The Great Green Wall initiative Africa

By Liliana Usvat

Blog 170-365

While countries that have forest use forest management to promote logging and lend land to companies that destroy forest on industrial scale other parts of the globe feel the result of environmental destruction  trough desertification poverty and desert storms.

A pan-African proposal to “green” the continent from west to east in order to battle desertification.  It aims at tackling poverty and the degradation of soils in the Sahel-Saharan region, focusing on a strip of land of 15 km (9 mi) wide and 7,100 km (4,400 mi) long from Dakar to Djibouti.  

Populations in Sahelian Africa are among the poorest and most vulnerable to climatic variability and land degradation.  They depend heavily on healthy ecosystems for rainfed agriculture, fisheries, and livestock management to sustain their livelihoods.  These constitute the primary sectors of employment in the region and generate at least 40 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in most of the countries.

The vision of a great green wall to combat ecological degradation was conceived in 2005 by the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and the idea was strongly supported by President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal. The vision evolved into an integrated ecosystem management approach in January 2007, when the African Union adopted declaration 137 VIII, approving the “Decision on the Implementation of the Green Wall for the Sahara Initiative”. In June 2010, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan signed a convention in Ndjamena, Chad, to create the Great Green Wall (GGW) Agency .

There are money allocated to these initiative. The cost of this project $758,152,000 (USD)
As long as the money are not used to bring more debt to these nations, and not spent on conferences hotels restaurants of those that pretend to make decisions the idea is good.

My suggestion is to give ownership of the land to families that would take care of the land after is planted with trees, surfaces that can be managed by one family.
Also introducing permaculture concept and principles to th  reforested areas.
It is not too late to create a better society and plant more forests and make logging a thing of the past. We depend on the forest.

Senegal begins planting the Great Green Wall against climate change

The acacia trees here are just four years old, waist high and thorny. The trees are surrounded by a firewall and a metal fence to keep out tree-eating goats. All of the trees were chosen carefully. Sarr says, "When we design a parcel we look at the local trees and see what can best grow there, we try to copy Nature."

 
Two million trees are planted in Senegal each year; but all of them must be planted during the short rainy season. Labourers plant acacia saplings in the sand along with animal manure for fertiliser. Sarr points to a three feet tall tree. "This one is Acacia nilotica. It produces Arabic gum used in local medicine and a fruit that can be eaten by animals."

The Great Green Wall has received a total of 1.8 billion dollars from the World Bank and another 108 million dollars from the Global Environment Facility.   Again the difference is if is a grand or a mortgage on the future.

Senegal is currently the furthest along with the Great Green Wall. They've planted roughly 50,000 acres of trees in addition to protecting existing trees. It's been successful so far in Senegal.

Tappan has spent 30 years working in the region and admits he was shocked by the transformation: "In 2006 we did a big field trip across Niger and were just blown away by the vastness of this re-greening."

The trees should be "drought-adapted species", preferably native to the areas planted, the Great Green Wall website says, listing 37 suitable species.

The initiative says it hopes the trees will slow soil erosion; slow wind speeds and help rain water filter into the ground, to stop the desert from growing.
It also says a richer soil content will help communities across the Sahel who depend on land for grazing and agriculture.

Trees

• Prevention of shifting sand dunes is accomplished through plantations of Acacia tortilis near Laxmangarh town. 

 

• There are few local tree species suitable for planting in the desert region and these are slow growing. The introduction of exotic tree species in the desert for plantation has become necessary. Many species of Eucalyptus, 

• Acacia, 

• Cassia 

 

and other genera from , Australia, US, Russia, Zimbabwe, Chile, Peru, and Sudan have been tried in the Thar Desert.

•  Acacia tortilis has proved to be the most promising species for desert greening. 

 

• The jojoba is another promising species of economic value which has been found suitable for planting in these areas.

