Photo Credit: Nile Sprague
Nicaragua has suffered severe deforestation during the past century, primarily from agricultural land-clearing and the use of firewood for cooking by more than 80% of the population. Drought follows deforestation, and Nicaragua has experienced severe drought conditions in recent years.The reforestation program helps ensure the sustainability of village wells and drinking water supplies. To date, villagers have planted 700,000 trees.
Impact
- Conserve and protect the water tables that supply the wells that communities have built.
- Teach people about the importance of co-existing in harmony with their local environment and how to use the existing resources in a sustainable way.
Our community-based reforestation program teaches communities about the relationship between trees and water, inviting them to join a program to conserve the water table on which their water project depends.
Villagers plant tree nurseries and then transplant the seedlings to places where the trees will grow. The trees are all native species and include fruit trees. Our reforestation workers follow up to ensure survival of the seedlings, and teach villagers how to collect seeds, clean it, and store it for next year's nursery planting.
