Fire Fighting and Community Forestry in Chikweti Forests

USDA Forest Service
Technical Assistance Trip:
Fire Fighting and Community Forestry in Chikweti Forests
Lichinga, Niassa, Republic of Mozambique
In support of the 5F Project, a collaborative effort between Chikweti Forests of
Niassa, the Global Solidarity Fund International, Diocese of Niassa, and the United
States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service
FINAL REPORT – September 30, 2007
Mission Dates: August 13 - 25, 2007
Prepared by
Cathy Calloway
Timber and Silviculture Program Leader
USDA Flathead National Forest
Kalispell, MT
406 758-5263
[email protected]
List of Acronyms
5 F Program: Forests, Finance, Food, Fuel and Future
GSFI
Global Solidarity Fund International
FSC
Forest Stewardship Council
NGO
Non-Governmental Organization
PFTC
Prescribed Fire Training Center
SARL
Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods
USAID
United States Agency for International Development
USDA
United States Department of Agriculture
USFS
United States Forest Service
USFS/IP
United States Forest Service International Programs
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Executive Summary
Introduction: Scope of Technical Assistance
Background and Context
Observations and Recommendations
Fire Management
Community Development
Potential USFS Support to Implementation and Next Steps
Annex 1: Mission Itinerary
Annex 2: Statement of Work
Annex 3: Statistics on Training Delivered
Annex 4: Products from Trip
o Draft Chikweti Fire Plan and
Recommendations for Program Growth
o Draft 5 F Community Development Plan - 4
month (rest of 2007) reflecting revised priorities
and detailed “next steps” - English and
Portuguese
o Draft 5F Community Development 12 month
proposal (2008)
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank my gracious hosts from the Chikweti Forests and
Niassa Dioceses. Despite their busy agendas and the many demands on their time,
they took time to share their knowledge and experience, answer my countless
questions, exchange ideas and experiences to make my visit a productive one. I
hope that this trip has been constructive for Chikweti Forests, and ultimately will be
beneficial to the people of Niassa. Specifically, I want to extend my thanks to:
Asa Thom, Director of Chikweti
Lasse Lundberg, vice Managing Director of Chikweti
Jan Skoglund: Chikweti Operations Forester
Mr. Mombo, Chikweti Administrative Officer
Jon Prabbruwe, Community Development Project Leader
White Rev. Mark Van Koevering, Bishop of Niassa Province
Margaret Rainey, Vice-President of Global Solidarity Fund
Lauren Chitty, USFS International Programs Project Leader
Donny and Marleto, Interpreters during fire training and prevention
meeting
Executive Summary
This technical assistance trip was requested by Global Solidarity Fund International
(GSFI) to provide advice on all aspects of fire management, to assist in the evolution
of the young Chikweti fire program. As a secondary area of focus, Community
Forestry technical assistance was requested. This as to be contingent upon the
availability of time.
During the course of the two week visit to the Chikweti Forests, a written Fire
Management Plan was developed to document on-going fire prevention and
management activities. In addition, recommendations were made for future growth of
the fire management program. Six fire fighting training sessions were conducted with
Chikweti staff and District work teams, to provide initial training and “live fire”
experience for 106 workers. I participated in a meeting sponsored by the District
Administrator to bring together local village chiefs to discuss fire prevention. At this
rare gathering, village and government leaders had the opportunity to talk together
about fire prevention. I had the opportunity to emphasize the importance of fire
prevention, and the village leader role in conveying this message to their people.
During a limited opportunity to work with Community Development staff, I helped to
formulate priorities and next steps for project work under the 5F grant in the shortand longer term. I provided a number of recommendations regarding the
coordination of development projects with activities that are undertaken by other
organizations such as Chikweti.
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Introduction: Scope of Technical Assistance
After a long civil war in the 1980s and early 1990s, Mozambique has been in
transition to a democratic market-based economy. The economy has been rapidly
expanding, and forestry is an important part of that economic growth.
Numerous companies are acquiring renewable 50 year concessions from the
government, as an incentive to participate in the long-term development needed to
re-forest and establish the infrastructure to support a sustainable forest industry.
Global Solidarity Fund International (GSFI) is embarking on an ambitious forestry
program in northern Mozambique in the Province of Niassa. One portion of this
program is the Chikweti Forests on the Lichinga Plateau near the Provincial capital
of Lichinga.
GSFI, the Diocese of Niassa, and the US Forest Service are participating in a
combined effort called the “5F Program: Forests, Finance, Food, Fuel and Future”.
The program is designed to support the responsible creation and exploitation of
forest resources, conservation of these same resources for future generations,
increased investment and revenue flow (finance) in Niassa Province, and access to
adequate food and fuel for the local population.
GSFI is a private equity initiative by the Diocese of Vasteras, Church of Sweden and
the National Endowment of the Church of Norway. It is an enterprise which
undertakes forestry projects in the developing world, which will provide
environmental, economic, and social benefits. They are engaged in a number of
development projects in Mozambique, and elsewhere in Africa.
The Diocese of Niassa has been leading community development in the Province of
Niassa for the last 15 years. Its development programs encompass health care,
agriculture, HIV/AIDS care and adult literacy. It serves all regardless of religion,
creed, race, and gender and is an established presence in many villages.
The USDA Forest Service has access to experts in many aspects of forestry and
forest management who can be brought in to consult as needed. The three partners
each bring complementary skills to the 5F project.
GSFI requested US Forest Service assistance in the development of the Chikweti
Forests Fire Management Program. According to the availability of time, GSFI also
requested USFS support in the community forestry aspect of the 5F development
activities. This mission follows a prior USFS Technical Assistance visit by Bill Van
Bruggen and Scott Stewart in March of 2006, which also focused on fire
management and community forestry. This technical assistance mission was
designed to coincide with the fire season in northern Mozambique, to assess current
fire management efforts, and contribute in the areas of developing the Chikweti Fire
Management Plan, teaching fire fighting and fire prevention.
Community forestry activities were to be conducted to the extent possible in the time
available. Suggestions and, if possible, resources to assist in addressing priority
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community forestry concerns were to be identified through dialogue with leaders
involved in community forestry activities.
Background and Context
The Chikweti Forests, as currently delineated, comprise an area of about 35,000
hectares (ha), most of which is currently not forested, but in grassland. Initial
development efforts are focused on: negotiation with local villages to establish
concession areas; delineation of those areas; splitting the concession into districts,
each with areas for plantation, and protected reserve; and an aggressive nursery
and reforestation effort. Over time, the concession is planned to grow up to 150,000
ha. Chikweti is also managing an existing older pine plantation near Lichinga where
some limited harvest will occur. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification is
being pursued.
Chikweti Forests landscape
All aspects of the Chikweti Forests are experiencing impressive growth. The process
of negotiating to increase land area is ongoing, as is the hiring and training of staff,
and the procurement of supplies and equipment to support the program. The latter is
a difficult task, as most supplies come by truck from the capital city of Maputo, a 4
day drive away for the trucks transporting needed goods. Other supplies arriving
from elsewhere in Africa, or from Sweden, are often delayed at the border or in
transit, and can take many months to arrive.
The Chikweti Forests are being organized into 15 Districts for management
purposes. Each district will have a Supervisor plus crew of about 20 workers who will
accomplish all tasks, including fire fighting. The plan is for each District to total
approximately 1500 ha, with 1000 ha in plantation of various ages, and
approximately 500 ha in reserves.
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In the last two years, a nursery, sawmill, and treatment plant have been developed,
and 3500 hectares of plantations established. The nursery in Lichinga is being
rapidly expanded each year, with plans to cultivate 6 million pine and eucalyptus
seedlings over the next few months for planting starting in November. Building of
additional space is fast and furious at the nursery, and workers are mixing soil and
planting as quickly as possible to have seedlings ready to plant once the rains arrive.
A holding nursery has been established in Baldeze, more central to the concession,
to create more space for cultivation at the main nursery. By next year the nursery
facilities should support 6000 ha of planting annually.
