AFRICARE; GRANT AID/AFR-G-1655

Africare will provide financing for 20-acre (13,000 trees) woodlots to be established in each of five villages. Nursery supplies and equipment, plantation hand tools, and additional seedlings (to replace those that die after the first year) will also be provided. The woodlots will be prepared in cooperation with (and eventually turned over to) village quasi-cooperatives and will provide firewood, while alleviating soil erosion and protecting against drought. The trees will be started as seedlings in nearby nurseries. After attaining sufficient height and maturity, the seedlings will be transported by the Foresty Service to plots prepared by the villagers. Fast-growing species such as "Eucalyptus camaldulensis" and "Azidirachta Indica" will be planted. Other species such as "Prosopis juliflora", "Pithecellobium dulce", "Cassia Siamea", "Acacia albida" (cadd), "Anacardium occidentale" (cashew) will be grown to provide products for construction, food, grazing, shade, windbreaks, medicine, ropes, dyes, soap, etc. The Forestry Service will train and supervise the villagers in nursery management. In addition, visits by extension agents and other support will be provided in subsequent years.