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Water and Desertification |  |
"HOPE FOR THE SAHEL"
Project for planting trees in Burkina
Faso
The tree planting project named for the Sahel » aims at stopping
the progress of the desert in several provinces of Burkina Faso, at settling
the local populations on their living areas by allowing them to create
their own resources, and by providing them with a pleasant living environment.
1. FIGHTING AGAINST DESERTIFICATION
In Burkina Faso, the drought and the mismanagement of natural resources by man combined to bring about, more than four decade ago, what represents today one of the main environmental disasters in sub-Sahara Africa, that is, desertification.
Characterized by the barrenness of the soil and the loss of biological species, desertification has the following consequences:
- the loss of an important part of the ecological heritage
- the significant decrease of the agricultural production
- the increase of food insecurity
- the increase of the populations' poverty and misery
- the increase of rural exodus
- the break-up of families leaving their lands and the loss of cutural identity
In Burkina Faso, development is closely related to the fight against desertification. More than half of the national territory is already affected in a significant way by this disaster which is progressing.
Green Cross Burkina Faso, a member of Green Cross International since 1995, has launched a large scale programme for fighting against desertification. This project named for the Sahel » and implemented with the close collaboration of the local populations is clearly innovating.
The project will last 5 years and, besides tree
planting, includes the creation of nurseries of young plants, as well as
the following activities:
- tree planting by the populations concerned
- Information and dissemination of local populations of through complete
and adequate information
- the supervision of plants'growth
- the resort to solutions for a better use of fuelwood (fuel saving stoves)
and merely replacing it
What makes the project specific is the fact that it includes the creation of three nurseries for the production of plants, under the management of the populations themselves, the final users.
With the creation of those nurseries, the project aims at:
- making plants available in sufficient quantities
- producing common or uncommon trees species
So, each of the 3 provinces involved in the project ( the Comoé, Yatenga and Kadiogo provinces) will have its own nursery.
Those nurseries will also be used as nurseries », places where children will be trained to the techniques of plant production and tree planting. In this respect, the nurseries will be equipped in order to meet the objectives aimed at (amusement parks, botanical gardens, etc.).
The selected tree species vary according to the areas where they are planted. Therefore, certain species may not be selected either for the Comoé, Yatenga or Kadiogo. The selection of tree species is made in close collaboration with the local populations after a consultation process.
2. OBJECTIVES
The projet for the Sahel » aims at successfully carrying out all activities relating to afforestation in order to stop the progress of desertification in certain areas of Burkina Faso.
The project is clearly designed to be a continuation process and will last
5 years.
Concrete objectives aimed at:
- The planting of more than 370 000 trees of various species adapted to the differents regions, in protected as well as unprotected areas
- Information and dissemination of populations for a better maintenance
of plants and afforested areas and a better management of plant resources
- Supplying of wood as a renewable raw material for a long-lasting use
- The creation of supplementary income for the local populations through the production of Arabic gum as a raw material.
The production and selling of plants adapted to local conditions, the dissemination of the techniques and know-how acquired will enable the initiators of the project to generate substantial and long-lasting incomes.
The experience acquired during the 5 years of the project will be used as a basis for expanding it to other regions of Burkina Faso as well as other regions of Africa affected by desertification.
3. PARTNERS
Several national organizations of the Green Cross network have shown deep interest for the project for the Sahel » developed by Green Cross Burkina Faso. Other organizations, members of the network, are faced with the consequences of desertification in their own countries ; this is the case of Russia, Argentina, Bolivia, Swaziland.
The members of Green Cross Japan, much concerned with this desertification issue, have accepted to support financially the launching of the project of Green Cross Burkina Faso.
The Ministry of Environment of Burkina Faso actively supports the initiative. Mr. Diallo, Minister of Environment has signed in Tokyo in June 1997 a cooperation and support agreement with Green Cross Japan.
Green Cross Burkina Faso is seeking support from France which is very active in the field of the fight against désertification.
| Organization | Remarks |
| Green Cross Burkina Faso | Responsible for the project |
| Green Cross Japan | Active partner. Technical and financial assistance |
| Green Cross International | Technical and financial assistance, institutional supervision |
| Ministry of Environment of Burkina Faso | Support of the project at national and local level |
| Rural and urban associations of the Comoé, Kadiogo and Yatenga proivnces | Main actors of the project and supporting part of its execution cost |
We are also seeking financial support from the European Commission, the Republic and Canton of Geneva, Foundations acting in the field of Aid and Development, and other international institutions.
4. MANAGEMENT AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJET
The project for the Sahel » was launched in the summer of
1997 thanks to the financial support of Green Cross Japan and the special
efforts of the volunteeres of Green Cross Burkina Faso.
4.1. Project Manager
Mr. Ousséni Diallo, President of Green Cross Burkina Faso is responsible for the implementation of the project.
Mr. Bertrand Charrier, Director of Green Cross International is responsible for the international contacts and the research of international funding.
4.2. Structure of the project
Information and dissemination of the local populations in the provinces of Burkina Faso is a very important aspect of the project for the Sahel ». Through information and dissemination, the populations concerned are informed of the importance of tree planting as well as a better management of the existing resources.
These information and dissemination campaigns are conducted by teams of instructors in each area where the project is implemented. They lay emphasis on participatory methods which consist in getting populations involved in the conception and implementation of projects.
One of the most important aspects of the information and dissemination is the training of populations to the techniques of making fuel saving stoves. As a matter of f act, wood is the main source of energy in Burkina Faso ; the use of those special stoves is meant to reduce the consumption of wood.
In order to ensure the success of the project, a particular emphasis will be laid on the maintenance of plants and young trees. In this respect, wells equipped with motor-pumps will be built on each site of the project and will be used for the watering of plants during the dry season. The populations will be encouraged to make manure to be used fertilizer. The use of biological pesticides is being considered.
The follow-up of the evolution of the project will consist in regular visits by the instructors and associated experts of the nurseries and plantations in order to notice the progress of the work. The delegation will be accompanied on the field by representatives of the populatoins and associated partners.
The annual report addressed to donors will state the evolution of the project ; it will include a descriptive part relating to activities and a financial statement.
During the first year, the efforts are devoted to the creation of nurseries that will enable the development of the project. The planting of trees will be increased year after year.
4.3 Description of tasks for the first year
Creation of nurseries of young plants
Supplying of equipment
Acquisition of lands
Purchasing of plants
Tree planting
Supervision and maintenance
Tree planting
Launching of the activity
Transportation of plants
Acquisition of equipment
Maintenance and follow-up of plants
Digging of wells
Fitting out of wells
Irrigation equipment saving water
Visits of sites by professionals and experts
Information and disseminations
Hiring of instructors
Training of instructors
Acquisition of training material
Purchase of vehicles and other transportation means
Production of training material (leaflets, brochures, radio and TV programmes)
Meeting of experts and local populations trained by the instructors of Green Cross Burkina Faso
Launching of the information and dissemination campaigns
Coordination
Instruction and coordination of different teams
Local, national, regional and international contacts
Reinforcement of the office of Green Cross Burkina Faso
4.4 Programme for the 4 following years
After the first year, the programme of activities will be oriented towards the reinforcement of the nurseries and the development of plantations. The activities relating to a rational use of wood for cooking will be fully developed.