Currently Pinus patula and Pinus eliota are the primary species being planted. The
plan is to thin these plantations at year 7 and again at year 12, with final harvest at
about age 22. Thinning materials should provide fuelwood for the local villages. By
including various age forests in each District, there should be a continuing supply of
fuelwood from the plantations. Once issues with cultivation and survival of
Eucalyptus are worked out, planting of it will increase, as it can be grown to rotation
even more quickly.
A very limited amount of harvest is currently occurring in the concession. Near
Lichinga, Chikweti has built a small sawmill and wood treatment plant. They will be
expanded over time to be ready when the first planted Chikweti forests reach
commercial harvest age about 20 years from now.
Fire Management
As the Chikweti Forests are being established, managers have been working at the
same time to launch a fire prevention and management program to assure that the
plantations and new infrastructure at the nursery and mill are protected. This will be
critical to Chikweti’s success, given the frequency of fire on the landscape of
Mozambique. A US Forest Service mission in March 2006, the first to Mozambique,
provided advice to help the fire management program get started. This visit was
designed to provide assistance in further program development.
Any fire management problem can be considered by looking at three components:
risk, hazard, and values to be protected. In Mozambique and Chikweti, a challenging
mixture of the three occurs.
The risk of fire is tremendous. Some reports suggest that more than 70% of the
northwestern Mozambique landscape burns every year (Page 27, ETOA for
USAID/Mozambique). Fire is a common and accepted part of life in Niassa Province
and the villages adjoining the Chikweti forests. Virtually all fires are person caused,
as any lighting in this area occurs during the rainy season when potential fires are
quickly extinguished by the accompanying torrential rains. Fires are principally
caused by: intentional burning to prepare machambas (subsistence gardens),
burning to flush game in hunting, fires started by kilns used for brick making, and
careless fires from sources such as cigarettes or children playing with matches.
These fire starts likely occur year-round, but are primarily a problem during the dry
winter season. The concepts of fire prevention and fire fighting are not a part of
Mozambican culture.
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Hazard reflects the available fuel characteristics including volume, type, condition
and arrangement. Due to past deforestation, the areas of the Chikweti concession
are currently dominated by tall dense grass, often in excess of 2 meters high. Much
of the area is very flat, with small riparian areas at various intervals with some trees
and shrubs in addition to grass. Interspersed are lesser areas of native forest, where
grass and shrub understories are present but less abundant. All of these areas have
historically been visited by frequent fire for so many generations that the ecological
role of fire without human intervention is not clear. Native forests seem to be
generally open, and can probably support underburning fires with little impact.
Weather cycles are such that grass is lush and abundant, and dry enough to burn,
from May or June until November or when the rains begin. The most challenging
season for fire fighting is the end of the winter season, from mid-August to
November.
Chikweti landscape, with fuelbreak and fire lookout at right
Values to be protected are changing with the development of Chikweti plantations. In
the past, the primary values were areas where people live – cities such as Lichinga
(population with surrounding area near 200,000), plus the many small villages of a
few families to a few hundred families. Areas around villages tend to be very open:
bare dirt immediately surrounding the residences, with grass beyond; the majority of
nearby trees have been cut for machambas or fuel wood for cooking. With this
clearing providing a fairly effective fuelbreak, fire threatening villages is not seen as a
large problem. However a 2001 study in Mozambique found that 39% of women
confirmed that their house had burned down one time or another (Virtanen et al.
2002). So perhaps it is a problem, but not one that people have felt they could do
anything about.
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With the arrival of Chikweti, and the establishment of pine and eucalyptus
plantations, there is suddenly a considerable commercial investment to be protected.
Currently there are 3500 hectares planted, with planting occurring at an increasing
rate. Chikweti plans to plant 6000 ha annually over the next decade, until the
concession is fully reforested. With the expectation of plantations growing for up to
22 years for commercial harvest, there is clearly a need to change the pattern of
perpetual burning of the local landscape. Uncontrolled fire is viewed as the greatest
threat to plantation forestry in Mozambique (Fire Situation in Mozambique, 2001)
This convergence of conditions sets the stage for the rapidly growing Chikweti Fire
Management program.
Activities
Week 1 contained exposure to a full range of fire management activities at Chikweti
via visits to the concession with Jan Skogland, the Operations Forester who has the
lead for Chikweti fire prevention and fire fighting. The week started with an excellent
tour of the Chikweti concession area, which currently includes at least 9 separate
parcels, stretching from Lichinga northwest approximately 100 kilometers to
Macucue. The boundaries and extent of the Chikweti forests are rapidly expanding,
as potential areas are identified and boundaries agreed with individual village chiefs
and the Government of Mozambique. This time looking at conditions on the ground
let me begin to understand the fire problem faced by Mozambique in general and
Chikweti in particular.
There are a tremendous number of person caused fires obvious on the landscape.
Driving around on any given day, I could see a dozen fires, from those in the distant
forest, to fires right by the roadway, or very close to a village. Prior to the arrival of
Chikweti, there was no organized effort to control any of these fires.
During my visit, one to two fires a day in the dryer Lichinga area occurred near the
nursery or plantations and required a fire fighting response. I was able to directly
witness one fire response while we were visiting the nursery. The crew was quickly
gathered from nursery workers, and they swiftly extinguished the fire with beaters,
before the tractor with water could even arrive (much to the amusement of all but the
tractor operator). The fire had been started by a nearby brick making activity.
Our travels also let me see the important values at risk – the nursery, sawmill, and
plantations of pine and eucalyptus. Each year in the future, the area in plantations
will increase, making the values to be protected more widespread within the
concession. Rapidly growing planted trees are expected to reach 2 meters in 2
years, and the fire issue will change from one of grass fires, to forest fires.
During our travels, I observed villages in proximity to concession districts, planted
pine and eucalyptus seedlings with clearing, firebreaks, recent burning, areas of
clearing for upcoming planting, native forest and gardens (machambas). This was a
great overview of the fuels and topography impacting local fire activity. Jan, Mr.
Mombo and I had excellent discussion of how native people use the land, and use
fire.
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I was able to observe a meeting of Chikweti managers to discuss how planned
districts will be delineated, immediate staffing and on-the-ground activity needs in
each district, priorities for development etc. This was very useful to understand how
fire management activities may need to be structured to work with evolving
management plans.
Wednesday and Thursday, we conducted introductory fire training sessions with
outlying village crews including “live fire” practice. In all, six sessions were conducted
for 106 people, with the majority of the participants being relatively new employees
with no experience in fire fighting. With a short explanation of fire basics, safety, and
appropriate use of the “beaters” (translated into the local language), the crews were
eager to get some practice. Each group got a chance to see how a few swats with
the beater could extinguish a very small spot fire. Then we let them work with a
slightly bigger fire until all could see the basic tactic of working from the back of the
fire, “in the black”, in two groups to surround the fire from either side. The training
was enough to help build confidence that workers would be ready to respond when a
fire was spotted in the area of their plantations. Each session ended with a picture of
the proud new fire fighters.
Chikweti workers fire training at Baldeze
Friday, based on the week’s discussion of fire management activities in progress and
planned, I drafted a Fire Management Plan for Chikweti, patterned after the standard
USFS Interagency template. (See Annex 4) After review and fine tuning, this should
provide a good basis for future evolution of the fire program at Chikweti. Suggestions
for possible next steps are included in each program area.
Saturday provided a chance for observation of the use of prescribed fire at Chikweti.
The objective was to widen an existing fuelbreak adjacent to the main road. After a
short briefing, a crew of about 6 used grass “torches” to ignite this area of tall grass
to help protect an adjacent plantation from any stray fire starts along the road. With a
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pumper truck in support, the fire was kept out of the downwind riparian area. During
the burning activity, the wind shifted to be towards the plantation, with some
significant wind lofting material into the plantation area. The fine fuels were quickly
burned out, with a backpack pump used to help extinguish the last hot spots.
The burnout was completed in a couple of hours, and guards were left on site to
ensure no further problems. The result was a successful black barrier which
increased the fuelbreak width from 2 to 4 times its original 10 meter width.
Fuelbreak burnout
Tuesday of week 2, I participated with Chikweti managers in a meeting in Baldeze
which included 9 chiefs from surrounding villages. Included were Niassa Province
Government officials, Chikweti representatives and a number of local dignitaries,
totaling thirty-five people. This unusual meeting provided a means for both the
Government and Chikweti to impart a fire prevention message and discuss the steps
to build firefighting capacity.
