Okomanjang Forest Garden
Okomanjang Forest Garde
Part of the Okomanjang Forest Garden is being developed by NDEF and the people of Okomanjang Village. This project is out to regenerate the Okomanjang Forest Garden for it to contribute to food sovereignty and the economic vitality of that community, conserve biodiversity and deliver a range of ecosystem services to the environment. This approach views trees to be at the centre of enhancing forestdependent livelihoods while simultaneously rendering ecosystem services. Presently, 3,500 trees have been planted in 3 of the over 25 hectares of forest. The tree species include fruit-bearing trees such as citrus, cocoa, plums, moringa oleifera, pomegranates and oil palms. There is a farmhouse measuring 9x4m, which provides accommodation for field staff and for the storage of farm equipment and materials. The farmhouse has the potential to act as a small training facility. We plan to go on sensitizing and creating conservation awareness in the community and engage many of them to plant multipurpose and fast growing trees. They would be empowered to carry out modern beekeeping activities to enhance livelihoods. After planting trees, beehives will be installed in the forest garden. The trees would serve as a source of nectar, reforestation agents, soil fertility improvement and for providing non-timber forest products. As the farmers soon begin to derive multiple streams of direct services from the project, they would be fully committed to planting and maintaining trees on the forest thus acting as main catalysts for conserving the environment.
