Arbres locaux pour un monde meilleur | Local trees for a better world

5
Community Payments for Ecosystem Services in Patako | Plan Vivo PDD 2012
Figure 3. Landscape around Patako Forest
Soils and plant vegetation in the Patako landscape are being degraded mainly as a result of
population pressure (Chikanda, 2009), a lack of capacity to improve agricultural productivity using
sustainable farming methods, and a lack of livelihood alternatives beyond activities that involve
overexploitation of natural resources.
Patako Forest is exposed to intensive fires and wood is harvested illegally for fuel wood. Simply
enforcing existing forest protection measures in the central forest more strictly will fail to achieve
the desired outcome. It is imperative to work closely with communities to develop a more
comprehensive and integrated management system.
4.3. Project activities
Project activities undertaken in the project area include: afforestation/reforestation, agroforestry,
and assisted natural regeneration.
Afforestation/reforestation - mixed native species plantation
Participants will create small mixed native species plantations. These plantations will produce a
variety of goods and relieve some of the pressure on mature standing trees caused by demand for
firewood and construction timber, as some of the fruit and nut trees can be pruned for firewood.
Agroforestry - intercropping and boundary planting
Participants will interplant native trees and crops on agricultural land. Nitrogen fixing and soil
enhancing species will improve soil quality and crop yields. In addition to improving biodiversity,
ecosystem resilience and functions (e.g. hydrological flows, improved soil structure and retention,
nutrient recycling), agroforestry activities will improve the productivity, diversity and sustainability
of cultivation activities practised by households.