A female-led local NGO is championing forest restoration and sustainable resource management to counter devastating land degradation and improve food security in a conflict zone.

Nature-based Intervention:

Representatives from three villages have come together to form Amical Bè Ôko, a women-led NGO focusing on the reforestation of the degraded banks of the river, improving food security, and promoting sustainable resource management. The intentional use of palm and fruit-bearing trees serve to improve local health, nutrition, and food security. The replanting of the bambara groundnut and moringa trees species have been used to reclaim and restore over four hectares of overexploited and previously unusable farmland. The moringa tree in particular is known for its resistance to drought and can be harvested as frequently as every six weeks. The initiative promotes sustainable hunting and fishing practices.

Overview of context and outcomes:

Slash-and-burn agriculture, uncontrolled bushfires, and overgrazing have contributed to land degradation and food insecurity along the banks of the Kpaya River. Although slash-and-burn agriculture can be sustainable in tropical environments like the south-central region of the Central African Republic, demographic pressures in local villages have reduced the time that land is left fallow, negatively impacting soil fertility. Community members often use bushfires to aid in hunting, fragmenting habitats and endangering several species. Fishers on the Kpaya River often use micro-dams to increase their catches which can cause damage to the riverine ecosystem, reduce water availability, and cause substantial changes to the river’s microclimate.