As a representative of the United States, I had the opportunity to stress the
importance of fire prevention, the need to build up fire fighting capacity to protect the
plantations and associated livelihood of many of their villagers, and the adverse soil
impacts of repeated burning.
Community Forestry and Development
Niassa Province is the least populated, and one of the poorest provinces in
Mozambique. The majority of residents live in rural villages, and rely on subsistence
agriculture for food and family survival, as their ancestors have done for generations.
Gardens or machambas consist primarily of maize and beans, although other crops
are grown on a limited basis for sale. The present slash and burn practice demands
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new land every few years; a machamba is normally used only for three to five years,
and then must lie fallow for decades. As a result of this rotating agriculture system
and increasing village populations, machambas have become increasingly far from
villages, often requiring travel 5 to 10 kilometers to tend the garden. Thus there is
some potential for conflicts between land set aside for forest plantations and those
needed to support the machambas.
By law individuals have some right to the lands they farm, but these rights are
overlain by the government’s ownership and now concession claims. In establishing
the boundaries of the Chikweti concession, managers have negotiated with village
chiefs to accommodate areas outside of the concession to meet the village’s need
for shifting agriculture. Many of the planned plantation areas will be in areas no
longer suitable for machambas. Regardless, there are people living, and creating
and maintaining their machambas or gardens within the concession. Establishment
of the concessions is viewed by some villagers as taking away their land.
In exchange for making these agreements, village chiefs, and villages in general,
have a high expectation of what Chikweti will provide. First is employment. There is
little tradition of paid employment in the commercial sector. Chikweti is hiring local
villagers, many people who have never worked for a paycheck before, but worked
the land to survive. This has potential to impact the family dynamic, as there are
fairly well defied male versus female jobs in the family, and the daily tasks of hauling
water, collecting fuel wood, and clearing and farming the machambas must continue
even when one family member has a job.
In addition to jobs, villages are looking to Chikweti to provide other things to improve
their lives: improved food security, bicycles, better roads, services such as
ambulance, and even things such as schools and football uniforms. Some of these
will be off shoots of Chikweti development and employment. Employees may buy
one bicycle now, with cost deducted from their salary. Work boots are being
provided. Roads are being improved, and new roads are planned as the plantations
expand. Baldeze also received a gift of football jerseys (although they seem to be
gone, as new ones have been requested).
Chikweti is running a business, but also striving to establish and maintain good
relationships with the communities in and around the concession. With villager’s high
expectations, it may be a challenge at time to gracefully say no to some requests.
Many people in Niassa live on the edge, where drought, flood or one failed crop can
threaten their very survival. In this setting, it can be difficult to convince people to
embrace change, as there is no room for “failed experiments”.
The 5F Program is intended to assist development in the villages adjacent to and
surrounding the Chikweti concession, by considering the total social needs of the
villagers. A partnership and grant in place provides for a variety of development
activities, as outlined in their work plan.
During the establishment of the 5F program, it was felt that it was important for the
Community Development activities to be managed separately from the Forest
management activities. This was based on past examples where commercial
enterprises were seen as exploiting local villagers in the name of development. The
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5F program was set up to be a partnership where Chikweti would manage the
forestry enterprises and the Diocese of Niassa would lead the community
development activities. A Project Leader was hired to manage this collection of
development activities, which range from a maize based food association, to
improved efficiency cooking stoves, to improved farming practices, to increased
garden yield, to establishing community forests both for future financial benefit and to
make fuel wood more easily accessible.
Activities
Week one included separate brief orientation meetings with Bishop Mark Van
Koevering and Community Development Coordinator Jon Prabbruwe to further
discuss expectations for the mission. These discussions helped frame the
challenges and long term nature of Community Development issues, but specific
expectations for my potential contribution remained unclear. One potential area of
contribution was to help develop and document recommended priorities and actions
to continue each of the items from the 5F work plan. One additional area of possible
interest included the connection between carbon sequestration credits and Chikweti
tree planting and fire prevention. The Bishop felt this might be an emerging area
where revenues could be generated to assist communities in Niassa. A more
specific plan for my time was deferred until my fire fighting assistance activities were
substantially complete.
During the second week of my visit, I spent time with Jon Prabbruwe and his
extensionists to more fully understand the on-going Community Development
activities, and how I might be of assistance. At the time of my visit, the 5F Project,
was set to expire September 30, 2007. (It has now received an extension through
September 30, 2008.) Due to the expected expiration of the 5F project in
September, little project activity appeared to be on-going at the time of my visit. The
program, and the Coordinator, seemed to be in a state of transition, without clear
future funding or direction. It was difficult to identify any specific forestry-related
assistance that could be provided. Given this uncertainty, it seemed that the best
immediate assistance I could offer was to help define priorities among the many
aspects of the project, document the current status, and intended “next steps” for the
various activities included in the 5F work plan.
Extensive discussion Monday with Jon led to my drafting of a work plan which, if
funded, could see the 5F projects through the remainder of 2007 (September to
December). This provided Jon a basis for further discussion and contributions by his
extensionists after translation to Portuguese. Following their input and additional
clarification, the plan was ready for presentation to the Bishop. I spent the latter part
of the week working with Jon to document potential next steps and priorities for a
2008 program.
No activities were on-going related to community forestry at the time of my visit.
Initial discussion with several local villages did not generate any keenness for the
concept. There was not opportunity to contribute to furthering that discussion during
my visit.
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Closeout
A final meeting was held with Lasse Lundberg, Bishop Mark Van Koevering, and Jon
Prabbruwe on Friday to present my observations related to Chikweti fire
management as well as the Community Development program.
Observavtions and Recommendations
Fire Management
Overall observations and recommendations about the fire management program are
included here. Numerous more specific recommendations for components of the fire
management program can be found in Annex 4.
Observations
A. Program Growth
Expanding the fire program with the anticipated very rapid expansion of Chikweti
concession and plantations will require on-going attention. It is apparent that the
Chikweti staff are aware of all the components needed for a successful fire
management program. They are working simultaneously on staffing, equipment, fire
detection, training, infrastructure and fire prevention, in addition to their many other
responsibilities at Chikweti. The foundation of a good fire plan is in progress, and the
verbal plans are now put to paper (see Annex 4). For the current dry season, many
of the challenges will be with the basics:
• Ordered trucks, radios, boots and road grading equipment have not yet
arrived
• Not all planned staffing is in place, with strong supervisors lacking in some
Districts
• Additional beaters (the principal tool for fire fighting) are under construction,
but carpenters are currently focused on the nursery expansion
Supervisor and workers in many districts have no actual fire experience, thus
considerable oversight by Jan or other managers will continue to be required. In
some districts where boots were distributed, workers did not have them or did not
wear them. It is difficult to follow direction to work “in the black” if you are barefoot or
wearing plastic boots or sandals.
Recommendations
Consider the need for additional managerial staff, to allow one person to be
full time, or at least have their primary responsibility, in fire fighting and fire
prevention. It appears that Jan is stretched thin with his current, and growing,
responsibilities. The fire management program (as well as other aspects of
the operations of Chikweti) will continue to grow as the acreage of plantation
to protect increases. There will be a continued need for training of both
workers and Supervisors, managing the infrastructure and equipment, and
providing oversight to fire activities. A full-time Chikweti fire manager would
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have additional time to devote to the area of fire prevention and changing
local attitudes about fire.
A variety of thoughts about how to “grow the program” are included as an
appendix to the Draft Fire Management Plan. These should be viewed as
potential improvements, or steps to help a new program evolve over time. I
did not find any major components of the fire management program to be
missing, they are just not all equally developed. Suggestions in the Annex are
intended to help Chikweti think ahead towards what they may want the fire
management program to look like in the future.
