Cyclone Idai devastated vital forest areas around the Chimanimani National Park in central Mozambique. MICAIA will work with 5 communities on re-planting forest areas in critical zones. We will integrate 'useful' trees (native species of food and medicinal plants, bee-friendly plants) along with fast-growing species. We will establish community nurseries for expansion and we will provide information on sustainable farming and forest conservation to local schools.
Cyclone Idai left a long-term challenge: floods and high winds devastated vital forest areas around Chimanimani National Reserve. Rivers have new courses. Whole areas of trees that afforded important protection against erosion, have been swept away. Formerly fertile production zones are now a vast expanse of sand and debris deposited by the floods. Thousands of people who rely on the forests for medicine, food and livelihoods (eg beekeeping) need help to start the forest restoration.
MICAIA is working throughout the Chimanimani area and has been for 8 years. We are able to mobilise people and support their efforts to recover from the cyclone. This project will provide planting material (seedlings), tools, and practical support (training and advice), as well as educational material for community schools to help people understand how to reduce risk from severe climatic events through sustainable farming and natural resource management.
This project is focused on longer-term impact: restoring forest areas and ensuring that the new planting provides a mix of benefits for local people. These will include protection of water courses, prevention of erosion, provision of nutrients to the soil, as well as sources of food or products for market. The project will help reduce community vulnerability to future severe climatic events, not only through the immediate actions on restoration, but also through training and education.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
