ACF provides support for village based reforestation efforts in Eyasi, northern Tanzania, through the establishment of tree nurseries. By helping communities to grow their own trees we aim to lessen the pressure on the local forests.

Trees saplings are required to set up agroforestry plots as well as to support community forests and reforestation of degraded land. Community tree nurseries are promoting tree planting through seedling production, training and education.

Project needs

Land degradation is one of the major threats to agriculture and forest conservation in Eyasi as it causes loss of habitats for both plants and animals. It contributes directly to loss of biodiversity and makes land non-productive.

Another local problem is the changing trend in people’s livelihoods influenced by diminishing pastoral land. Pastoralism is rapidly giving way to cultivation of land that is degraded because of overgrazing and soil erosion.

Land pressure continues to intensify, resulting in land-based conflicts - especially between smallholder farmers and pastoralists. The local communities are inclined to increase the number of livestock and extend the cultivated land, and they don’t have the means to manage forest resources sustainably.

Objectives

The goal of this project is two-fold: (1) tree nurseries will provide the needs of the community for fuel wood, timber and other important forest products, and (2) each tree nursery will be a focal point for training and environmental educational activities.

Activities

Providing tools, seeds and materials for the nursery; providing training for nursery workers in nursery management, technical skills and extension activities; distributing tree saplings to the community for planting on farms and degraded village land; support for community forests. Tree planting will promote wildlife corridor recovery and will enhance the quality and use of buffer zones around forest sites.

Beneficiaries

The direct beneficiaries of this project will be the smallholder farmers and their families in two communities. 1,700 households or 8,600 persons will have access to benefit from the tree nurseries and the agroforestry activities.