Notes to broadcasters on trees and reforestation

    | October 3, 2011

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    Trees bring many benefits to communities. They provide shade, maintain soil moisture, prevent soil erosion, and provide fruit, fodder and fuel.

    But planting a tree is not enough – trees need to be watered, protected and nourished. Many tree planting or reforestation projects falter through lack of monitoring or maintenance. SOS Sahel and the government of Burkina Faso have come up with an incentive scheme, described in this story, to encourage farmers to take care of their trees.

    For more information about the work of SOS Sahel, visit: http://www.sahel.org.uk/

    Here are some previous news stories on trees from Farm Radio Weekly:

    Southern Africa: Tree is a ‘fertilizer factory in the field’ (FRW 82, September 2009). http://weekly.farmradio.org/2009/09/28/2-southern-africa-tree-is-a-%E2%80%98fertilizer-factory-in-the-field%E2%80%99-mongabay-unep/

    Uganda: Beekeeping and tree planting go hand in hand (FRW 43, November 2008). http://weekly.farmradio.org/2008/11/10/uganda-beekeeping-and-tree-planting-go-hand-in-hand-by-sawa-pius-for-farm-radio-weekly-in-kampala-uganda/

    Paying farmers for environmental services (Package 87, Script 5, April 2009). http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/87-5script_en.asp

    You might like to browse some Farm Radio International scripts on trees and forestry at our archive here: http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/forestry.asp

    You may wish to produce a program to raise awareness about the value of trees for farms and farmers. Talk to farmers and farmers’ groups to explore their perceptions of trees. Fruit farmers and livestock farmers may give different opinions, according to their interests and needs. This might make for a lively and informative discussion. Find out if there are any government or NGO projects locally which promote trees, and interview the people involved, or organize a small round table discussion.