Afforestation at the
site of desertification
When we start afforestation in a new place, the first thing we do is go to people and ask what changes they need to make their lives better. People usually want peace in their land, so that children are healthy and the land is fertile.
We're talking about how the landscape they're used to can change. What do people gain from afforestation and waterscapes and what can they lose. We discuss with people how their farming practices might change and what opportunities the new forest might offer them. We introduce people to new methods of agroforestry.
We use the data obtained to assess the prospects for afforestation of desert areas. We then seek high-level support by engaging key political actors and stakeholders in landscape management and land acquisition decisions.
Before the start of improvement works, we initiate legal consolidation of the status of the lands provided to us. Lands can be assigned the status of agricultural, forest or national parks. For each of these statuses, we develop a specific set of tasks and expectations.
