Help 5 communities restore forests in Mozambique

Cyclone Idai will never be forgotten in the communities around the Chimanimani National Reserve, in central Mozambique. The horrendous floods that cascaded down the mountains, sweeping away houses and leaving at least 200 people dead, will live long in peoples' memories. And every day, people in communities such as Zomba (one of the places worse hit by the cyclone), see a markedly different landscape. Gone is the lush and fertile plain on the edge of the forest, where once the people could grow food and harvest mangos from long-established orchards. Instead, there is a vast expanse of barren land looking almost like a desert.

But this is one desert that will one day be covered in trees and shrubs once again. 

Micaia has worked in and around Chimanimani since 2008. We have supported community-led conservation and a range of livelihood initiatives such as beekeeping and sustainable agriculture. When the cyclone struck, Micaia responded in many ways including short-term relief. Now, with support from Global Giving and many individual supporters, we are working with communities to help restore critical forest areas. 

This work is now well under way. Where possible we found seedlings of suitable native species of trees (the communities prioritized species providing multiple benefits includingfood, medicine, and assistance to soil fertility) in the forests around Chimanimani. We also bought seedlings from nurseries in the area. With our team of field offices and recently graduated students recruited to support the recovery from Idai, we were then able to work in the communities helping people prepare for planting, providing technical guidance, and supporting the planting and early maintenance of the seedlings. 

With the onset of the rains, we look forward to seeing some real progress in transforming devastated areas into productive and biodiversity rich forest once again. 

Cyclone Idai was devestating for central Mozambique. In the area in which MICAIA operates, the communities around the Chimanimani National Reserve, at least 200 people died, whole villages were washed away, and 90% of crops were destroyed. The aid agencies arrived and relief was provided. MICAIA played its part, providing vital food and then agricultural seed to 1,300 familes. 

MICAIA has worked in and around Chimanimani since 2008. The area is one of Mozambique's most important for biodiversity, especially rare plants. The cyclone devastated many areas of forest, not only because of the strong winds, but because of the flood waters that cascaded down from the mountains. 

MICAIA is active in many aspects of recovery, working with thousands of families across the Chimanimani area, helping them rebuild their lives. We also want to work with communitie to being the process of restoring critical forest areas. 

This work is now getting under way in five large communities. We recruited recent graduates from Chimoio to work with community leaders and local people in each community to map the areas to be prioritized for restoration. These include areas now exposed to further erosion and others that are critical in protection of water courses. However, it is the local people who are deciding what will be planted and where. There will be a mix of trees, native species providing multiple benefits (food, medicine, assistance to soil fertility) as well as fruit trees that can provide income for families in the next years. 

The next stage is to buy the seedlings and make them available to communities to start planting. MICAIA staff members and our young student assistants will be on hand to provide technical support through to the end of the year.