Reforestation of cities for the good breathing of our childr

The world is facing a looming crisis due to environmental changes and global warming at an alarming level. Due to deforestation, hundreds of trees have been damaged or burned. The reduction of many forests around the world has seriously damaged biodiversity. The animals that lived in these forests are forced to leave them due to their destruction. They find a new place to live, which disrupts the natural environment of the animals. All habitats need a specific environment and conditions to live. Deforestation has had a considerable impact on biodiversity. The importance of reforestation cannot be overlooked to save biodiversity and animals living in their proper environment. Restoring forests by planting new trees in place of old ones would compensate for the losses suffered by nature.

• From strictly sectoral and centered exclusively on community reforestation at the start, the project gradually evolved towards a more integrated approach, taking into account the concerns of the populations and the need to better situate reforestation actions in a context of development and land management. To do this, he first developed the principles of the participatory approach, then of the local approach, considering the populations as the main players in local development.

• The implementation of the participatory approach, from the third phase, made it possible to establish a real partnership between the project and the populations and to involve all the partners and grassroots structures in taking responsible for and monitoring reforestation actions. As such, the Rural Councils will be considered as privileged partners, in particular because they have their own budget at the level of each rural community and authority in terms of land management.

• One of the great successes of the project is precisely to involve local elected officials (rural councillors) in the financial management of part of the seedlings produced in the community nurseries. One of the examples of this partnership is given by the purchase/sale contract, co-signed by each President of the Rural Council. This binds the Rural Council to the nurserymen for the purchase of the plants, and this, up to 10% of the budget of the Rural Community, the price of the seedlings will be fixed from the agreed price. 

• Strengthen the partnership established between the Forest Service, the Rural Councils and the populations on the basis of collaboration protocols clearly setting out the responsibilities and commitments of each party. Extend this collaboration to the regional institutions set up from 2022, such as the Regional Councils.

• Empower civil society in the coordination of all activities supported until the end of the project and define the coordination and collaboration links between the forest sectors concerned.

• Consolidate activities as needed and monitor all activities carried out under the project, in consultation with the rural and urban structures put in place.

• Support the implementation of a nursery bank and the establishment of management committees at the village level and gradually expand to the rest of the country.

• Develop a multi-year work program to ensure the monitoring and supervision of the various activities in consultation with the Departmental Agreements, the Nursery Association and the Coordination Committee. Provide this program with adequate resources in the budget and release the means necessary (staff, logistical means: vehicles, fuel and others). Review this program annually on the basis of a review/evaluation.

• Capitalize on the experience and the various technical and methodological achievements in the form of a publication, as requested by the financial backer, and ensure wide dissemination.

• Support the Departmental Agreements, and the Coordinating Committee in the development of annual activity programs, in the establishment of a monitoring/evaluation system and in the organization of joint tours in the field.

• Update, as quickly as possible, the protocols signed with the MFIs, Banks and CECs in order to make them operational, in consultation with the Coordination Committee, and taking into account the recommendations of the days of reflection on the post- project.

• Standardize the names of the various funds gradually set up (working fund, self-promotion fund, reforestation fund, forest promotion fund, development fund, etc.). and clearly define the management methods and the distribution key, including for the development fund and the self-promotion fund.

• Strengthen the mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the allocation and management of funds and ensuring compliance with the clauses and the commitment of those responsible, particularly with regard to the continuation of reforestation and environmental restoration actions. This monitoring and evaluation must be carried out by the Forest Service, in partnership with the Departmental Agreements, the Nursery Association and the Coordination Committee.

• Teach and inculcate (Schools, Families, Associations) the notions relating to climate protection and its vital importance.

An innovative idea to create green spaces

For the famous Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, most of the current forests in Japan result from a need for forestry. This specialist in plant ecology has thus developed the “Miyawaki method”, which is a pioneer in the field.

This innovative technique consists of restoring an indigenous forest on extremely degraded soils, including in urban areas. Thus, his method consists in using, both horizontally and vertically, the available space. The goal is to be able to grow forests in several “layers” in restricted areas.

Some successful examples of green urban development. This solution will serve a population estimated at more than 400,000.00 

• Commitment: 10 days, ie 1 day per department; support: meeting-debate. These sessions will be filmed since.

• Management and exploitation of community woods: day; support: meeting-debate.

• Desertification / role of the tree: several sessions; medium: slide show.

• Rural radio: Broadcast programs and reports produced in collaboration with radio and television media on technical topics such as: agroforestry; role of the relay farmer; reforestation; energy saving; logging; regeneration of saline lands; withdrawal from the project.

• Revitalization of forest management committees.

Environmental protection is a matter of life, our work within the community is focused on social projects of sustainable development. We support a vital project for the next generations, not only to educate our children, but to ensure that we leave a better world, a healthy climate, a clean environment, to reduce the risk of disease.