The Support Service for Local Development Initiatives (SAILD) planted forest and fruit trees in three villages bordering Deng Deng National Park. This took place from June 22 to July 2, 2025, in Kambocassi, Hona, and Mansa in the Belabo district of eastern Cameroon.
The goal of this mission led by SAILD is to increase the number of trees in degraded areas in order to contribute to the community restoration of degraded forest areas in the Deng Deng National Park landscape. Over a period of 11 days, the organization coordinated the planting of exactly 2,802 young fruit and forest trees in degraded areas in the villages of Kambocassi, Hona, and Mansa, which border the park. “Six months ago, we produced forest and fruit tree seedlings in three nurseries in the beneficiary villages. After assessing the condition of the seedlings in each nursery, we selected those that were ready for planting, including ndjansang, cocoa, andock, and avocado trees” explained Aristide Tchounkeu, an agricultural engineer at SAILD.
6.24 hectares of restored land
In each locality, public spaces were given priority for planting. A total of 2,023 young fruit and forest trees were planted in these areas. Under the direction of the agricultural station manager, the first seedling was planted by the chief of each village. “After planting in public spaces, the cocoa seedlings and the remaining avocado, ndjansang, and andock seedlings were distributed to participants divided into households. Nearly 100 households benefited, with at least eight seedlings each. The beneficiaries planted them individually in their fields” Aristide explained.
In all three villages, the communities have been given responsibility for the young trees. A total of 926 trees have been planted in Kombocassi, 921 in Hona, and 955 in Mansa. “The fruit tree nurseries are still present in the communities and tree seedlings continue to be produced there. Given the number of trees planted during this mission, we can say that 41.6% or 6.24 hectares of land have been restored” concluded Aristide Tchounkeu. Through the “Participatory Restoration of the PNDD Forest Landscape” project supported by the IKI Small Grants Program, SAILD plans to produce 5,000 fruit and forest tree seedlings in all of these villages to restore 15 hectares of land.
- Sharon Maché
