We just got a short report via SMS (or text message) from our villages: “Students and community planted: 5,550 trees in the village of Fiarenana. In Fiadanana 556 trees were planted by students and the women’s group”.
Taking advantage of the rainy season to plant trees is the best way to assure that the seedlings may take root. We hope to post some pictures after the rainy season, when the roads become passable again.
Last but not least: Bonus Day will start on Wed. March 14th, 2012 at 12:01 am EST. GlobalGiving will be matching online donations made on Bonus Day at 30% until the $50,000 in funds runs out. Last time the funds ran out before the end of the day, so please think of Zahana in Madagascar early on Bonus Day.
Ihanta, Jeannette and Markus
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Both nurseries in our villages are growing lots of baby trees.
In light of the ambitious reforestation project the community in Fiarenana decided to earmark the 1199 baby trees currently in their nursery for that purpose (eucalyptus, acacia, bibasse. moringa and mango). Especially the mango seedlings are already quite sizable and ready to be planted in a permanent location. Villagers themselves bringing tree seeds to the gardener, asking him to give them a try, is another sign that this idea is feasible. Eucalyptus, a tree that would not have been our first choice, was introduced in the village nursery this way.
Young trees are very vulnerable to weather changes, dry spells and roaming cattle. The first beginnings of a replanted forest is growing on the slopes behind Fiadanana’s school. The biggest chances for seedling survival are under the watchful eyes of the school children next door. This makes the children the ideal caretakers and lets them experience through participation that reforestation is indeed possible. It is our hope that as the children grow up the trees literally grow with them for years to come.
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