 

Other desert trees that can be used

•  Museum Palo VerdeCercidium-parkinsonia hybrid
• 
  
  
  
  Very fast growing hybrid version of the classic Palo Verde. Provides the unique green trunks of the original only it grows faster, is cleaner, blooms better and has no thorns. 
• Texas Ebony Pithecellobium flexicaule
• 
  Native to the arid desert, this highly decorative tree produces beautiful cream colored, fragrant flower clusters that bloom in the the late Spring and accent the trees twisting branches. 
• Ocotillo- Fouquieria splendens
  Ocotillos are used more as a unique desert-themed accent tree. This tree's looks can't be compared to anything else. Long canes of desert green, blooming fiery red at the tips make it a must for desert style landscapes    
• Blue Palo Verde Cercidium floridum
  This is the classic Palo Verde that has been growing in the Southwest USA for centuries. It's very well adapted to the desert and sports green trunks
• Acacia Saligna These Acacias grow a very wide umbrella-shaped canopy that provides filtered shade year round. They are a very fast growing tree with great durability to heat and cold. 
• Ironwood Olneya tesota The exceptionally hardy Ironwood tree makes an excellent choice for desert style landscapes. Unique trunk patterns, purple blooms, and foliage color.
• Sweet Acacia Acacia smallii This Sonoran native is well know for its beautiful and aromatic blooms during early spring. It serves as a great shade tree, especially during the hot summer months.
• Chilean Mesquite Prosopis chilenis (hybrid) Desert tree, this is a thornless variety of mesquite that provides lots of shade and grows very fast. They look great and can be planted just about anywhere.  
• Chilean Mesquite  Vitex Vites angus-castus Vitex trees provide a bit of shade and have a fantastic bloom period. Flowers appear as spikes of purple across the entire tree, and are known to attract butterflies. The complicated trunk structure is unique to the Vitex. Vitex details.
• Willow Acacia Acacia salicina Unique silver-blue leaves with a slightly weeping appearance make this tree useful for many landscape styles. Plant anywhere you need a large tree to grow quickly.  Willow Acacia details. 
• Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis  Greatly resembling a Willow, they show incredible blooms throughout the late summer and into mid-fall. 
• Shoestring Acacia Acacia stenophylla. A very unique evergreen desert tree! This extremely fast growing tree provides a tall, year-round weeping effect while using minimal water. These require very little pruning and cleanup. 
• Palo Brea Cercidium praecox This Sonoran native features unique green trunks that twist and turn to form interesting, irregular patterns throughout the tree.  Makes a fantastic focal point and provides great shade as well.

 

• Mulga Acacia Acacia aneura Native to the arid regions of Australia, this is a unique, medium size tree. Very interesting silver leaves give it the right color for all desert .
• Sissoo Tree  Dalbergia sissoo
  Closely resembling an Aspen, the Sissoo is perfectly at home in Arizona and thrives in ultra hot conditions. These trees grow very rapidly after planting

Trees for the Bees Alder

by Liliana Usvat
Blog 169-365

There is a lot that we can do, as landowners and gardeners, to encourage bees. The successful beekeeper has to be something of a botanist as well. In addition to making beekeeping more interesting, it's useful to know where and when, and on what, your bees are foraging. There are flowering plants that are attractive to bees and are suitable for a formal garden. There are trees that bees love that may be suitable for a larger garden. You could also set aside an area of your land for a 'wild' garden' or just neglect hedge bottoms so that wild forage can prosper. After all, a weed is only a plant that is not in the place you wanted it. These are the plants that bees really like:-

• Alder. This tree produces masses of pollen very early in the year

The Alder (Alnus) is the common name for a group of flowering trees and shrubs belonging to the Birch family. This interesting wind pollinated tree can take in nitrogen from the air and therefore it will improve the fertility of the soil it is growing in. The Alder provides a wonderful supply of early pollen for bees. The male catkins are long and slender with the shorter darker female catkins growing on the same tree. 

Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants (Alnus) belonging to the birch family Betulaceae. The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone.


Alder leaves and sometimes catkins are used as food by numerous butterflies and moths.
A. glutinosa and A. viridis are classed as environmental weeds in New Zealand.


