On a global level, Madagascar is often in the news when it comes to deforestation. On local level, forests disappear quietly and gradually, one tree here, one tree there, fueled by the need for firewood for cooking and building materials. The lack of trees, illustrated by our pictures, visualizes that it is high time to act. Eyewitness accounts of elders assure us of forests all around (with lemurs and other wildlife) in their youth.

Zahana has two experienced gardeners in each village growing trees and vegetable seedlings for the community at large (see our website.) In addition each works with the students on their school gardens. Both gardeners have become our main innovators, testing new crops in their local climate. A regular salary from Zahana gives them a secure income which allows them more freedom to experiment and literally field test (agricultural) expert advice first, before others come on board. With over 1000 coffee plants and dozens of a variety of trees given away freely over the past years and subsequently planted in schoolyards and villages, they have first hand know-how in tree planting. Our tree planting beginnings date back over 5 years to 2006.

In light of the ambitious reforestation project the community in Fiarenana decided in February 2012 to earmark the 1199 baby trees currently in their nursery for that purpose (eucalyptus, acacia, bibasse and mango). Especially the mango seedlings are already quite sizeable and ready to be planted in a permanent location. Villagers themselves bringing tree seeds to the gardener, asking him to give them a try, is another sign that this idea is feasible. Eucalyptus, a tree that would not have been our first choice, was introduced in the village nursery this way.