Toute l'actualitéSince the beginning of the planting season, 160 416 plants were produced within local nurseries by NGO RENASCEDD, Reforest’Action’s technical partner on the field, based in Conakry. An encouraging number, considering the COVID-19 crisis that has been raging for more than a year. In spite of these exceptional conditions, the RENASCEDD teams rallied around planters and local communities, which allowed them to follow up the implementation of this ecosystem restoration approach on the 16 sites concerned. This project is supporting the creation and use of community forests in Guinea.
Nurseries managed by local communities
After a participatory diagnosis conducted within the prefectures of Boffa, Kindia, Forécariah, Mamou and Faranah by RENASCEDD among local populations in November 2020, the nurseries were set up by March 2021. The objective was to deploy reforestation work for the second consecutive year in the areas selected. “ 217,046 trees were produced in nurseries, explains Sekou Amadou Diakité, RENASCEDD coordinator. _A team of 45 people, made up of farmers and students, was set up to ensure the watering, maintenance and monitoring of the plants. For some, it was a temporary job, for others, a place of practical training that will serve as a support to write their thesis_”. A way to contribute to the formation of a generation of reforestation entrepreneurs in the field, that will restore forest ecosystems in the country.
A successful reforestation
Started in July 2021, the planting process was carried out until August 31 by farmers, women that are members of local communities and students from schools located nearby the project areas. In order not to take any risks in a context of COVID crisis, sanitary kits were distributed to planters. The planting sessions also served as a practical training course for about twenty students from Higher Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Valéry Giscard D'Estaing in Faranah.
Despite the rain that forced planters to interrupt the work for 10 days, the reforestation could finally be completed in time. To date, the planted trees are growing. Their maintenance is supervised by the RENASCEDD teams that ensure their resilience.
Benefits for the women of the local communities
The project, which aims to restore the area’s forest ecosystems will help improve the standard of living of the region's inhabitants. Indeed, this approach will help limit the effects of climate change on soils and agricultural crops, thus contributing to secure the populations’ food security.
In these rural areas, the deployment of such projects also has a direct impact on the daily lives of the most vulnerable populations. In Guinea, many women do not have access to professional activities that could help them develop technical skills and generate income : “ The majority of the temporary workers who helped deploy the project were women. In these rural areas, they usually have no income. The work has therefore contributed to their professional integration and, indirectly, to the improvement of their living conditions " explains Sekou Amadou Diakité.
Indeed, women are at the heart of the development of rural areas in Guinea, although many of them still suffer the full force of the effects of poverty.