Shidi
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Shidi is one of the original 7 communities to participate in the project. After witnessing severe soil erosion due to the deforestation of coastal buffer zones, a group of fishermen approached Community Forests Pemba and asked to get involved in their tree-planting project. With support from the government of Tanzania, Shidi managed to build a state of the art nursery complete with metal poles and industrial grade netting to keep pests at bay.
In 2008 Shidi planted over 20,000 trees in low-lying coastal areas in order to reduce coastal erosion. Several of the species planting will also serve to provide nuts and fruit. Shidi also plants trees further inland in order to grow poles necessary for local-style house construction. By weaving together casuarina poles, mud and coral can then be packed against the frame in a building style called waddle and dab construction. As the population of Shidi grows, and marine and fish populations decrease, the need for alternative livelihood and natural resource management practices have become a necessity. By engaging the community of Shidi in a process of community-based forestry, Community Forests Pemba hopes to help nurture both the community and the natural environment that sustains this costal community.
