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2008 Annual Report
Project Goals:
To curb deforestation through planting of valuable trees in the Nsefu Chiefdom, offsetting carbon output and proving a beneficial resource to the community.
Activities in 2008
Whiteson Daka
Reforest Nsefu employed Whiteson Daka as an extension officer. Whiteson is a self-professed lover of trees and is very excited to be on board the project. He is from Nsefu and so knows many of the community members making him the ideal person to run the project on the ground. Reforest Nsefu seconded him from the Chinyu Nursery, where all of the trees are grown carefully from seed. He works part time at the nursery taking care of the seedlings and then spends the rest of his time travelling around different villages to determine their interest in trees, start educational forums and bring trees for planting. He also provides support to the community in how to take care of trees – watering, protection from grazing animals (wild and domestic!) Not much will stop an elephant who has an eye on a tasty shoot but bushbuck can be deterred by a teepee of thin branches creating a protective tent.
The community are showing a great interest in the trees and both Whiteson and Fiona are inundated with requests for trees. However Whiteson is very strict in not giving out trees to just anyone, and ensures that the communities entrusted to look after the trees will do their job – hence our great survival rates!
| Location | Planted Trees | Dead Trees | Survived | % Survival Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawaza school | 425 | 48 | 377 | 89 |
| Nsefu school | 234 | 36 | 198 | 85 |
| Katapila Community school | 100 | 4 | 96 | 96 |
| Kapita Community school | 110 | 0 | 110 | 100 |
| Pule village | 180 | 11 | 169 | 94 |
| Munthuli village | 80 | 0 | 80 | 100 |
| Total | 1129 | 99 | 1030 | 94 |
Cycle for Life
In June 4 university graduates who were cycling across Africa raising awareness about community projects in Africa stopped for a couple of days at Kawaza Basic School to learn more about the Reforest Nsefu Project. They were very impressed with Whiteson and the head of the schools’ conservation club – Julius Banda, who coordinates tree care at the school. They planted almost 200 trees in one morning! Amazingly there was a divide of duties by gender and the boys dug holes while the girls collected water.
Flying Forest
Russell Hay visited Reforest Nsefu in November, as a representative of Flying Forests, to see the project in action. It was a bumpy ride with a workshop vehicle stuffed to the gunnels with trees of various sizes to be delivered to Kapita Community School. Everyone had a lot of fun even nearly being caught in the rain during planting! Such is the risk of visiting in November (but the holes are easy to dig in the soft soil).
3 brick stoves
In addition to planting trees, Whiteson is also running educational demonstrations on how to make use three brick stoves. A simple clay bowl is made with hole at the base. This is the inverted and balanced on three bricks. The fire burns much more efficiently and produces a lot of heat, reducing fuel consumption considerably. The clay is collected locally and there are many spare bricks that can be used. New technologies take time to be adopted, but Whiteson is persevering!
Note on tree transportation
As the Chinyu nursery is on the outskirts of Nsefu Chiefdom, transportation of trees is an issue. When there is a vehicle going to the Nsefu, then the back is filled with trees and delivered to the appropriate community. When no vehicle is available trees can also be transported on the back of a bicycle!
Plans for 2009
- plant lots more trees!
- develop community responsibility so there are more tree planting projects spread through the community
- develop nurseries within these communities so they become self-sustaining and there is an over-supply of trees.
- continue with 3-brick stove demonstrations
Cost of trees: $1359
Whiteson salary: $1900 (included bike for transport)
Thank you
A huge thanks to Aardvark Safaris(external link) and flyingforest.org(external link) for their generous contributions that have allowed Reforest Nsefu to plant so many trees.
For more detailed information on the tree species planted please download this PDF Document
