Forest Landscape Restoration and improved natural resource management of the Mogazang Community

An initial meeting between the traditional and religious authorities of Mogazang was held to gather all useful information and raise awareness among the population. As a next step, a socio-economic study was carried out in order to understand the potential social, economic and environmental impacts and challenges of the restoration initiative. The elaboration of a map by the community members under the guidance of the advisory team allowed the demarcation of a plot of degraded land (10.74 ha) for restoration. The reforestation initiative aimed at providing firewood, fodder, food products and medicinal plants, among others. The government owns the selected plot, under the supervision of the Executive Bureau for Development of the village. However, it is managed ‘by the people, for the people’.

Community members and experts developed a topographic map of the selected plot showing the different soil types and adapted local plant and tree species. Two main soil types have been identified:

• The soils of the mountainsides: stony surfaces; horizon 1 (0 to 20 cm) is silty sandy with a mixture of stony grains; horizon 2 (20 to 40 cm) is dominated by large stones and a small proportion of soil and horizon 3: (40 to more) was not accessible. For this soil type, the appropriate species are: Acacia (Acacia nilotica, Acacia Sieberiana, Acacia seyal), Neem Azadirachta indica, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana), River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis).
• The site bed is dominated by vertisols (i.e. soils with a high content of expansive clay minerals) with local withdrawal slots: horizon 1 (0 to 40 cm) composed of silt and clay and horizon 2 (40 to more) a mixture of silt, clay and stony grains. Suitable species include: Khaya (Khaya senegalensis), Cassia (Cassia siamea), African black plum (Vitex doniana), River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camadulensis), Winter thorn (Faidherbia albida), Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) and other fruit trees.

Depending on these different soil types, a mini-zoning allowed to delimit 11 blocks occupied by eight selected species.

The community tested various techniques to fend off stray livestock following the planting period. These included protecting the area with a dead hedge made of thorny branches, with pink morning glory (Ipomea carnea) woven rods supported by poles and with iron wire from the carbonization of worn car wheels. These efforts were, however, without much success. In addition, following the long dry season and the low rainfall in the region in 2017, the community’s water source dried up and the plants withered. The idea of collecting water with empty cans at the community’s water borehole (~ 3 km) was not feasible due to the lack of financial resources.

However, another system through drip irrigation devices made of used bottles collected in the city was also used. Drip irrigation devices were attached to the foot of seedling. The water was then drawn from barrels and stored on site. This system permitted the seedlings to be watered three times a week allowing nearly 40% of the wilted plants to grow again. The construction of a permanent plant nursery with an onsite water borehole has been as well finalised.

The lack of fire and construction wood is a major challenge for the beneficiaries of the initiative. Therefore, we put into practice a holistic and inclusive approach:

• Strengthening the beneficiaries’ capacities for setting up and managing a social community space, taking into account the necessary resources

• The collection and processing of NTFPs from the restored plot, such as Neem seeds for oil production (income-generating activities)
• Gender mainstreaming: construction of improved stoves that is carried out by two Trainers Coordinators: Woman/Man who supervises the activities, who will in turn train Relay Trainers in the target villages  in construction, awareness and means of popularization of improved stoves and aware of the problem of wood energy. TwoTypes of improved stoves were used: "foyers améliorés 3 pierres", "foyers améliorés Bill-Bill". They increased their source of income, reduced the use of firewoods.
• While the recently planted trees and plants are still growing, 35 women have received training to build improved stoves using clay and straw which are raw materials found in nature (zero cost). This improves the living conditions of the population and reduces the pressure on the remaining natural resources.