The old trope that we can either have economic development or environmental protection has been pretty much blown out of the water by this point.

Indeed, from the devastating costs of environmental damage in China to the rising death toll of climate change, it's increasingly clear that we will never have long-term economic prosperity unless we learn to manage the resources we rely on for survival.

Nowhere is this more true than the dry lands of Africa, where desertification, resource depletion, climate disruption and political unrest have all taken their toll on communities' ability to survive and thrive. There is, however, plenty to be hopeful about too.

From successfully "regreening" the landscapes of Ethiopia to a one-man mission to protect the soils of the Sahel, there are many success stories that show how stopping and reversing environmental damage can not only result in ecological improvements, but can help advance economic and community development goals too.

Tree Aid, a charity which works with villagers living in the drylands of Africa, has long been at the forefront of this fight. By working cooperatively with villagers and on-the-ground non-profit partners in Africa, the charity doesn't just plant trees, but rather increases villagers' capacity to protect, nurture and utilize trees to protect their soils, increase agricultural yields, and provide a buffer against the drought, floods and failed crops that are predicted to get ever more common with the advance of climate change.

A new free report from the charity, entitled Building Resilience to Climate Shocks, the charity is seeking to spread the word about how trees can be used to both alleviate poverty and protect the environment at the same time. Here are some key takeaways:

Planting trees is not enough

Previous tree planting efforts in the drylands have often failed because they've either focused on the wrong species of trees, or they have failed to take into account the needs, resources and skills of the local population. By working with villagers to both get input on their real-world needs, and to also provide training and resources on how to propagate, nurture and manage their tree resources, Tree Aid is investing in the long-term resilience of the communities it works with.