In the period 2009-2018, 40 000 trees have been planted in the Dankassari rural community (thanks to the decentralized community Cesson Dankassari) in public areas (markets, schools, health centers), or by citizens in their land grant or their fields.
The main tree species are senegal acacia (gum tree), moringa, neem, and baobab.
- The gum tree is used as a border for fields and grazing areas, thus limiting conflicts between producers in the management of property. It produces gum arabic.
- Moringa is a fast-growing sapling, even in an arid land, its leaves are extremely rich in essential nutriments.
Marketing Arabic gum and moringa leaves generates a highly valued income.
Thanks to the support of CG35, the school garden of Dogontapki will benefit from a moringa nursery: this fast-growing shrub, even in arid areas, has leaves that are rich in necessary nutriments.
Another moringa nursery will be linked to the school garden created in a Matankari village, thanks to the support of the Total Foundation.
The action is maintained in the rural commune of Dankassari. In 2019, 10,000 saplings were produced by 2 nurseries.
In Dankassari village, 6000 saplings :
- acacia senegal: 3000
- neem: 1000
- moringa: 1000
- baobab: 1000
In the village of Marake-Rogo: 4000 saplings
- acacia senegal : 3000
- moringa: 1000
In 2020, 10,000 plants were grown in the same site. All the acacia plants from Marake Rogo were planted along the wire fence of the garden site. The remaining plants (moringa, acacias, grown in Dankassari, baobab, and nem were handed over to willing villagers.
An evaluation of tree planting since 2009 was published in Magazine number 13 and an exhibition Trees for a Better Life was created.
In 2021, a total of 18,000 plants were produced at the 2 sites of Maraké Rogo and Dankassari, thanks to funding from AESCD. A third nursery was established in the commune of Dankassari, at Kaoura Lahama, initiated by a resident. The three nurseries in Maraké Rogo, Dankassari, and Kaoura Lahama were supported in 2022 and 2023.
To fertilize the soil while contributing to the development of the local economy, AECIN launched a project at the end of 2020 to construct a nursery in Maraké Bagagi (commune of Matankari). Thanks to collaborative funding, this nursery was established in 2021 and has allowed the maturation of 4,500 trees per year. These plants were then donated for planting within the commune.
This nursery remains operational, partially funded by AECIN’s resources.
In 2023, a free distribution of plants from the three nurseries in Dankassari and the nursery in Maraké Bagagi for the commune of Matankari took place on August 3rd, National Tree Day. The 16,000 plants distributed were mainly moringa, mango, acacia seyal, and neem trees.
In 2024, the nursery in Marake Bagagi remained funded by AECIN’s own resources. Instead of distributing the plants to beneficiaries as done previously, a new approach was tested: selling the plants at low prices to help sustain the nursery and reduce costs. Although planting began late, the effort was successful. Several species are present, moringa being the most in demand by the population. Unfortunately, heavy rainfall flooded the nursery, but some plants were sold just before the flooding.
The floods in the summer of 2024 convinced us of the importance of continuing to support nurseries. A crowdfunding campaign organized by AECIN will allow the reconstruction of the destroyed nursery in Marake-Bagagi (municipality of Matankarà) and the restarting, in Kaoura Lahama and Marake Rogo (municipality of Dankassari), of two other nurseries. The goal is to plant 13,500 trees in 2025 (4,500 per nursery) by combining the following species: Acacia Senegal, Moringa, Neem and Baobab.