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Promoting forest governance

Supporting communities in Mali's Segou region to use and protect their local forests.

The project

This three-year project (running from 2021-24), will work to promote of local forest governance, investments in forests and support for Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Mali's Segou region. In doing so, we aim to stimulate a sustainable improvement of livelihoods for 3,000 rural households in the Tominian Cercle area

This project is based on the successful Strengthening Forest Management project, also implemented in Mali, where Tree Aid supported local communities to use, protect, and restore the Duwa and Sutebwo forests.

Learn more about our connected forest management project

Why is this project needed?

Over the last three decades, nearly two million hectares of forest have been lost from Mali, mostly to make space for farmland — this is known as deforestation. The Ségou region of Mali has been hit particularly hard by deforestation and the effects of the climate crisis.

With rainfall becoming more unpredictable, and soil losing its fertility, people are struggling to grow trees and crops — something which they depend on for food and income. As a result, over half the population of Mali live in poverty. 

Our aims

Through this project, we are aiming to:

  • Strengthen the governance and management of four communes (Yasso, Tominian, Benena and Sanekuy) in the Tominian Cercle area. 
  • Increase women’s participation in this governance work, which will involve the redistribution of management roles for forest resources 
  • Promote the adoption of land restoration activities to help restore degraded land
  • Reduce pressure on forest resources, by providing training in improved charcoal production
  • Increase income for eight Village Tree Enterprises (comprising 400 members), as part of wider plans to stimulate the economic development of forest resources

Since starting this project at the end of 2021, we have:

  • Established 0

    nurseries

  • Trained 0

    people in soil & water retention techniques 

  • Planted 0

    trees

Our partners

This project was made possible with funding from The Darwin Initiative and support from our local partner, Sahel Eco.