By Katrien Delaet | Chief Operations Officer
Breaking the vicious circle of environmental degradation and poverty by community mobilization and tree planting in Central Ethiopia, Amhara
In Amhara region, Machakel, farmers have been cutting trees on their lands for decades and converting forest to agriculture and grazing land, in search to increase their income and access to food. Today, this results in large areas with monocultures and almost no forest remaining. These open landscapes are so vulnerable for drought, gully formation and climate change, that the search for an increase in income in many occasions results in hunger and poverty.
To reverse this vicious circle of environmental degradation and poverty we tackle the problem at the root, and mobilize farmers to become part of the solution of land restoration and environmental protection while moving towards sustainable livelihoods and increase food security.
In the last 4 months, village committees of our participating villages are established. Their task is to mobilize their village members and tailor the project according to the needs of the village. The committees meet on monthly basis and discuss closely with villagers, our project team and government representatives. With participatory techniques we ensure that farmers are part of the solution and villages are empowered to take ownership of their natural resources. This approach will ensure the long term success of the project.
Laydamot, Ebmuilt Tesas Dar, Amari Webesh and Debre Kelelemu villagers are mobilized. They have been preparing in total 14 sites were trees will be planted in the upcoming rainy season this summer. Farmers fenced the sites to prevent the areas from free grazing, built physical structures to prevent erosion and they also digged planting pits. The sites are now ready for planting when the first rains are being expected in the summer period. All these efforts are contributions from the villagers and executed with free labour.
Additionally 329 model farmers are identified. Agro-forestry plantations will be established on their farmland combining fruit trees (coffee, avocado, apple and papaya) with agriculture. The set-up of such resilient perennial agroforestry systems is a radical change compared to the traditional annual monoculture systems. The selected farmers will serve as “model farmers” where neighbour farmers can visit their agroforestry plots, discuss with each farmer and learn and experience the advantages of these diverse agroforestry systems that can provide food the whole year long.
By Hannah Kirkland | Global Giving Head of Partnerships
By Jeannette van Bodegraven | GlobalGiving Head of Partnership
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