Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Conservation Project 2: Soil Erosion
Our mangrove project continues and the second project will be starting again soon. Over 60 mangroves are growing strong within the fence area and this is due to be removed to a new area next week.
So we have turned our efforts towards our second pilot project which is run in conjunction with Department of Environment and Department of Agriculture. The project is being initiated in the village of Utungake as they approached us with the issues they are facing.
Our project includes locating areas where soil erosion is effecting both the environment and the community agricultural areas. Soil erosion on any small islands effects not just terrestrial environments but also marine habitats as well, as the run off enters the ocean through mangrove areas and effects corals, fish life and the mangroves themselves.
To begin the project we located 2 areas, one of the cliff side and one in the village where our pilot project will take place. The aim is to protect from further erosion but also replenish the damaged soils for agricultural benefit.
To do this the Department of Agriculture attended a meeting last year, where Mucuna beans were recommended in combating soil erosion. Mucuna beans are used to replenish depleted soils through enhancing the nitrogen content in the soil.
We have carried out soil tests here to determine the suitability of the plant and established the benefits of the mucuna beans to the area.
As part of all our conservation programmes, the community commitment is paramount to the success of the project. Utungake yesterday along with VEPA volunteers cleaned up the coastal side and land side for the project to go ahead. Over 30 residents of the village joined in the clean up and a trash management proposal is being worked on through other VEPA members that will benefit and continue the commitment of the community.
Further updates on this project will be soon as we hope to implement the next stage in the coming week.
So we have turned our efforts towards our second pilot project which is run in conjunction with Department of Environment and Department of Agriculture. The project is being initiated in the village of Utungake as they approached us with the issues they are facing.
Our project includes locating areas where soil erosion is effecting both the environment and the community agricultural areas. Soil erosion on any small islands effects not just terrestrial environments but also marine habitats as well, as the run off enters the ocean through mangrove areas and effects corals, fish life and the mangroves themselves.
To begin the project we located 2 areas, one of the cliff side and one in the village where our pilot project will take place. The aim is to protect from further erosion but also replenish the damaged soils for agricultural benefit.
To do this the Department of Agriculture attended a meeting last year, where Mucuna beans were recommended in combating soil erosion. Mucuna beans are used to replenish depleted soils through enhancing the nitrogen content in the soil.
We have carried out soil tests here to determine the suitability of the plant and established the benefits of the mucuna beans to the area.
As part of all our conservation programmes, the community commitment is paramount to the success of the project. Utungake yesterday along with VEPA volunteers cleaned up the coastal side and land side for the project to go ahead. Over 30 residents of the village joined in the clean up and a trash management proposal is being worked on through other VEPA members that will benefit and continue the commitment of the community.
Further updates on this project will be soon as we hope to implement the next stage in the coming week.
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