Background & challenges
This project is located in the Zio river valley, in the Maritime region of Togo. Very early on, this region saw significant agricultural exploitation and the installation of a number of industrial and mining units. In recent years, the region has experienced strong demographic pressure linked to its proximity to the capital Lomé, which has led to significant degradation of vegetation, soil and surface water.
The region’s main activity is agriculture. The most widespread method in Togo is semi-sedentary production, using natural fallow as a means of regenerating the soil. This practice is no longer used in the maritime region because of the high human density. This leads to severe degradation of the soil, which is eroded and very unprofitable.
Households also lack wood for energy and timber. To obtain wood, they have no choice but to attack the gallery forest of the river Zio, which is deteriorating daily. To provide solutions to this situation in each of the 10 villages, the project aims to plant a total of 80,000 perennial trees.
In response, two action plans have been put in place:
- 1. Agroforestry, with the planting of fertiliser trees and fruit trees on farmers’ plots, planted in corridors or in scattered stands.
This will make it possible to
– naturally enrich the soil
– improve yields for food crops (maize, cassava, taro, yams, market gardening, etc.);
– diversify beneficiaries’ yields;
– enable beneficiaries to grow their crops without chemical inputs or GMO seeds;
– enrich the surrounding biodiversity. - 2. Forestry, with the establishment of nearby forests to enable villagers to recover firewood, timber and fodder and thus protect the forest of the River Zio.
Project type
Agroforestry et forestry
Beneficiaries
Smallholder families and individuals, plus groups organised by the village chiefdom and Village Development Committee
800 farming families, with 160 beneficiary families per village.
Number of trees
100,000 trees planted for a total of 80,000 remaining trees at the end of the project
Species planted
Fertiliser trees : Samanea saman, Albizia stipulata, Albizia lebbeck, Gliricidia sepium, Terminalia superba, Terminalia ivorensis
Forest trees : Gmlina arborea, Tectona grandis
Fruit trees: Cola cordifolia, coconut and citrus trees
Partner
Association for the promotion of fertiliser trees, agroforestry and forestry (APAF)
Works timeline
Awareness-raising and training in agroforestry and forestry, field monitoring and fire control take place throughout the year.
January to May 2024:
- Revitalisation of the fire-fighting teams in the villages;
- Resumption of contacts and awareness-raising with the chiefdom, the CVDs and the local population, Formation of a committee of nurserymen ;
- Information and training for nurserymen, Programming of nursery activities;
- Acquisition and supply of small agricultural equipment to nursery committees.
- Preparation of nursery sites – Potting of bags – Setting up nurseries and agroforestry and forestry seedlings in pots
March to August 2024: Watering the seedlings, monitoring the seedlings and seedlings and weeding the nurseries.
May to September 2024:
- Distribution of seedlings to beneficiaries;
- Support for the planting of agroforestry and forest trees
July to December 2024: Monitoring of seedlings and geolocation of fields
January to May 2025:
- Revitalisation of the fire-fighting teams in the villages;
- Resumption of contacts and awareness-raising with the chiefdom, the CVDs and the local population, Formation of a committee of nurserymen ;
- Information and training for nurserymen, Programming of nursery activities;
- Acquisition and supply of small agricultural equipment to nursery committees.
- Preparation of nursery sites – Potting of bags – Setting up nurseries and agroforestry and forestry seedlings in pots
March to August 2025: Watering the seedlings, monitoring the seedlings and seedlings and weeding the nurseries.
May to September 2025:
- Distribution of seedlings to beneficiaries;
- Support for the planting of agroforestry and forest trees
July to December 2025: Monitoring of seedlings and geolocation of fields
Years 2026 to 2027: Monitoring and maintenance of plantations
Planting partner
- Sustainably cultivate the same plots of land year after year, generation after generation
- Increase their revenue and diversify the sources
- Preserve and rebuild biodiversity
- Preserve and restore forest ecosystems
- Reduce their workload and gain more independence (women)
These methods take into consideration traditional practices, the reality of the situation for smallholders and their way of thinking. As a result, uptake of APAF’s alternative approach is rapid and widescale thanks to ‘word of mouth’.
Budget
The total budget to be raised is €200,000, i.e. €2.50 per tree planted, broken down as follows:
- 93% allocated to the planting project
– Technical supervision, follow-up and steering: €0.89
– Materials, equipment, seeds: €0.50
– Logistics: €0.56
– Follow-up APAF International: €0.05
– Collection, monitoring and communication costs for A Tree for You (13%) : 0,325€ - and 7% (€0.175) for A Tree for You structural costs.