B. Response Time
Fire suppression is all about response time -- get to fire when it is small and can be
put out most easily. It is approximately 100 km from one end of the concession to
the other, which takes about 1 ½ hours to traverse on the main paved road. Travel
time to the far end of plantations could take considerably more time, and dirt roads
are often very rutted and bumpy. Workers currently get to their job sites by foot, or by
bicycle. In the event of a fire any distance from their worksite, they would need
vehicle pick up to get to the fire rapidly. The Chikweti staff recognize this critical
travel time issue and have plans in progress:
• Equipment on order will be used to grade numerous roads, and create new
roads to facilitate faster vehicle arrival to any fire starts. Many of the current
fuelbreaks can be converted to roads with limited additional work.
• Additional range rovers will be fitted out with tanks and pumps and positioned
in various locations to allow faster response, with water.
• Additional radios on order should help assure that work supervisors and fire
guards have radio contact with each group of people working separately
within their district.
Recommendations
The plans in progress are good. Over time, there will likely be a need for
additional vehicles, including those capable of carrying a crew of workers.
New lookout locations and additional fire guards will need to be established as
the plantation areas expand.
C. Fire Prevention
Fire prevention efforts will clearly be a key to Chikweti forest success. The current
cultural view of fire is an enormous obstacle to successful plantation forestry. While
Chikweti should not be solely responsible for preventing fires, they seem to be cast
in the lead role, as the Government does not seem to have the will or capacity to
lead a fire prevention program. There will be a need to use any and all means to
work with village chiefs and communities to change the general understanding of fire
from “a part of life” to “a threat to our community and livelihoods”. This effort
demands considerable time and energy, and will require long term effort.
Recent discussion with government representatives and the local chiefs is promising.
Whatever can be done to reinforce the fire prevention message with the entire
community should continue to be pursued.
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Some interview data which included Mozambique (Virtanen, K., J. Hämäläinen, and
P. Ntela. 2002) suggests that most fires which come from agricultural burning are
caused by women rather than men, so women are an important target audience for
the prevention message.
Recommendations
Fire prevention appears to be an area where the Chikweti and Community
Development projects can work more closely together. The fire prevention
meeting I participated in with village chiefs contained 34 men and one woman.
Literacy and church group contacts include a broad segment of village
community members and could incorporate information about the importance
of fire prevention. That would help reach women in the community, who may
not be part of the leadership groups involved in other fire prevention
discussions.
Annual emphasis on fire prevention, using the means outlined in the Fire
Management Plan, will be needed.
D. Training
Fire fighting skill levels will be a challenge as the scope of plantations to be
protected, and the complexity of the fire problem are both rapidly increasing. There
will be a continuing need to keep up with training new people, as the concession
expands and new workforce is hired. Supervisors may benefit from training beyond
the basics provided thus far, as they will need the confidence to direct others in what
to do. Clear delineation of their role and discussion of what decisions they can make
independently will be helpful. I.e., can they decide to burn out outside of a
plantation? Within a plantation? Can they decide to “back off” to a better location to
try to stop a fire in the crowns of trees within a plantation, thus trading off
considerable value based on their judgment on where they can successfully stop a
fire? What will they have to base this judgment on?
District supervisors will be asked to lead their workers in more complex firefighting as
plantations grow. As plantations swiftly progress from grassland to forests, the tools
and tactics for minimizing loss to fire will also need to progress.
Recommendations
Additional training for supervisors should help them become more prepared
for the decisions they will have to make as plantations quickly grow into
forests. Elements of US Forest Service training materials provided (S-131, S190) or available through website http://training.nwcg.gov/online.html may be
helpful in providing training to improve their understanding and proficiency.
Further training of the lead fire manager in protection and fire fighting in
forested setting is desirable. There may be training opportunities available in
South Africa in forest types similar to those being developed in Chikweti. The
southern United States has many fast growing pine plantations, and the
Forest Service has a very active prescribed fire program. A study tour
between January and April, during the National Interagency Prescribed Fire
Training Center (see http://fire.r9.fws.gov/pftc/ ) to view prescribed fire
Page 16
activity might further understanding of fire behavior in pine plantations as well
as fire fighting techniques.
E. Prescribed Fire
Prescribed fire may have a logical place in preparation of plantations, but may seem
contradictory or confusing to villagers. Prescribed fire may also have a future role in
maintaining forest reserves. The current fire prevention message is to prevent all
fires. This is a simple and understandable goal to convey in prevention education.
The true story is more complex then that, as fire may be useful to expand or “clean”
fire breaks, and to prepare new areas for planting. If Chikweti is using fire as a part
of management of the forest, this will need to be clearly explained to villagers, and a
more complicated understanding of fire developed. It will need to be done carefully
so that people do not feel Chikweti is creating a double standard when it comes to
using fires.
Recommendations
In addition to the training mentioned above, specific recommendations for
prescribed fire are attached to the Draft Fire Management Plan. Clearly
communicating to village leaders prior to Chikweti use of prescribed fire will
be important so as not to undermine the simultaneous fire prevention efforts.
Communication with local villagers and Chikweti employees regarding the role
of fire, and how to use it in a controlled manner will be important. By making
villagers more aware of the risk of fire, and the possible ways to use it,
uncontrolled fire may become less of a problem over time. Fires for clearing
could be encouraged only early in the dry season, or only in certain locations,
or with assistance from Chikweti workers.
Community Development
Observations
The Community Development program was in transition at the time of my visit, with
current staff contracts about to expire and considerable uncertainty about what
would happen to program funding and personnel. I had limited opportunity to
understand the program direction and its challenges. My knowledge was based on
discussion with current Program Coordinator Jon Prabbruwe with translated input
from his extensionists. I did not have any opportunity for discussion in the villages
that these programs serve.
Working with Jon I tried to help capture a sense of possible priorities, and next steps
for the various aspects of the 5 F Program outlined in the current grant. These were
outlined in a 4 month work proposal (Sept – Dec 2007) and a proposed 12 month
work plan for 2008. Despite the numerous activities addressed in the current 5F
work plan, it seems that each of the two Program Coordinators to date have focused
primarily on a single aspect of the program, and neither of those has been able to be
fully implemented.
Page 17
It seems that this was partly due to the change in leadership bringing a new program
emphasis, and largely due to the long-term nature of the planned activities, and the
up front program establishment and education time required.
The establishment of a grain cooperative is designed to address food security
issues. Its activities: buy, hold, and then distribute grain, must follow the annual
cycle of village farming activities. The “pay off” for participants will come over the
next six months as grain is redistributed as needed, or sold for a profit to benefit
cooperative participants.
For the grain cooperative or use of fuel efficient stoves to become established,
continued leadership and education will be required. The 5F program staff plans to
strengthen these programs, if time and funding allow.
The total 5F proposal seems very comprehensive, but difficult for a single
coordinator with small staff to do justice to in a one year period.
After my visit, the 5F program grant was extended to September 2008, which should
allow continued development of many of the outlined projects.
Recommendations
Based on my limited exposure, it appeared that additional coordination and
prioritization of work might be a helpful step. It also seemed that the partnership with
Chikweti was not being fully utilized to either program’s full benefits. While a few
days of discussion by no means lets me comprehend the complex and long-term
issues in community development. Given that the 5F project has now been extended
for another year, I would offer the following suggestions, primarily in the area of
program coordination.
A. Begin the project extension with some frank discussion between the Diocese
and Program Coordinator to develop mutual understanding of how the project
will proceed, what activities will be highlighted, and how the 5F program will
be coordinated with other Diocese activities and with Chikweti. Agree to a
revised work plan, with overall priorities for implementation among the many
aspects of the work plan.
B. Sponsor one or more meetings in selected Chikweti affected village to clearly
identify and prioritize needs and potential development opportunities best
suited for each village. Over time expand these discussions as Chikweti
expands.
C. Promote Government or NGO sponsorship of a regular round table forum for
NGOs, various church missions, and government officials to discuss and
coordinate on-going community development efforts, and discuss how to
synergize development efforts and projects, correlating them to village desires
and capacity. Identify opportunities for shared or complimentary community
education efforts. Frame implementation of remainder of 5F plan based on
results of these discussions.
Page 18
D. Promote regular coordination meetings for Chikweti and Community
Development Team. Provide updates on respective activities, look for ways
to work together on education/outreach, assure that forestry-related efforts
are complementary.
