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| Gossi Tree Campaign |
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| Project Director |
| Natalie Grillon, Peace Corps Volunteer |
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Project Number |
Total Cost (US$) |
Location |
FS02-08-PC |
$292.07 |
Gossi Tree Campaign |
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Project Details
Rural Gossi is located in the Timbuktu region of Mali, around 150 kilometers southwest of the city of Gao. The town has a very ethnically diverse population of Tammasheq, Songhai, Arab, Bozo and Fulfide peoples. Approximately 8,000 people live in the main town and another 12,000 people reside in the surrounding villages. The principal economic activities are herding, small commerce and gardening.
Located in the biologically rich region of the Ghourma, the unique and fragile ecosystem in and around Gossi is increasingly threatened by the growing population's need for land and firewood. The Project de Conservation et Vulgarisation de Biodiversité de Ghourma et les Elephants (PCVBG-E) has already begun to educate local populations on the importance of conservation but both the project and community members have identified reforestation as an unmet objective. Prior to the Gossi Tree Campaign, there was not a tree nursery in town, and many people in the community lacked the necessary resources to start and maintain a nursery, to plant and care for trees or to raise trees for commercial purposes. In the long term, the Gossi Tree Campaign will grow shade trees for local markets and meeting places.
Peace Corps Volunteer Natalie Grillon worked with a local agricultural agent, the Service de Conservation de
Nature Agent and the Conseil de Biodiversité de PCVBG-E to coordinate and manage a regional tree campaign that included two representatives each, from 20 associations from the Union EFAF (a local collective of community associations). To launch the project and the nursery, Grillon and her co-coordinators organized a series of workshops on tree planting, composting, managing a tree nursery, agro-forestry techniques, seed collection and storage, nutrition and Moringa trees, and the PLASA method of tree planting (a method Grillon learned through her Peace Corps training). Each participating association paid 2000 CFA to join the campaign and workshops. African Sky contributed 61.4% of project funds and Gossi community members contributed 38.6% of funds
After a series of nursery workshops over the course of a month and a half, participants organized and led their own demonstration workshops. These demonstration workshops took place at homes, in the market,
and in other public places. The participants planted 100 trees during the campaign.
The youth of the community, represented by members of the environmental club, participated in the campaign
by helping with tree plantings. The workshop and nursery reflect the campaign's goals to raise awareness and educate about nutrition, deforestation and conservation of biodiversity.
Objectives
create a tree nursery for the community
create shade for livestock market, commercial market, and public meeting spaces
teach community members techniques required to maintain nursery
educate local population on reforestation and conservation, and about the resources trees provide
explore the numerous advantages of the Moringa tree (including nutritional benefits)
Workshop Sessions
Composting, soil content
Preparation and set-up of nursery
Direct seeding vs. pot seeding
Organic Pesticides
PLASA method
Transplanting, care and maintenance
The Moringa Tree and nutrition
Grafting
Conservation and reforestation
Seed collection and storage
Participants and youth plant 50 trees around the town to celebrate Earth Week.
View the Final Report
Project Budget | | | | |
Category |
Item |
Unit Cost |
Units |
Total cost (CFA) |
|
|---|
Equipment |
Shovel |
2,000 |
4 |
8,000 |
|
Watering can |
1500 |
4 |
6,000 |
|
Shears |
3000 |
2 |
6,000 |
|
Wheelbarrow (new) |
25000 |
2 |
50,000 |
|
Daba (hoes) |
1000 |
2 |
2,000 |
|
|---|
Materials |
Black plastic (per m) |
300 |
108 |
32,280 |
|
Sachets |
10 |
600 |
6,000 |
|
Fencing posts |
500 |
24 |
12,000 |
|
Fencing (per m) |
1000 |
25 |
25,000 |
|
Compost (per sack) |
500 |
10 |
5,000 |
|
Mosquito nets |
5000 |
5 |
25,000 |
|
|---|
Seeds
|
Baobab |
1500 |
0.25 |
375 |
(per kilogram) |
Eucaplyptus |
1500 |
1 |
1,500 |
|
Guava |
1500 |
0.25 |
375 |
|
Lemon (Citron) |
1500 |
0.25 |
375 |
|
Moringa |
1500 |
1 |
1,500 |
|
Mango |
1500 |
0.25 |
750 |
|
Neem |
1500 |
1 |
1,500 |
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|---|
Other |
Materials Transport |
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|
|
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Labor (one ext. agent) |
3000 |
16 |
48,000 |
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|---|
TOTAL COST |
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|
|
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*$282.61 + 9.46 transfer fee |
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Schedule (2008)
June
Workshops began
(participants meet twice a week)
July
Final four workshop sessions
Participants planned their demonstrations
Participants began their community plantings and demonstrations
August
Participants finish their community demonstrations and tree plantings
September +
Organized management plan for tree nursery as small commercial enterprise | |
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