The deforestation and degradation of water catchment areas in Africa is a complex problem that is intricately linked with the livelihood of rural communities. These communities rely heavily on wood fuel, the major energy source for cooking and heating. An estimated 90 percent of the entire continent's population uses fuelwood for cooking, and in Sub-Saharan Africa, firewood and brush supply approximately 52 percent of all energy sources.
Land clearing by farmers, practices commonly known as “slash and burn”, may contribute as much as fuelwood gathering in the depletion of tree stocks. According to Porter and Brown , conversion of forests for subsistence and commercial agriculture may account for as much as 60 percent of world-wide deforestation. An estimated 20 to 25 percent of annual deforestation is thought to be due to commercial logging. The remaining 15 to 20 percent is attributed to other activities such as cattle ranching, cash crop plantations, and the construction of dams, roads, and mines.
The reason that motivates the rural African communities to continue deforestation and slash and burn agriculture is survival. Most rural farmers will clear large tracts of forest and degrade land with unsustainable forms of agriculture in an effort to feed and generate enough income for their families. In spite of the heavy investment in research and development in Africa, most of it is not designed to benefit the rural poor who need resources such as quality seedlings, access to credit, agronomic support, good rainfall or access to irrigation, post harvest training and access to markets.
Africa Harvest has recognised that there has to be an economic return to incentivise communities to sustainably manage their forests and rehabilitate their lands. In the words of the Africa Harvest CEO, Dr Florence Wambugu, “no one can conserve forests and soils on an empty stomach”. The Trees For Energy is a good example of linking economic incentive to conservation efforts not so as to encourage farmers to plant trees and rehabilitate wetlands and water catchment areas but encourages them to protect and nurture them in an economically sustainable manner that alleviates poverty.
The Trees For Energy project through funding by the Kenyan Ministry of Energy has focused on providing multipurpose tree seedlings to graasroot communities. Tree nurseries and demonstration plots have been established in various parts of Kenya including Kilifi, Imenti South, Nyeri, Kericho, Kisii, Migori and Kakamega, Kitui, Uasin Gishu and Busia. Furthermore, three entrepreneurs have been supported through the project with training and materials and have successfully established hardening nurseries that supply the communities with tree planting materials.
The project set examples of successful rehabilitation of riparian and river lines of rivers Ruthui and Iraru. The rehabilitation efforts cleared agricultural crops from the river lines and restored the natural habitat through tree planting. The communities benefited through reduced silting which improved the water quality for human and animal consumption. Also, it enabled micro-hydro dams to be established that supplied lighting to community residents. Also, residents along river Iraru formed a community association to conserve the river lines.
Dr Wambugu believes that the project serves as a good model that ties the economic incentive to reforestation and conservation of the environment and that the lessons learnt through the experience can be replicated elsewhere in Africa and the world.