The village of Jimilimé, north of the island of Anjouan (Ndzuani), was opened up in 2009 by a road connecting it with the village of Bambao Mtsanga. The municipality has unfortunately not been able to escape the phenomenon of excessive deforestation of natural environments.
This phenomenon is also explained by intensification of unsustainable agricultural activities such as cutting wood for the distillation market. The village currently has more than 20 functional stills. At the entrance to the village, you can observe degraded soils lacking tree cover. This observation is alarming for residents.
Reforestation campaigns led by the NGO Dahari Comoros
Since 2018, Dahari Comoros has collaborated with Initiative Développement to support the development of responsible reforestation project to meet the growing need for wood. This initiative also makes it possible to regenerate the soil to have more arable land. It is indeed necessary to find sustainable solutions while setting up reasoned management of natural resources.
These reforestation campaigns are based on a holistic approach through the implementation of rehabilitation tests on degraded land with around ten farmers. Every year, 30 trees are planted and followed into the village.
Since 2015, the management of reforestation campaign actions by Dahari enroll yourself in an environmental preservation policy : natural water resources in Jimilimé and the watersheds of the Moya forest. These actions also make it possible to fight against erosion and climate change with the support of communities. These actions also contribute to the efforts of conservation of important areas for the biodiversity like the dormitories of bat Livingstone, a species threatened with extinction.
In all villages, it also allows farmers and groups supported by Dahari Comoros to train in agroforestry and planting trees on their plots. These practices generate products as diverse as they are useful (fodder, medicines, etc.) while benefiting ecosystems (fertilization, protection of natural water resources, etc.).
The youth of Jimilimé are also committed to the environment and biodiversity through these reforestation campaigns.
After obtaining his degree at the University of the Comoros (Patsy site in Anjouan), Moumine, a 33-year-old Comorian, returns to his native village to work the land. According to him, the country's unemployment rate is high and it is difficult to access public service positions. He therefore took a plot of approximately three hectares belonging to his mother to start your agricultural projects. His family members told him that “ this land is no longer land, you must not waste your time.”
After a visit with company of technicians by Dahari, he shares his memories of this plot which was wooded with forest species and fast growing. This plot of land, formerly used for the production of food crops, is now difficult to exploit.
Moumine agreed to be one of the first volunteers to get involved in the degraded land rehabilitation project. He single-handedly planted 600 trees between 2018 and 2020. Among them, we find grevillea, gliricidia, fir, rain tree as well as casuarina and blackwood. These are fast-growing species for soil preservation. This first experience with Moumine allowed Dahari to optimize the management of reforestation thanks to the adaptation of these trees to the area.
These plantations are the subject of monitoring work since the launch of the project. The survival rate of trees is around 80%: a particularly appreciable result. Monitoring over several years will confirm the initial results of the rehabilitation of degraded land. Moumine is committed to offering the best of himself so that his plot is a model for other farmers in the village. Throughout the seasons, he hopes that this news motivates them to rehabilitate other hectares of degraded and abandoned land.
Do not hesitate to consult our blog posts for more information on the importance of biodiversity in the Comoros!
