Transitioning forward: Completion of our endeavors in Guinea

By: Hugo Bitouzé, Tree-Nation Head of Reforestation Projects

In Guinea, we have been working with local farmers through agroforestry practices to create a well sustainable project that both reforests the most degraded areas of the region, and also provides alternative income opportunities for the local communities that participate in this initiative. 

Guinea, especially Upper Guinea suffers the most from the drying out of water resources due to desertification, deforestation and also the Harmattan, a wind coming from the Sahara. Living conditions there are becoming increasingly difficult, and the environment and soil quality are quickly deteriorating. 

Since 2021, Tree-Nation has been supporting the Community Forest Sowing project, created to take actions on the difficulties of the region and improve the conditions of forests, watersheds and soil. 

Fig. 1 Different farmers showcasing their “seed balls” that are ready to be planted. 

The project’s particularity and main characteristic is that they rely solely on local skills. The seeds are collected locally: each of the 500 harvesters collects seeds from their own seed tree and brings the harvest in the middle of the village. There, all seeds are mixed and put in bags to be sown on the fields provided by each participant. Each field-family provides 2 ha per year. 

To conserve the seeds for the planting season two different methods were used: “seedballs” and direct seed sowing. The “seedballs” method (concept inspired by permaculture), consists of coating the seeds with a mixture of clay and charcoal. This protects them from insects and rodents until they germinate in the rainy season. 

Fig. 2. Educational program for local farmers. 

These seedballs are then selected and sowed by the community, guaranteeing the participation of the project. Working with families is also an opportunity to make children aware of nature conservation, through the example set by their parents.

By the end of this year, we have managed to plant over 75,000 trees of 40 different native species, that provide non-timber products, such as edible seeds, fruits and traditional medicine. This was done in a course  of 3 years, completing together the projects and Tree-Nation’s objective.

Fig. 3. Local farmer making “seed balls” with the seeds she harvested.

We are very happy with the reported results, not only in the environmental perspective, but also the socio-economic impact the project has had, and continues promoting in the Upper Guinea region. Still, some journeys are meant to come to an end. As all the trees that were funded by Tree-Nation have been planted, jointly with the local team, this project is no longer receiving funding from us.  

With the guarantee that the local farmers will continue taking care of the trees planted with our funding, we are enthusiastic about the results for the future, and will continue to look out for their progress and future endeavors.