Forest Restoration of Illegally Logged areas

The restoration project was established in the concession areas illegally logged in 2007 by the Omex logging company. Through strong opposition from especially the women groups from Leona village this illegal logging operation was stopped before it could damage larger areas of forest. The case become known in national and regional newspapers and was followed by radio New Zeeland. More than 80 hectares of rainforest were damaged by the company and plans were made to restore the forest through replanting. An opportunity arose to do this restoration as part of the climate chance programme of the Dutch Millennium Foundation. A contract was signed with this Foundation and a company known as the Noordelijke Akoestisch Adviesburo BV. The project involves the restoration of 20 hectares of forest through replanting and natural regeneration, line planting up to 6 hectares and the establishment of a small Teak plantation of 4 hectares. Also part of the the project is a extensive awareness and training programme to encourage people from other areas to replant and maintain their forest.

Before the implementation of the program, a community general meeting was organized by NRDF staff at Leona to deliberate on the program and inform the community members about the importance of rehabilitating their own forest.

A forestry group was set up to spearhead the forest rehabilitation activities. As planned during the community meeting the entire community was to be encouraged to actively participate in rehabilitating the forest

The forestry group constructed a nursery which has a holding capacity of around 16,000 seedlings. Their next task was to identify potential mother trees still remaining in the forest management area plus some in the logged area. Seedlings of the major tree species on the island were pricked and brought back to the village and then were raised in the nursery

After two months in the nursery the seedlings are now ready for planting out in the field after the planting lines were cleared by the community members.More than 8 hectares of local timber tree species have now been planted plus a quarter hectare of teak (tectona grandis). Another 3 hectares will be finalized before September and in October rehabilitation work in old milling sites will start. This work shall be coordinated by a special appointed extension Officer of NRDF. An estimated 50 milling sites will be replanted or rehabilitated by maintaining natural regeneration

Benefits so far:

• Increased knowledge to manage own forest.
• More community members actively participating in rehabilitating the damaged and degraded forest areas.
• Leona community had set both a local and national model in protecting their natural forest and engaging in activities which to enhance the damage portion – a big commitment a community.
• The program further strengthened the community’s bonds with their forest as they explore the possibilities of renewing their forest.
• Children, youth, adult and old age members in the community were all contributing in one way or another in enhancing their own forest for the first time.
• In a way this program had created stronger bonds within the community and thus it is anticipated since the community realized and took part in the enhancing of the forest they will appreciate their forest lot more than before. They will have a stronger sense of owner ship.
• The community had been trained to select tree seedlings from identified mother trees and we have established a nursery and this wealth of knowledge and information will help for future extension programs.
• As a spillover effect of this program, many people through our community awareness about the Green house gas effect and carbon trade, other communities have requested us (NRDF) to go and do the same or similar kind of programs in their areas even in other Provinces in the Country.

By: Steven Suti (Natural Resources Officer NRDF)