Community Involvement

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We work with communities to set up Community Based Organisations (CBO’s), which act as a representative body of the participant farmers, elected by them to take decisions as intermediaries on their behalf. CBO’s form a valuable channel to provide information for funding, enable better project management and reporting. 

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Farmer Training

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We conduct training and development sessions for the farming communities we work with. Typical programmes in the past have focused on: 

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• Building and raising awareness about Reforestation and Analog Forestry and its benefits to people and the environment

• Discussing the advantages and disadvantages of mono-cropping and multi-cropping systems

• Providing practical support to farmers to increase and secure their income through multi-cropping

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Other areas of focus have included:

• Forest restoration

• Training on organic agriculture

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Educational Programmes

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We also carry out school education programmes on the importance of biodiversity conservation and reforestation in the areas surrounding our project sites.  

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Enhancing Livelihoods 

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Our work with communities deliver many ancillary benefits in addition to economic advantages. These include:

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• Improved woodlots that will provide pruning material and a local and sustainable source of firewood and poles, reducing the pressure on other forest resources

• Income diversification through Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP’s) like medicines, fruits, shading materials, livestock feed, etc.

• Training on bee-keeping techniques including options for developing habitats for hives