Temwa - Sustainable Community Development, Malawi - Branching Out With The SIFT Tree Project

Branching Out With The SIFT Tree Project

Tuesday, 06 April 2010 16:02

A new community tree project has recently been started, using funds raised at the SIFT Media - Software Satisfaction Awards in October last year.

Continuing the work of our last community forestry project, this exciting project involves: the establishment of a community tree nursery; the training of local people in the growing and care of trees; the distribution of trees, and the educating of the whole community as to the importance of trees.

Deforestation is a major problem in Usisya. The loss of ground cover causes disasters such as increased flooding, excessive winds and soil erosion – all of which contribute to increasingly low crop yields and general environmental degradation.

In November, due to the fast oncoming wet season, Temwa staff were busy establishing a tree nursery at the Usisya Community Centre with the initial growing of 3,000 seedlings. Three months later and the nursery now has 12 growing beds and over 9,000 tree seedlings.

To speed things along, several varieties of fast growing trees have been planted, including native forest species, fruit trees, fast growing species for fuel wood and other agroforestry species. The distribution and planting of these saplings throughout the local community and surrounding area has begun. Thus far, over 1,500 trees having been given to local farmers, four local primary schools and the Usisya Community Day Secondary School. The remaining seedlings are to be distributed to schools and individual farmers throughout the Usisya region over the coming months.

We are also very pleased to have taken on a new member of staff to look after and run the nursery. Fostina has been a longstanding supporter of Temwa and she has been involved with this project from the beginning. Welcome to the Temwa team, Fostina.

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