Alder is particularly noted for its important symbiotic relationship with Frankia alni, an actinomycete, filamentous, nitrogen-fixing bacterium. This bacterium is found in root nodules, which may be as large as a human fist, with many small lobes, and light brown in colour. The bacterium absorbs nitrogen from the air and makes it available to the tree. Alder, in turn, provides the bacterium with sugars, which it produces through photosynthesis.

 Good for Reforestation

As a result of this mutually beneficial relationship, alder improves the fertility of the soil where it grows, and as a pioneer species, it helps provide additional nitrogen for the successional species which follow.

Species

Alder (Alnus glutinosa) is the only native alder in Britain and is also found throughout Europe as far as Siberia. It thrives in damp, cool areas such as marshes.


Medicinal Uses

Alder’s medicinal use has ancient origins. In 1640 Parkinson wrote that the ‘leaves and bark are cooling and drying. Fresh leaves laid on tumors will dissolve them.” In a 1973 study of the properties of Alnus oregona reported in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, scientists verified that the stem–bark of this species contains lupeol and betulin, compounds that suppress tumor activity.

 

Alder leaves and dried inner bark are bitter; they act on the mucous membranes of the mouth and stomach to stimulate digestion. (See Caution, following). 

Alder decoctions are a good camping remedy for stomach ache. In addition, they are astringent and hemostatic, tightening tissues, stopping discharges, and reducing inflammation. 

Strong alder decoctions can be sipped in emergencies for internal bleeding, when no doctor is available (though I’d prefer shepherd’s purse or yarrow it present). Some western Indian tribes used to inject alder infusions into the anus for bleeding piles.

Alder’s tonic properties make it helpful for strengthening and toning the whole system. For a more palatable tonic tea, blend with nettle leaves, dandelion, and devil’s club roots.

Use of alder in Alaska is widespread. Lillian Elvsaas says that when growing up in Port Graham she was given ‘alder berry’ tea for diarrhea. 

This was prepared by boiling 3 or 4 of the green immature female fruits and taking 2 to 3 tablespoons of the decoction a few times a day. A St. Marys resident recommended a similar brew for tuberculosis. In the Kobuk River area, Eskimos apply alder leaves poultices for insect stings and bites.

For a soothing bath for children with measles or adults with rheumatism, prepare alder vinegar bath additive. Follow procedures for Raspberry Vinegar recipe, but substitute one pound bark. Add 1/4 cup (or more if desired) alder vinegar to the bath water.

Red alder, Alnus rubra. Alder bark, leaves, and cones are medicinal. Alder has multiple uses, all highly valuable.

It’s detoxifying, both as a blood purifier and a lymphatic cleanser. It’s also astringent and good for supporting absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, according to herbalist Michael Moore. Alder is also used internally as a remedy for tuberculosis and sore throat; externally as a wash for skin infections.

Use  alder with against antibiotic-resistant staph infections and externally infused into oils for pain relief. She says the catkins and bark are the most potent parts for pain-relieving. Herbalists from the nineteenth century write about using it for chronic skin infections of various kinds.

Alder bark

A tincture after drying the plant matter first, using one part plants to five parts menstruum with 50% alcohol. Other sources write about tincturing the fresh bark in a 1:2 ratio with 50% alcohol. You could also make a decoction, which is like a tea except you bring the plant parts to a boil and in the water and then simmer them for 15 minutes or so. (Decoctions are used for woody plant parts such as bark and roots.)

Alder is in the birch family. You can find alder trees across the country in forests near water. Red alder in particular lives on the West Coast from coastal Alaska to southern California. It prefers disturbed habitat.

Look for a deciduous tree with smooth bark that’s often mottled with white patches of lichen. The leaves are alternate, toothed, and the edges are curled under the underside, which is hairy.

It’s a pretty straight vertically growing tree, not curvy like dogwood or even cedar occasionally can be.

Alder catkins and cones

Bonus trivia: Alder heals the land too. It’s nitrogen-fixing for the soil. And you can use the bark to make an orange-red dye.

Liliana Usvat: Lessons from the Forests of Madagascar

Liliana Usvat: Lessons from the Forests of Madagascar