Sahel Restoration Programme
Waste land turns into forest - natural regeneration of village forests in rural West Africa - Burkina Faso and Benin.
A hundred years ago, the Sahel was covered with a lush and bushy savanna. The widespread use of bushfire to make place for cotton and peanut plantations has devastated the ground. It still rains enough for the indigenous plants to survive, 600 mm yearly, and buried in the soil, numerous seeds and roots are hoping for better days.
Through a programme called newTree (ERS partner), waste land is fenced by village populations in order to protect naturally growing trees from domestic animals. After 5 years we are already seeing results and a forest with high biodiversity is being developed. The soil is fertile again, allowing agro-forestry to take place. Rainwater infiltrates into groundwater instead of flowing away and eroding even more.
Nature alone is able to perform this miracle, for dried up soil contains all it needs. The problem in this area of western Africa are the free roaming goats - they eat the young plants, so what is needed is sturdy metallic fences which then allows the area to regenerate by itself.
Project partner newTree is providing technical advice and the raw materials for metal fences. The concerned population decide what area (1 ha each) should be protected, construct the fence themselves manually, are responsible for custody and finally benefits from the tree products: nuts, fruit, dead wood, leaves for fodder etc. Usually no trees are planted and irrigation is not needed.
A yearly inventory is made, guided by the newTree technicians. This measures the increase of wood, absorption of CO2 and the diversity of species.
The approach is in three steps:
- Community involvement – local inhabitants determine where reforestation is to be implemented and what area should be protected.
- Indigenous trees, high biodiversity – there is no need for irrigation, which would be technically difficult and expensive – no need for fertilizers – no monoculture.
- Appropriate technology is used, the aim being a minimum of assistance from the outside.
The budget:
CHF 43,000.-- for fence-material (17,950 GBP)
CHF 80,000.-- personal costs in Burkina Faso incl. salary. (33,391 GBP)
CHF 14,000.-- for monitoring, sensibilisation (5,843 GBP)
and CHF 40,000.-- further costs in Burkina for example administration, house-rental, water, energy and vehicle (16,690 GBP)
CHF 37,000.-- for administration, fundraising, print-material and salary (15,438 GBP)
Total: 214,000 CHF - (89,302 GBP)
Please support this programme by sending donations to:
Earth Restoration Account:
Earth Restoration Service
20 – 78 – 98
20521957
Barclays Bank
27 Soho Square
London, W1D 3QR
Address:
Earth Restoration Service
PO Box 61737
Dorland House
London
SW1Y 4UX
England
Tel: 05601 981115 from UK +44 5601 981115 from abroad
