News and Activities

Since the implementation of our project in the Linko region is going well, we are considering extending our project to the neighbouring Beyla Prefecture. We are therefore starting a two-day prospection to check that the social and environmental conditions are similar to those in the Linko sub-prefecture and that our method can be applied there in the same way. Our exploration will take us to the capital of the sub-prefecture of Karala. On this map, we can see the Ivorian border to the north-east, but even without obstacles, we can easily triple the time indicated by Google Maps: But our route is full of pitfalls, starting with a tree trunk across the road, following the violent storm of the previous night:   Then we cross the Dion river, a tributary of the Niger river. Then, just before nightfall, our vehicle refuses to continue, and this in the middle of the

After the seeds have been coated, when the pellets are dry, you can start direct seeding. To be more efficient, this activity is done in groups: everyone stands on one side of the field to be planted, in two lines with a space of two metres between each person. The people in the first line each make a small hole in front of them with the hoe, then take two large steps forward and repeat the operation. The people in the back line then place a seedball in each hole and take two large steps forward to the next hole. And so on to the other end of the field. In this way a density of 5000 diverse seedballs per hectare is achieved, of which about 60% will germinate during the rainy season. Spot seeding eliminates weeds around the sapling and facilitates root penetration into the soil. It also prevents

Today, we visited 7 plots sown last year to measure the germination and survival rate. Suspense! Will the seedlings survive the drought, herbivores, fire and competition from other species? The observations are very interesting and motivating! Firstly, at this time of year, the abundant vegetation makes it difficult to identify “our” shoots. So there is no need to use aerial images with our drone, it is green on green. On one of the plots of land, the shoots exceed human size: The second observation is that natural regeneration also takes care of our fields: many seeds present in the soil or brought by animals have also germinated and it takes the trained eye of our partner Guidre to count the “good” shoots. Fortunately having sown in line helps to spot our plants 🌱🪴 Thirdly there are huge differences between plots, caused mainly by fire and also the nature of the

The training of the Community Management Committees has started! As a reminder, in each of the 26 villages where arboRise carries out its reforestation activities, we have formed a Community Management Committee of 15 to 17 members (including several women) whose mission is to develop activities and infrastructures for the population (in all areas: environment, agriculture, health, mobility, etc.). For 2 days we welcome 52 delegates (2 per CMC) from the 26 villages to Linko. They are provided with food and accommodation and receive a comprehensive training on good governance, good leadership behaviour, structuring their committee and building hedgerows. At the official introduction to the seminar the Sub-Prefect made a strong plea for the project and formulated very clear expectations in particular to eliminate the practice of slash and burn (as required by Guinean law). All the official speeches are recorded by a journalist and broadcast in full several times

Back in Guinea to conclude our 2021-2022 reforestation campaign and draw conclusions just before the winter season. The rains have already started and the country is a real paradise. The countryside is green, the mango trees are bursting with fruit, the clothes look even more colourful than usual, and the trees are not to be outdone, like this magnificent flamboyant in bloom: With our partner Guidre we start with a series of workshops to draw the lessons from the six months of campaigning in the field: what worked well? what surprised us? what were the obstacles? how do people feel about our approach? etc. By cross-checking everyone’s perceptions with the observations from Léa Ackerer’s interviews, we get a fairly coherent overall picture of our impact and the potential for improvement. Then we list all the risks of our project together. Collective intelligence ensures that nothing is forgotten and that each

Members of the association play a “serious game” developed for arboRise by the ForDev of the ETHZ. The aim? to better understand the stakes of our action in Guinea. By playing it is easier to put yourself in the shoes of the families participating in our project. By observing the other players, we also discover how others react differently to the same reality. Because a game is also a way of resolving tensions that may arise during a change. Whether it is the construction of windmills in Switzerland or the creation of a protected nature reserve in a tropical country, the ecological transition brings about changes that disrupt the lives of the inhabitants. Any conflicts that arise can be resolved in court or behind bars. But these are win-lose outcomes that are not sustainable. It is preferable to seek an amicable settlement, through mediation for example. The serious games developed

Our collaboration with the Water and Forests Department of the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD) is essential for the smooth running of the project. After a year of operations in the field, we take stock of the situation with Mr Kemo Camara, the head of the Water and Forests section in Kérouané.