost by accident that in the barren desert wasteland that is Niger there are actually underground forests. By that, I mean the root systems that remain of trees cut down for firewood, building or farm clearing.

A very simple, cost-effective knife is the only tool needed to prune that sprout to get the tree growing again. When the trees grow—and in Niger we have seen half a million acres regrow from these underground forests—not only do you get organic material again, but the river systems, biodiversity, and fruit trees bounce back to life.

As with anything in life that is really worth doing, the process did not start easily for Tony.

Just before he first discovered FMNR, and feeling the despair that you see expressed in many of the Psalms, he asked God why he had been sent to this terrible place.

As he prayed and as he worked, and as God revealed ways of restoring the land, Tony realised that something was happening which was far beyond just physical restoration. He found that restoring creation is a spiritual experience and is just as much a part of the mandate of the Christian as preaching the gospel.

Tony says that one of the verses that encouraged him when he was in Niger was 2 Peter 1:3: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.”

Looking at the desolation, chronic hunger, and poverty in Niger at the time, Tony remembers asking, “Is that true Lord? Do you really grant us all that we need for life? Even here in Niger, Lord, in the desert?” The answer Tony felt in his heart was, “Yes, even here, I grant all things necessary”.

Featured image: sxc.hu/ghostlee