Estelle and Ali

As mentioned in an earlier post, we’ve been working to develop a research nursery in Abdallah’s community, Shumba Viamboni, in hopes of advancing our tree-planting projects here on Pemba.  With support from Seeds for Africa, a British Charity that assists African communities with agricultural equipment and technical advice, CFI, CFP and local community members have come together to help construct CFP’s main research nursey on the Island.

Nursery construction

The nursery, which will fascilitate the expansion/experimentation of tree species and growing techniques also includes a covered area or “banda”  that  we have built to house our new Pod Press and process/store local seeds.

Abdallah & the Pod Press

The press (seen above), is designed to compress readily available “waste material” such as dried leaves, saw dust and sugar can husk , into a usable “pod” that seedlings will be grown in. If successful, this method will help replace the expensive and harmful dependence on black poly casings that seedlings are grown in throughout the tropics.  Depending on the molds used, the press can also be used to make a replacement “bricket” that once dried has shown to be a very efficient fuel source for cooking, reducing the dependence on charcoal.  Abdallah is now experimenting with different mixes for both seedling containers and fuel brickets and growing  many indigenous and endemic species of trees.  We hope, over the coming months to introduce new techniques and tree species for our projects next season, and plan on hosting  training sessions for community members from each of the tree planting communities.

Canadian Tree Planters

The ideas, energy and philosophy behind Community Forests International came from Canadian Tree planting camps – around the campfire, on the block, in the land, at the cache. Our members are tree planters, our staff are tree planters, and the majority of our funds come from donations made by planters. In order to maintain the strong connection between the planting camps in the Canadian North, and the grassroots planting movement growing in Pemba, Tanzania, we’re launching a CFI Ambassador and a Connect Your Camp program for 2010.

Be a CFI Ambassador

Our movement, our effort and our dreams need momentum, and what greater way to get involved than becoming a CFI Ambassador. In order to spread the philosophies of conservation forestry and forest renewal, we need to expand our numbers and draw on the army of Canadian planters that founded CFI in the first place.

What does it mean to be a CFI Ambassador?

As a CFI Ambassador, you’ll be brought up to speed about CFI’s latest on-the ground efforts in Tanzania, how we got started, and where we want to be. As a representative of the organization, you’ll be positioned to spread the word through your camp, and generate the type of momentum needed to change the way we lookat the forests around us. You’ll act as a key element in generating support for communities that wish to start planting trees, but can’t due to a lack of resources. You’ll be responsible for connecting those that want to get involved, to CFI’s efforts in Canada and abroad.

If you want to be a CFI Ambassador, fill out an Application Form.

Connect Your Camp

Since 2008, Neil Whan’s camp in Thunder Bay, pledged almost 75,000 trees in support of CFI’s Pemba Tree Planting project. Raising over $7,000, this Brinkman and Associates Reforestation Ltd camp has built new nurseries in Shumba-Vyamboni, Fundo Island and Kwale while paying CFI’s Pemban Director’s salary. When the project started in 2007, both Pemban staff and Canadian support team were operating on a strictly volunteer basis. The ability to pay local Pemban staff members has allowed the Pemba tree planting movement to grow while allowing those involved to focus on the dream of improved environmental resources and livelihoods. Thanks to Brinkman and Associates Reforestation Ltd, the trees pledged to the project were counted and the tree prices were donated to CFI, showing both the character and integrity of the Canadian tree planting community. If you think your camp or your company could support the Pemba Trees project, email info@forestsinternational.org or call 514-839-0546.

In Wete, I rounded up some young members of the community to help me plant a Permaculture garden on a small piece of land in the village. The idea was to show how you can grow a lot of food in a small area, something I hope will be evident when the food continues to grow. Of course, I had to find a balance between what I thought was best and what my assistants thought was best. It was fun to involve some young women in activities they normally wouldn’t participate in, and allowing them to lead how the garden was to be put together and planted.

Slowly we can show a different way of doing things that can allow for greater yield, but also giving people a chance to teach us in return is important.

However, just getting out and doing things with the community in the village is also important, as foreigners don’t travel to Pemba often, and building trust can allow for success of projects in the future.

