The local context
Hlanzoun is a unique forest in West Africa. It is a swampy forest on peaty soil with plant formations that have now disappeared in the region. This makes it a unique site of great importance for the conservation of biodiversity on a national and supranational scale.
It has a surface area of 2,945 hectares, of which the central core, in a relatively good state of conservation, is around 900 hectares. This swamp forest is permanently fed by the stream Hlan.
Hlanzoun is a fragile ecosystem threatened by a range of human pressures, including logging, illegal clearing, poaching and oil palm plantations.
Project objectives
By supporting and strengthening the capacities of our local partner ECODEC, HUMY is enabling income-generating activities to be controlled and developed in the Hlanzoun area, such as the training and installation of micro-nursery growers.
Micro-trees
Today, 10 micro-nurseries are producing seedlings that will be used to restore degraded areas of Hlanzoun. The first problems are often linked to access to water, which is necessary in quantity for the growth of young trees.
Successful conversions
Previously dependent on forest resources, nurserymen cut trees for energy wood (charcoal) and timber, or were hunters. These activities are difficult, and the results and income generated are often uncertain. The micro-nursery growers now feel that their new profession is more stable, more remunerative and less difficult.
And then...
Humy aims to develop this activity, which is necessary for the restoration of degraded patches of forest where natural regeneration is insufficient. It is also necessary to produce fast-growing exotic trees, which will be planted close to the villages to provide an alternative source of wood for the communities (timber and energy).
Strengthening the’ECODEC is essential to manage the growth of income-generating activities in the 17 villages. To do this, we will, Humy wishes to strengthen the ECODEC team by creating an additional post.
Humy and ECODEC plans to train nurserymen to better manage their activities so that they acquire greater autonomy and a better vision of unforeseen events and implicit expenses.