Since its inception in 1999, over 40,000 participants organised into over 5,600 TIST Small Groups have planted over six million trees in Tanzania, India, Kenya, and Uganda - accomplishing GHG sequestration through tree planting, creating a potential long-term income stream, and developing sustainable environments and livelihoods. Replication of TIST in India began in June 2002.

Currently over 5,000 TIST participants in over 800 Small Groups are registered in the TIST program in Northern Tamil Nadu, India and are working to break their local cycle of deforestation, drought and famine. The trees are already beginning to reduce erosion, stabilize and enrich the soil, and will soon be providing shade. In the future, they will provide other benefits, including edible fruits and nuts, medicines, windbreaks, firewood and timber.