E. The Community Development Gender specialist is being used primarily in an
administrative capacity. Work to outline a specific program for gender equity
activities, and devote at least a portion of this person’s time to this area. This
area could be a further point of coordination with Chikweti. Are there issues
beyond just employment? What is the best percentage mix of men vs. women
Chikweti employees to best complement local culture and workforce balance?
Does this differ in Lichinga versus the outlying villages? How do we know if
current 70% men to 30% women is the best mix? What if any impacts are
there to families of the high percentage of women at the nursery?
F. Initial efforts to promote community woodlots or forests have not been
successful. Further education and discussion of the potential benefits of such
projects may be needed. Chikweti foresters and Development Team members
could join for discussion with village representatives. It may be possible to
build on the groundwork from the maize associations to promote planting of
trees as a community rather than individual activity. There is a possible link
between community forests, fuel wood supply, and future commercial forest
revenues. But the scale of such activities likely needs to be beyond individuals
receiving and planting a few trees. Further collaboration in discussion may
help demonstrate that there is power in joining together in such efforts,
despite their long-term nature.
G. One important aspect of developing food security is promoting alternative
practices which maintain and improve soil fertility. Numerous alternatives to
improve or maintain soil fertility may exist, but are not well accepted, and
some require annual sponsorship, vs. establishing systems that can be selfsustaining. Demonstration projects, such as at the Diocese farm, may be
needed to show the benefits on a small scale for these to gain traction.
Composting of grass seems like a promising alternative, but requires a year to
show results. Providing a program where employees may obtain fertilizer
through wage deductions from their Chikweti pay has also been offered as a
possibility which might be pursued. Right now it seems like efforts from
Chikweti, the Development team, and potentially other NGOs could be better
coordinated on this vital issue.
H. Moringa (Moringa oleifera) trees are being grown at the Chikweti nursery, with
a plan to distribute to nursery employees. Expansion of this program in the
community development program of work, in conjunction with community
education could help improve the nutrition in many villages.
I. Several areas for technical assistance were identified in the original 5F
workplan. For the plan to be implemented more fully, these should be
priorities to accomplish as soon as possible.
• The Diocese of Niassa recognizes that introduction of improved and
self-sustaining farming practices can provide better nutrition for local
villagers, and reduce the need/frequency for clearing and cultivation of
Page 19
new farmland every three to five years, thereby also benefiting
Chikweti in reducing potential land use conflicts. Because local
villagers live such a high risk crop to crop existence, it has been
suggested that any new farming practices need to prove to be 50%
better than the known practices to be accepted. Convincing individuals
and communities to take a risk and try new practices is a major hurdle.
Technical assistance and local examples of positive results would help
to focus community outreach efforts on the most promising techniques.
•
There is an opportunity to promote new self-sustaining practices which
are compatible with the area’s historical tie to living off the land, and at
the same time augment family livelihoods. Potential avenues for this
are: bee-keeping, which has been successful in other African countries;
and fruit tree propagation to provide both more varied diet and an
additional source of income. The feasibility of these activities in
Northern Mozambique have not been evaluated.
Technical assistance from US or South African experts could help further
define these aspects of the 5F workplan.
J. Investigate opportunity for villages to participate in forestry carbon
sequestration programs in association with Chikweti with possible tie to both
tree planting and fire prevention. Develop proposal, feasibility study in
conjunction with supporting expertise (European or USFS/USDA). Further
outline needed steps, if appropriate.
This is a new and evolving field world-wide, presenting a significant
opportunity to benefit sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and
ecological restoration, at the same time providing financial inflows for many
developing countries. The USFS is exploring the use of carbon credits in
forestry both at home and abroad. This possibility might be further explored
with Arthur Jokela, who has met with USAID Mozambique, and is pursuing
similar initiatives throughout southern Africa.
Potential USFS Support to Implementation and Next Steps
Based on my trip to Lichinga, there seem to be a variety of ways that US Forest
Service or other technical experts could support the further development of Chikweti
forests and the local villages in Niassa Province. The following suggestions are
offered. All would be dependent upon the desires of Chikweti and the Diocese of
Niassa, and the ability to secure continued funding from USAID or another source.
Program
Aspect
Continuing
Training for
Chikweti Fire
Managers
Suggested
Timing
Spring
(between Feb
and April)
Activity
Study Tour for Chikweti fire managers to
observe fire management activities in the
southeast United States (US forests most similar
to those in Mozambique). At the National
Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center
(PFTC) in Florida, visitors could observe training
Page 20
Nursery
Management
Self-sustaining
farming
techniques (5F
Theme 3 & 4,
Activity 3.3 &
4.1, 4.4, 4.5)
Enhance
Livlihoods (5F
Theme 4,
Activity 4.6)
Broaden Base
for Community
Development
Funds
(Proposed
Theme 5,
Activity 5.1)
and planning prescribed fire projects. The
Center could facilitate visiting projects during
implementation and visiting with local fire
managers on fire management strategies for
protection of plantations, and the most effective
tools and equipment for these conditions.
Depending on the timing of the trip, visitors could
also observe fire suppression activities.
Discussion with FS and other agency experts on
the intensive management of fire in and around
pine plantations in Florida could help Chikweti
build skills for protection of their own growing
plantations. Possible contacts: Jim
Durrwachter, PFTC Director, 850 523-8630 &
Janet Anderson, USFS Southeastern Region,
Director of Fire & Aviation, 404 347-3464.
Sowing/Planting Nursery and reforestation practices were not a
focus of my visit, but I did make several visits to
Season
the rapidly growing nursery. Their progress to
(Sept/Oct)
date was impressive. It sounded like many
procedures and practices are still being worked
out at the young nursery. At some time in the
future, a technical assistance trip from a USFS
nursery expert might be beneficial to help fine
tune their propagation and planting practices.
Any time during A technical assistance visit from a USDA expert
Dry Season
to evaluate the numerous sustainable farming
practices being considered and promoted in the
5F program. This individual could provide
recommendations on sustainable farming
systems most appropriate to Niassa, as well as
further develop the plan to establish a
demonstration farm for the Diocese of Niassa to
help people see the potential immediate, as well
as long-term benefits to their family. Best fruit
tree species might also be recommended.
Any time during A technical assistance visit from a USDA expert
Dry Season
to evaluate the feasibility of bee-keeping would
be beneficial. If feasible, help develop a plan for
training and follow-through for colony
establishment And honey extraction and
marketing.
Any time during Identify USFS expert to assist in exploration of
Dry Season
the use of carbon sequestration credits for
financing development activities in Niassa.
Potentially partner with Arthur Jokela, who is
exploring similar options elsewhere in southern
Africa.
Page 21
References Cited
Environmental Threats and Opportunities Assessment (ETOA), prepared for
USAID/Mozambique, December 2002
Fire Situation in Mozambique, 2001, IFFN No. 25, July 2001, p. 22-27.
Viraten, P. The role of customary institutions in the conservation of biodiversity:
Sacred forests in Mozambique. Environmental Values, Volume 11, Number 2,
1 May 2002 , pp. 227-241(15)
Virtanen, K. Hämäläinen, J. Ntela P. 2002. Análise do Inquerito de Base: Percepçao
e comunicaçao das comunidade sobre os recursos naturais relacionadas às
queimadas descontroladas; Campanha de combate às queimadas descontroladas
na província da Zambezia, Mozambique. (Baseline study carried out on people's
perceptions and attitudes in relation to wild fires, Zambezia, Mozambique).
Page 22
Annex 1: Mission Itinerary
Date
Saturday 8/11
Sunday 8/12
Monday 8/13
Tuesday 8/14
Wednesday
8/15
Thursday
8/16
Friday
8/17
Saturday
8/18
Sunday
8/19
Monday 8/19
Tuesday
8/20
Wednesday
8/21
Thursday
8/22
Friday
8/23
Saturday 8/24
Sunday 8/25
Monday 8/26
Activities
Travel to Mozambique
Arrive Lichinga, Mozambique late afternoon
Introduction to key members of Chikweti management: Lasse
Lundberg, Asa Thom, Jan Skogland, Mr. Mombo
Introduction to Chikweti Forests activities
Map overview of concession
Tour of Chikweti Forests with Jan Skogland, Operations
Forester. Good overview of Chikweti overall development and
management activities, including plantations, nursery and
sawmill. Discussion of on-going fire management challenges
and Chikweti fire management and prevention activities.
