Since July 2021, Dahari has been working with the Comoros National Parks Agency to intensify Comoros' biodiversity conservation efforts. In their efforts to harmonize the actions of the two institutions, Dahari is committed to training the park's eco-guards on its reforestation approach. With the support of specialists from the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) based in Nairobi, we developed the approach based on the local knowledge of Anjouan farmers and the scientific knowledge available on trees. From 2022 to 2023, the Australian Embassy finances these training courses as well as the 2022 reforestation campaign.

What you need to know about the reforestation approach promoted by Dahari

Dahari's reforestation approach is participatory and community-based. Since 2017, Dahari has pioneered its reforestation approach by working with farmers to commonly establish a list of tree species to plant that will benefit individuals and the environment.

To pre-select and validate the tree species to put in the nurseries, Dahari organizes participatory selection workshops with farmers from the different villages in the reforestation program. During the sessions, Dahari technicians share visual tools such as decks of cards representing trees along with the products and services they can offer. This system promotes exchanges between farmers and our technicians on the diversity of trees and their multiple benefits.

The involvement of farmers in the selection of trees guarantees that these trees will be adapted to their daily individual needs (firewood, construction, food, fodder, etc.) as well as to the provision of ecosystem services (water regulation, conservation biodiversity, soil conservation, etc.).

12 park eco-guards trained on the participatory approach to reforestation

In 2022, Dahari organized two workshops on the reforestation approach with the Comoros National Parks Agency. The participants closely followed the theory and practice of decision-making support, allowing the specific needs of farmers to be taken into account when choosing trees with the support of visual tools.

Raydine Attoumane, ecoguard of the Comoros National Network of Protected Areas (RNAP), participated in training on the Dahari reforestation approach and is delighted with the highly participatory quality of the approach which is well adapted to the realities of our context. “Through training and exchange visits, we learned techniques and methods on what can be described as a good reforestation approach and plant management in nurseries. We will continue to seek support from Dahari so that we can have good skills on the reforestation actions promoted by the RNAP. »

Tree management in nurseries is important for reforestation

After following theoretical training on the reforestation approach, RNAP agents made an exchange visit to the Adda nursery. Raydine Attoumane emphasizes the fact that the NGO Dahari has qualified technicians to ensure the implementation of reforestation actions. They train us on the maintenance and installation of nurseries to ensure the proper development of young trees.

Following the visit we made to Adda, the park's eco-guards recognized that their monitoring is insufficient and that single watering does not ensure the trees are kept alive. Dahari technicians regularly carry out follow-ups in nurseries to monitor the progress of the plants, in order to act quickly in the event of problems. In addition, Dahari uses digital tools such as KOBO Tools kit and power BI for monitoring in the nursery, during distribution and post-planting evaluations.

Raydine Attoumane states that: “This partnership with Dahari will serve us a lot in the future to strengthen our skills in the proper conduct of a reforestation program as well as in the management of nurseries. This is the start of a good collaboration which will strengthen synergies and complementarities between the two institutions for sustainable management of the National Parks of the Comoros. »