By Evan Hale | Conservation Intern
By providing families around the Okapi Wildlife Reserve with the resources to support sustainable agricultural we are protecting the okapi’s natural rainforest habitat while assisting the communities that call the area home. By only using designated agricultural zones combined with strategies that lengthen the life of the soil, communities can avoid the slash-and-burn agricultural methods that destroy large swaths of the rainforest while gaining increased harvest yields through better farming practices.
This quarter we have continued to distribute seeds from five sites around the Reserve benefitting 774 farmers across the region. A grand total of 23,331 seedlings and 1,525 trees were planted during the third quarter this year. Sixteen new vegetable gardens were set up, adding an additional 71 households across five sites to our program. The main harvests included rice, beans, and peanuts providing a sustainable dietary resource for the communities.
Our efforts in creating sustainable agricultural have been so popular with the local community that they have attracted some unwanted attention from local wildlife and intruders in Mambasa. To thwart these raids, the nursery constructed new fencing and gate that now secure the property.
International Tree Day will continue to be celebrated this year, with saplings being distributed to children to plant around their school. These trees provide much-needed shade from the tropical heat as well as wildlife corridors for local animals to enjoy.
Programs like these establish long-term solutions to agroforestry for the region, empowering people and allowing them to become self-sustaining. It also gives them the opportunity to participate in the conservation of their environment while still providing for their families. The protection of the okapi and aid provided to local villages is only possible through the funding of our generous donors like you. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you in the new year!
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