Visited villages of Mecucue and Maniamba with Jan to
conduct basic firefighter training, including live fire exercises.
Witnessed fire fighting teams in action to protect the nursery.
Brief discussions of Community Forestry portion of SOW with
Bishop Mark Van Koevering and Jon Prabbruwe
Additional basic fire training in Baldeze (3 locations) and
Chipoulo
Drafted Fire Management Plan for Chikweti. Reviewed and
edited with Jan Skogland
Observed prescribed fire to widen fuelbreaks adjacent to
plantations. Afternoon free time to visit Lichinga market.
Revisited holding plantation with Mr. Mombo, opportunity to
visit about local customs and attitudes about fire. Again
observed countless fires on the landscape.
Discussion with Jon Prabbuwe on community development
projects and plans and priorities for the future. Developed Draft
of 4 month plan for continuation of 5F activities
Meeting with Government officials and village chiefs in Baldeze
to emphasize the importance of working together to prevent
fires and to discuss the importance of fire prevention.
Review of 5F draft with Jon and his extensionists (via
translation to Portuguese) Drafted potential activities for a 12
month program for 2008
Continued work on Community Development documentation.
Develop recommendations for Friday close out meeting.
Final meeting with Chikweti, Bishop Mark Van Koevering and
Jon Prabbuwe
Return travel to Kalispell
Page 23
Annex 2: Scope of Work
US Forest Service
Technical Assistance on Fire and Community Forestry
to the 5F Program
Niassa Province, Mozambique
Scope of Work
Background
The “5F Program: Forests, Finance, Food, Fuel and Future” is an innovative
response to the need for development in Niassa Province, in Northern
Mozambique. It is a combined effort by Global Solidarity Fund International /
Chikweti Forests, the Diocese of Niassa, and the US Forest Service which allows
for the responsible creation and exploitation of forest resources, conservation of
these same resources for future generations, increased investment and revenue
flow (finance) in Niassa Province, and access to adequate food and fuel for the
local population.
The overall goal of this activity is to promote economic growth and sustainable
development in Northern Mozambique by both investing in the timber sector and
supporting a series of development activities to compliment and support the
aforementioned investments. There are three components of the program, which
are each comprised of distinct activities that collectively achieve this program’s
objectives. The first component is a for-profit commercial forestry venture
(Chikweti,) which creates jobs for the local population in addition to bringing in
private foreign investment. The second component of the 5F Program is
community-based development, which encompasses such vital needs as access to
fuel, adequate food production, and nutrition for the people of northern
Mozambique, particularly on the Lichinga plateau. The third component of the 5F
Program is a concerted emphasis on environmental integrity, which emerges in the
form of both conservation and the restoration of degraded lands.
This mission will focus on specific objectives related to fire prevention and
management and community forestry.
Activities:
Fire Prevention and Management: Fire Prevention and Management will be the
major objective of this mission, with community forestry activities conducted to the
extent possible in the time available. The main priorities of the USFS Specialist
include:
Page 24
•
•
•
Review Chikweti’s Fire Management Plan and provide recommendations
about ways to improve fire prevention, management, and response.
Provide educational training on fire prevention, management, and response to
Chikweti leadership / upper management. (Approximately 15 people.)
Provide support to Chikweti’s upper management in imparting information on
fire prevention, management, and response to Chikweti employees
(numbering approximately 600.) Depending upon time restraints, this support
could range in form from assisting in actually conducting training for Chikweti
employees, to providing support materials and information to upper
management which will be used after the departure of the USFS Specialist.
Community Forestry: Community forestry activities will be conducted to the extent
possible in the time available. These activities will be a secondary area of focus,
meant to compliment the fire prevention and management goals outlined above.
The amount of emphasis which the USFS Specialist will be able to give to
community forestry activities will be dependent upon Chikweti staff, diocesan staff,
and other in-country partners who are instrumental in 5F project activity leadership;
this is to say, in-country partner priorities will dictate the amount of attention devoted
to the possible activities below. It is incumbent upon in-country partners to
clearly communicate priority areas of focus to the USFS Specialist via email
and telephone before arrival in country, and to continue dialoguing with the
Specialist while in country, so that the Specialist can best address evolving
needs in the dynamic environment of Niassa Province.
Possible areas of contribution for the USFS Specialist on community forestry
activities, as outlined by Jon Prabbruwe, leader of the 5F Agro-forestry Team,
include:
• Prevention of loss of resources for the community. With the exception of fuel
wood (for cooking, and also large quantities for firing building bricks) and
charcoal, forest resources do not currently play a major role either in
subsistence or cash earning activities. Forest resources are being depleted
and large areas deforested. A smooth transition to more sustainable
management of forest land for livelihood requirements is needed.
• Decrease of land available to agriculture caused by the commercial timber
tree plantations. 1.6 ha for an agricultural plot per 3 years on average for
every household is needed for the crop based shifting agricultural
system/slash and burn agriculture in Niassa. Potential conflicts over land use
are exacerbated by the timing of shifts in cultivation, as not all farmers follow a
strict three year rule and the shift is not made in any coordinated way in an
area. Provision of strategies to resolve conflicts caused by the acquisition of
areas by Chikweti for (re)forestation for timber. Some of the people not
employed in the tree plantations complain about the "seizing of land" by
Chikweti.
• More intensive and sedentary methods of agriculture are needed. However,
intensive agriculture is technically complicated and requires a higher level of
monetary investment (capital) and/or a higher labor input and is unknown to
the local population. Capital is scarce in subsistence farming, and labor,
especially among the women, is stressed. Additional labor in peasant
agriculture is not a likely scenario. If the labor of members of the family is
Page 25
transferred to the commercial tree plantations causing a loss of labor in the
farm food production, this situation will be worsened.
• Formulation of policy and program environments that are supportive of
community forest management systems appropriate for South East African
(Mozambican) cultural contexts.
• For community woodlots, commercial species like Eucalyptus or pine and
especially hardwoods and (indigenous) fruit trees to provide diversified forest
resources can be used. Development of community tree nurseries and
teaching the management thereof is required. A seed orchard of indigenous
species must be located.
The initial idea was to set up village/community forest committees; these
committees would administer the cash income from community woodlots.
Distribution within the village of profits and the provision of training on
revolving fund management for the village forest commission seem to be
good ideas, but factors which must be considered include:
o Most of the members of the communities who expressed their willingness to
start woodlots want to plant trees on their own field plots which are
abandoned because the soil is exhausted after 3 years, chemical fertilizers
are expensive, manure is scarce and organic fertilizers are not available.
Planted with (commercial) trees and not left fallow to regain fertility, these
fields will not be available for growing food crops for a long time.
o The soil is exhausted, and so the commercial species planted will probably
need some kind of fertilizer.
o The woodlots will be private and not community owned, so there will not be
any village community forest committees nor any distribution of cash
income from the woodlots. Additional labor is unlikely in these woodlots,
labor will be done by the extended family.
A reference source can be found at:
Lichinga field study: linkages between livelihoods and natural resources
http://mkb.slu.se/helpdesk/assignments/lichinga.pdf
Deliverables:
• Provide feedback and recommendations on improving Chikweti’s Fire
Management Plan.
• Conduct 1 or more training courses for Chikweti upper management on fire
prevention, management, and response.
• Provide support materials to Chikweti’s upper management to assist in their
teaching fire prevention, management, and response to all Chikweti
employees.
• Dialogue with Jon Prabbruwe and other leaders involved in community
forestry activities, and provide suggestions and, if possible, resources to
assist in addressing priority community forestry concerns. If any sort of
specific community forestry training or materials are desired, it is
incumbent upon in-country partners to communicate this to the USFS
Specialist in sufficient detail immediately so that additional or refined
activities can be incorporated into this Scope of Work.
Timing: August 13 – 25, 2007.
