Development Ratings

Activities relate to business generation from improved tree management. Examples of these are: establishing tree nurseries for raising and selling seedlings; training in the management of existing natural woodlands; encouraging the planting of productive trees most suitable for dryland conditions; helping local people develop businesses and access markets for fruits, oils, medicines, honey, etc.; introducing new wood-fuel-economical stoves for cooking. Trees are planted for food, additional income, and the protection of soil, crops and property; woodland is managed to conserve bio-diversity, future tree product supplies and to stabilise the environment; fuel-efficient stoves and tree planting help reduce deforestation . Major current projects include the Village Tree Enterprise (VTE) projects in Burkina Faso, Mali and Ghana and Trees for Change in Mali and Burkina Faso.

In the VTE projects, Tree Aid works with partners, including local African NGOs, national Ministries, and the UN Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO), to guide local entrepreneurs through strategy and business plan development. The most feasible products, markets and marketing methods are identified, and plans are drawn up for sustainable activities. Markets are local, regional and potentially international. Community facilitators feedback on progress which is overseen by a joint technical committee of the participating government agencies. The FAO will assist with the project evaluation. 164 groups developed businesses in 2007.

There is a lack of tree management capacity in Mali. Local forests are under pressure from uncontrolled woodcutting and drought. Decentralisation of national forestry law is allowing local people to develop their own bylaws and management plans for sustainable use. This is done with advice from Tree Aid through the Trees for Change project. 120 communities will be supported through awareness-raising and training.

As previous projects have come to a close and resulted in sustainable enterprises, Tree Aid has adopted the current more cost-effective strategy of reducing the number of projects that are supported but increasing the size of the support. This will concentrate efforts in key areas and on key types of activities. It will allow the formula to be more easily replicated in other regions, increasing Tree Aid’s coverage and potential impact.

New projects under proposal: a food programme (to develop tree product nutritional information and storage and preservation techniques); a bush fire management programme; a plan to link in-country financial service providers with programme beneficiaries; and a project to link the VTE with broader land management issues.