The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) is funding a project, led by a youth NGO, for the rehabilitation of degraded forests in the Soche Mountain Forest Reserve in Malawi through community forest management.
29 June 2011: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) is funding a US$41,321 project for the rehabilitation of degraded forests in the Soche Mountain Forest Reserve in Malawi.
Through a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) facilitated by the Sustainable Rural Growth and Development Initiative (SRGDI), a youth NGO, the GEF SGP is encouraging a participatory initiative to involve communities to re-establish forest cover on Soche Mountain. The Soche Mountain Land Care Extension project is implemented by the SRGDI. It includes applying good agricultural practices on farmland just below the mountain, such as tree planting, the promotion of natural regeneration of endemic vegetation, soil and water conservation practices and capacity building. The project demonstrates that community involvement and empowerment can lead to both conservation and livelihoods benefits. [GEF Press Release]