African Community Project

Felix our facilitator started buying Jatropha seeds in Mumbi Village yesterday. We will restock our seeds inventory of Jatropha to 750,000 to 1,000,000 seeds. These seeds will be distributed to our demonstration tree nurseries across Zambia. The seeds will be planted throughout the year and the seedlings passed to the communities as they learn about reforestation, how to grow trees and care for their environment. Many villagers request seeds so they can start growing Jatropha for possible bio-fuel and soap making.

The crew at Mukuni Community Forest wants to add another 5,000 trees to the nursery behind the curio market at Mukuni Village. Bringing the total to 10,000. My answer to them was, yes! The program is working. Now all I have to do is find funds for the needed supplies.

It is great to see that the United Nations is acknowledging the importance of the forests around us. Both urban and forests in their wild state. They are so vital to our survival as a planet. We as humans must take most of the blame for the state the earth is in and the devastation of our forests. I am proud to do my part in replanting the forests of the world.

This week the fellows in the photo will start replanting the tree nursery at Mukuni Village. They are carvers that sell their curios at the market beside the Chiefs Palace in the village to visiting tourists from Livingstone. Dallas Mpanga is in charge of the project. Hopefully they will get over 5000 trees started very shortly because this is the rain induced growing season. The seedlings will be ready to plant out before there is a need to water them. Leucaena is the main tree grown; when fully grown (less than 4 years) it can be used for firewood and charcoal. This will give the overcut natural forest a rest and the women will not have to spend as much time looking for firewood.

I am standing with Annah from the Royal Establishment with her husband on land that she has donated for the development of a Moringa orchard at Mukuni Village. The orchard will be set up by ACP and ran by a women’s group from the village. It will take 3 years to get the trees producing enough leaves that will be harvested and processed for the making of Moringa powder. The powder will be marketed locally and abroad by ACP with the proceeds going to the sustainability of the project.