Short Course on Ecological Forestry

Community Forests International has been learning and practicing a middle path between the conservation of wild lands, and the clear-cuts of industrial logging. Understanding that humans need to balance their approach to nature, Community Forests International has been working to foster relationships where human incomes and forest products are provided while the integrity of the working and healthy forest are valued and maintained.

While learning and growing as an organization, Community Forests International has been in contact with some remarkable stewards of the forest, and has drawn on the experience of some of Atlantic Canada’s finest practitioners of ecological and conservation forestry. The wisdom Community Forests International has gained while spending time with those that have lived and learned from the forest for generations has prompted the development of a short course to extend a variety of skills and a forestlands philosophy to others in Canada and abroad.

From 2-6 of August, 2010, Community Forests International will be offering their first Short Course in Ecological Forestry in Sackville, New Brunswick. If you’ve spent the summer planting trees, and are interested in learning about a more natural process of forest restoration, or if you’ve just purchased a woodlot and want to sharpen your skills, this course could be the one for you. The course will cover native plant and tree identification, chainsaw use and maintenance, the principle of ecological, restoration and conservation forestry, sawmill operation, wildcrafting and timber framing. Please see the full course outline and pricing details below.

Ecoforestry and Forest Restoration Short Course

Day 1 – Full Day – Classroom Based – Sackville, NB

• New Brunswick’s Acadian Forest – Our History, Our Challenge and a Possibility for Change
• Principles of Ecological Forestry – Making Conservation a Consequence of Production.

Day 2 – Morning – Field Based -

• Learning to see the Forest – A walk through the woods
• Tree Identification Practicum.

Afternoon – Classroom Based

• Tools for Change – Certification and the Community Land Trust model.

Day 3 – Morning – Classroom based – Forestry Safety Demonstration

• Practical Techniques and Procedures for Good Forest Operations
• Chainsaw Safety and Maintenance

Afternoon – Field Based – Sackville Community Garden

• Working in the Image of Nature – Edible Forest Gardening
• Propagation of Native Mushrooms
  

Day 4 – Full Day – Field Based – Otter Creek, NB

• Wild Foresting, Wild Living
  
• Wild Crafting – Native Food, Medicine and Candy
  
• Adding Value – Timber Framing
• Propagation of Trees and Field Nursery Maintenance
  

Day 5 - Full Day – Field Based – Small-Scale Forestry Demonstration

• Selecting, Harvesting, Milling, and Processing FSC Certified Lumber

Final Dinner – Forestry for Tomorrow

If interest permits, Community Forests International will explore the extension of the Short Course to accommodate a more indepth eduction experience for the material covered in this week long short course. Early sign-up (before June 15) course fee is $320 + food and accommodation, which can be arranged if required. Please contact info@forestsinternational.org or 514-839-0546 for more details. Employment and volunteer opportunities will be made available to participants

Recently we began designing for an expansion of one of our best nurseries, with plans to make it our center of forestry research here on Pemba. We’re keeping with the low-tech, affordable nature of our community nurseries and adding some basic improvements including on-site rainwater harvesting, a sheltered work space for pot manufacturing, and a surrounding garden of useful multipurpose plants.

Taro (C. esculenta)

The plants will include several whose properties repel pests, combat harmful fungal infections, and provide micronutrients. For example, the local taro leaf contains calcium oxalate  (same needle shaped crystal that exist in rhubarb) and can be used as a spray-on broad-spectrum pest repellant; Papaya leaf has a strong anti-fugal nature; and a perimeter of lemon grass confuses pests while providing a steady supply of delicious tea. The fact that these plants are common and produce an edible yield is key, they lend themselves well to the permaculture principal of multifunction. The main goal of the research nursery is to trial new techniques and species to identify those which should be adopted in the 13 community nurseries.

Lemongrass (know locally as mchai chai)

We are fortunate to have Abdallah, our enthusiastic and knowledgeable field officer, to take care of the trials. Abdallah has a green thumb for sure, he raises a variety of healthy seedlings year after year. With luck we’ll be able to add several new indigenous species to our planting projects next season.