Page 26
USFS Specialist: Cathy Calloway, [email protected], (406)758-5263
Key Contact information for in-country partners:
Lasse Lundberg, vice Managing Director of Chikweti
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +258 271 213 94
Cell: +258 823 030 768
Fax: +258 271 209 82
Jon Prabbruwe, Community Development Project Leader: +258 27
121548.
Jan Skoglund: +258 82 0773930
Margaret Rainey, (Sweden) Vice-President of Global Solidarity Fund
International:
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
+46 8 730 5709
or
+46 708 24 76 64
Page 27
Annex 3: Statistics on Training Delivered
Basic Firefighter Training to Chikweti Employees
August 15 and August 16
Description: Basic discussion of elements of fire, fire fighting in grass lands
adjacent to plantations, fire safety, and live fire exercise to practice tools and
teamwork. (Translated)
Location
Duration
Number People
Number of
Trained
Women
Mecucue
1 - 1 ½ hours
18
6
Maniamba
1 - 1 ½ hours
20
8
Chipoulo
1 - 1 ½ hours
12
1
Baldeze 1
1 - 1 ½ hours
13
0
Baldeze 2
1 - 1 ½ hours
20
7
Baldeze 3
1 - 1 ½ hours
23
6
TOTAL
106
28
Participants in this basic training were 26% female and 74% male. This is the
approximate make up of Chikweti employees working in the Districts. A greater
percentage of women are employed at the nursery near Lichinga. No training was
conducted there, as those workers are already very experienced in fire fighting.
Firefighting and Fire Prevention Overview with Village Chiefs
August 21
Description: Meeting organized by the District Administrator to bring together
chiefs from surrounding villages, government and Chikweti representatives to talk
about fire prevention and fire fighting. This was an important occasion, as it is
uncommon that this group gathers together. Gave short presentation about fire
training and firefighting skill of local villagers. Emphasis on importance of fire
prevention. Example of fires in U.S. and how agencies work with residents to
reduce fires. (Translated)
Location
Duration
Number People
Number of
Women
Baldeze School
2 hours
35
1
Page 28
Annex 4: Products from Trip
o Draft Chikweti Fire Plan and Recommendations for Program Growth
o Draft 5 F Community Development Plan - 4 month (rest of 2007)
reflecting revised priorities and detailed “next steps” - English and
Portuguese
o Draft 5F Community Development 12 month proposal (2008)
Page 29
CHIKWETI FOREST
FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
DRAFT August 2007
1. Introduction
This Fire Management Plan is designed to support protection of the Chikweti
Forests in the Niassa province of northern Mozambique. The Chikweti forests are
being established to develop sustainable forests, while benefiting people by
providing stable employment.
Chikweti forests are managed under a 50 year concession contract with the
government of Mozambique. The boundaries of Chikweti are developed in
coordination with local village populations, and then approved by the government.
A portion of Chikweti is close to the population in Lichinga, while the other parcels
are interspersed with numerous small villages. Many people live in and around
Chikweti. The concession is currently about 35,000 hectares, and will is expected
to grow over time up to 150,000 hectares.
Most of the current Chikweti is de-forested, with open grassy lands interspersed
with some areas of natural forest. Fire Management in Chikweti is in a
development phase, in parallel with the development and expansion of the
concession area, and annually increasing forest plantations to protect. It is
recommend that this plan be reviewed annually and updated as needed.
2. Relationship to overall Chikweti Land Management
Chikweti forests are currently being divided into12-15 Districts of about 1500
hectare, of which approximately 1000 hectares will be plantation. Each will have
a Supervisor and a crew of approximately 20 employees to complete all activity
within the District. This will include clearing areas for planting, accomplishing
planting, maintaining plantations, and fighting fire. Final identification of District
boundaries and hiring of Supervisors and local villages people will occur over
time to allow for an orderly development of skills as plantation areas expand.
The current emphasis of Chikweti is growing and planting trees to re-establish a
sustainable forest. Nursery capacity and the area of new plantations has
expanded each year, with 3500 hectares currently planted with pine and
eucalyptus, and an additional 6 million seedlings in the nursery, to be planted on
5000 hectare starting in November. It is anticipated that the reforestation program
will be 6000 hectare/year until the concession is fully reforested. Primary values
to be protected at this time are the 1-2 year old plantations, the nursery, and
sawmill areas. Over time forests of pine and eucalyptus will grow and be thinned,
with an expected commercial harvest after 20 to 25 years.
A portion of Chikweti will be retained in native forests. It is believed that fire here
may have burned every 6 or 7 years. Management plans are being developed
and will guide fire management in these areas. Initially fires will be suppressed.
Page 30
Current plantations are in areas of tall grass, at high risk of fast-moving, hot fires.
Fire is identified as the greatest threat to the developing Chikweti forests, as fires
are very common in the area, often burning up to 50% of the landscape on an
annual basis.
Fires occur throughout the dry season, beginning in May and through November
or whenever the first rains occur. The primary causes of fires are people lighting
fires to clear land for machanbas, fires set for hunting, and kids playing with
matches. Fires are viewed by most villagers as ordinary and just a part of life
during the dry season. Fire fighting basically has not been a part of the local
culture.
It is a great challenge to reduce the number of fires, and establish a fire fighting
force to suppress the fires that do start and threat the Chikweti plantations.
3. Fire Management Goals
A. Reduce the number of fires within and adjacent to Chikweti forest through a
strong fire prevention program.
B. Suppress all fires in and adjacent to high value resources as quickly, safely,
and efficiently as possible.
C. Build fire fighting capacity within Chikweti employees. The goal is for each
District within Chikweti to be trained and able to fight fires independently
within their District.
D. Develop system to sustain and expand firefighting capacity as Chikweti
grows.
Fire within Chikweti forests will be managed at two levels:
HIGH VALUE RESOURCES
This category includes all newly established plantations, the areas including the
tree nursery, and holding nursery, and the Chikweti sawmill and wood treatment
plant. First priority for fire management in Chikweti revolves around establishing
capability to protect these resources.
LOWER VALUE RESOURCES
This category includes natural forest within and adjacent to Chikweti. These areas
are readily identified on the ground, but not yet delineated on maps. Fire
management in and adjacent to these lands is a lower priority at this time. Fires will
be suppressed in theses areas as resources allow. Management plans for these
areas are in development, and may consider allowing periodic burning.
4. Fire Management Program Components – Current Actions
Prevention and Community Education
Education of village Chiefs, Chikweti Employees, and Community Members on
Fire Prevention
Page 31
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fire prevention discussions are on-going with village leaders in or adjacent
to existing Chikweti areas. Village Chiefs are asked to emphasize this
information with their people.
Meetings have been held in concession villages where videos were used to
help explain the importance of fire prevention. These meetings were very
well attended. Videos are a good way to interest many people in local
villages, providing an opportunity to share fire prevention messages. This
mechanism would be good to continue when additional videos can be found.
South Africa a possible source may be a possible source in addition to the
US.
Use of other village meetings or gatherings, such as dance group
presentations, to present a fire prevention message.
Fire Prevention messages on local radio translated from Portuguese into
local languages. Recommend repeating these or similar messages at the
beginning of each dry season.
August 2007 firefighting training in 6 locations for a total of 106 Chikweti
employees included a strong fire prevention message from U.S. fire fighting
expert Cathy Calloway.
August 22 2007 meeting gathering Chiefs together for discussion of fire
prevention and firefighting with U.S. fire fighting expert Cathy Calloway.
Fire guards talk with villagers in areas of machambas and will share fire
prevention messages as part of their patrolling duties.
Chikweti employees should give a common message to their family and
friends – see attached message points that can be stressed during training.
Fire preparedness
Infrastructure
• Expand firefighting equipment with additional fire fighting pumper truck,
tractor water cannons, and radios. (On order since May) These will need
to be configured, tested, and employees trained. Re-evaluate needs for
additional equipment as workforce and plantations expand.
• Construct and locate beaters to provide sufficient number for all
employees. (in progress) Have some additional on hand to allow for
breakage, or ensure Districts are capable of repair. This will be an
annual need as workforce expands.
• Continue to expand infrastructure and improve road access – better road
access equals quicker response time for vehicles and pumper trucks.
