The first phase of the project Land Restoration & Re-Greening Project in Somalia was completed

Project Background

Land Restoration and Re-Greening Program is a join project initiated, funded and implemented by SONRREC and Jazeera University which is aimed to restore the degraded land for hope and improve the livelihood of pastoral and agropastoral communities and address the impacts of climate change to natural resources sectors for Somalia through planting beneficial trees/plants and increase awareness raising on environmental protection.

Land degradation is a key environmental issue in Somalia, closely linked to desertification, drought and unsustainable livestock and agricultural practices. Agriculture and livestock form the basis of the Somali population’s livelihoods which makes the country highly vulnerable to the impacts of environmental problems. Land degradation is a massive problem in Somalia and must be addressed to restore our ecosystem to make Somalia green and healthy environment.

Almost 85% of the Somali population livelihood depends on land for crop and livestock production while the land is highly degraded, threatening food security and nutrition of the poorest, most vulnerable farmers and pastoralists across Somalia. To address these challenges and fight climate change, planting indigenous trees are scientifically proven to be the only solution for reclamation of Somalia’s degraded lands. Trees are also proven to provide so many benefits to our everyday lives. They filter clean air, provide fresh drinking water, help climate change, and create homes for thousands of species of plants and animals. SONRREC’s initiative on planting a million trees can help to reduce the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. There are four phases, planting 1000 trees, planting 10,000 trees, planting 100,000 and 1000,000 trees with a vison a Billion trees in the future.

Project phases:

The first phase of the project was completed and two separate nurseries were established, one in Afgoye district and the other in Daarusalaam. The two institutions planned and started to establish in phase one, four types of trees which are indigenous plants in Somalia with high value for the environment. These are Desert date Balanites aegyptiaca, Tamarind Tamarindus indica, Christ's Thorn Jujube Ziziphus spina-christi and Moringa, Moringa oleifera.

Desert date

Desert date Balanites aegyptiaca, it can live for 2 years without water. Also, It may well live for over 100 years in harsh conditions. On the other hand, desert date used as great green wall project in Senegal for controlling desert expanding to the fertile soil. it is ideal for sustainable harvest as it thrive throughout the Sahel region and are known for heavy yields of fruit, up to 10,000 annually, each of which produces a kernel which can be pressed into oil for cosmetics. As such, the desert date tree provides an alternative to Argan for the volume of oils required worldwide production of cosmetics. Results of some researchers indicated biodiesel production directly from oil of Desert date Balanites aegyptiaca.

Tamarind

Tamarind Tamarindus indica is one of the indigenous fruit tree species that traditionally contributes to food security and ecosystem stability in sub-Saharan Africa. Also, it is a valuable tree species in Somalia and elsewhere in semi-arid Africa—for fruit, timber, leaves and shade. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic, it has single species. Tamarind is tolerance to salt spray, strong winds and drought conditions. It is used traditionally in abdominal pain, diarrhea and dysentery, helminthes infections, wound healing, malaria and fever, constipation, inflammation, cell cytotoxicity, gonorrhea, and eye diseases.

Moringa

Moringa Moringa oleifera is widely regarded as a 'miracle tree' it has been described by many as 'a nutritional and medicinal value. Its seed powder is particularly effective in purifying water.

Christ's thorn jujube

Christ's thorn jujube Ziziphus spina-christi is a perennial, drought hardy tree. It is widely cultivated for its fruit, timber and use as fodder for livestock. Z. spina-christi is very resistant to heat and can be found in desert and arid areas with a mean annual rainfall from 50 mm to 500mm