Many of current fuelbreaks could be improved to become roads with a
limited amount of additional work. This has been identified and will be a
priority once ordered road grading equipment arrives.
• Improve and construct roads for fire protection of new plantation areas
as plantations are added.
• As feasible, widen existing firebreaks in areas of highest risk upwind
from plantations. 30m is desirable. Expansion may be with mechanical
clearing or burning.
Page 32
Early Season Actions – May to June
Expect that in the beginning of the dry season, fires will generally spread at a
slower rate, as grasses are still somewhat green. Districts should be able to put
out most fires with their own personnel using beaters without assistance.
Actions
• Assure that new Teams and District Supervisors have training and fire
practice. Use any prescribed fire for further training of employees.
• Grade priority roads or fuelbreaks to assure best access for fire fighting
in high risk areas.
• Complete maintenance of firebreaks with road grading, hand clearing
and/or prescribed fire.
• Assure adequate beaters are built and distributed to each District.
• Assure radios are adequate to fire fighting needs, and personnel trained
in their use.
• Assure pumper trucks, and water cannon tractors are working, filled with
water and ready for use.
Mid-Season Actions – July to Early August
Expect that in the middle part of the dry season fires grasses will be becoming
dryer, fires will spread more quickly, and be more difficult to put out. Expect that
workers will be diverted from their other duties more often as the level of fire
activity and fire behavior increases, making fires more difficult to control. Some
fires may require assistance from adjacent districts, and/or water assistance.
Actions
• Beaters should be located at logical sites within each district, but may not
need to be with workers at all times.
• Pumper trucks will be used for daily work, but available when called to
support fire fighting.
Highest Fire Danger Season Actions – Mid-August to First Rains
This will be the most difficult part of the fire season, when grasses are driest.
Expect that when a fire occurs, adjacent district employee and water will be
called upon in many or most cases.
Actions
• Someone from management and supervisors will be in an “on-call” status
in the event of a fire. Supervisors will be able to round up personnel from
their district within a few minutes, if needed, to travel to a fire.
• Lookouts should know where workers are located within the district so that
they can help direct closest forces to any new fires. District Supervisor will
be immediately notified, and will use closest vehicle to gather workers and
ensure rapid response.
• Assure that beaters are located at crew work site each day to allow for
quickest response
• Assure pumper trucks, and water cannon tractors are positioned for best
access to high risk areas, and that locations are known by District
Supervisors. Pumper truck primary purpose at this time of year should be
fire fighting vs. transportation for other purposes.
Page 33
Fire Detection
System of Forest Guards/Lookouts – mid May to Mid Oct or first major rains
Lookouts may serve multiple districts. Lookouts will have radios and remain on
post 24/7 to report new fires. Fires will be reported to District Supervisor and
closest workers will be directed to fire location.
Within each District guards will patrol in high risk areas, primarily near
machambas. They will look for fires and talk to people to urge them not to light
fires. If they must light fires, people may be requested to notify Chikweti
personnel, so that Chikweti can assist and assure fires do not spread and
threaten plantations.
All Employees – All employees will be on the lookout and report any new fires
to District Supervisor.
Fire Suppression
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fire fighting will take priority over other work assignments. Speed in
arriving to the fire with appropriate tools is critical to keeping fires small.
District Supervisors will assure that closest workers respond as quickly as
possible to each fire, and that additional help is requested when
necessary.
Fires which threaten high value resources will be kept to the smallest size
possible.
Fires should generally be fought with “direct attack” working on the edge of
the fire from the back to encircle it. Fires should be approached from the
back (lower flames) side, and not the side downwind where the smoke is
and the flames are higher.
Workers should stand inside the burned area as the work, to ensure
safety.
Supervisor will split crews into two teams to work on each side of the fire.
One person on each side should be identified to be looking backward to
see any possible fire behind the crew. This person will take care of any
small fires, or get assistance as needed.
In some case of very strong winds or very dense grass, direct attack may
not be possible and a burnout from a road or firebreak may be necessary.
This decision will be made by District Manager. The objective will still be to
do everything safely possible to minimize loss of plantations.
Fires threatening high value resources are the top priority. Fires in low
value resource areas will be put out as resources permit.
Training
•
•
Training will be provided to new employees, especially when new Districts
are established. Training including “live fire” practice with tools is
preferred.
Further training and experience may be provided during maintenance of
fuelbreaks with prescribed fire.
Page 34
•
•
Additional training may be provided to Supervisors for use of pumper
trucks and to gain confidence in maintaining crew control and
communication during fire activity.
Training in use of radios and pumper trucks will be provided as needed.
Fuels Treatment
• Continue to expand fuelbreak system and road access, as areas in
plantation are expanded. Fuelbreaks will require annual maintenance to
remain effective.
Prescribed Fire
• Fire may be used to maintain and strengthen fuelbreaks by burning in the
early part of the dry season.
• Fire may be used for clearing of areas for planting, under the direction of
the District Manager.
5. Organization and Staffing
Chikweti Operations Forester – Jan Skoglund
The operations leader provides overall direction for all aspects of fire
management in Chikweti. He trains and coaches District Manager and
Supervisors, and reviews preparedness and fire fighting efforts in individual
districts. He coordinates with the community forestry leader in Niassa Diocese on
fire prevention. He will also be responsible to plan for future refinement and
expansion of fire program as Chikweti forests grows in extent and the forest to be
protected grow older.
District Manager – to be hired
This individual will directly supervise the District Supervisors and oversee day to
day activities. The Manager will work with the Supervisors to assure that they
understand their roles and responsibilities related to fire, and monitor to assure
that Supervisors work with their teams to fulfill fire management duties. The
Manager will set priority for resources when multiple fires occur.
District Manager will decide when burnout will be used as a tactic in fire
suppression. District Manager will direct any use of prescribed fire.
District Supervisor - one in each district
The role of the Supervisor will be to assure their team is trained and ready to fight
fire, and to accomplish preparedness actions within their district. District
Supervisors will investigate reports of fires near the district to determine if fire
fighting is needed, or if there is not a risk to high value resources. District
Manager will be informed of fires in low value areas where no action is needed.
In the event of a fire, the Supervisor will direct their Team in fire fighting, ensure
efforts are safe, and call for fire pumpers or adjacent district Teams to assist as
needed. District Supervisor will be responsible for coordinating with counterpart
on any fires that border two districts.
Page 35
District Team Members
Each member of the team should participate in training to gain confidence to fight
fires. Team members must come prepared to fight fire every day. This will include
wearing appropriate leather boots provided by Chikweti. If a fire occurs, team
members will follow direction of the Supervisor to safely fight the fire.
Page 36
Message Points for Fire Prevention
Fire has a negative impact to soils, as some nutrients are lost in smoke.
Fires can cause soil nutrients to blow away, when no vegetation is there to
protect the land.
Fire speeds up the need to move machanbas and let fields go fallow.
Fire threatens all the hard work by people from many villages that has gone into
development of Chikweti plantations. Chikweti’s loss is the village’s loss.
Fire fighting take away from other work at Chikweti, so can impact future profits
and employment to the community.
A fire you think you set for a good purpose can be a danger to other people in
the area.
We need to work together to eliminate fires.
Page 37
Suggestions for Future Refinement
of Fire Management at Chikweti
Cathy Calloway, August 2007
The existing Fire Management Program is strong and addresses current needs. As it
is a new program, additional expertise and confidence will be developed as key
positions are filled and workers and Supervisors gain experience. While teams in the
Lichinga area have had considerable fire fighting experience and are confident to act
in the event of fires in their area, workers in outlying villages have had some training,
but no need yet to apply their knowledge.
The numerous ideas below are not to indicate deficiency in the current program, but
are presented as a list to be considered as Chikweti fire management evolves over
time. Some of these may already be occurring. If so, please pardon my lack of
awareness of all aspects of on-going activities in your extremely busy program. It is
hoped that Chikweti may adopt those ideas that seem useful, and discard those that
seem impractical or not appropriate for the overall program at Chikweti.
As Chikweti values to be protected change from plantations dominated by grass, to a
mix of conditions including young forest which can easily be damaged by fire
carrying through tree crowns, there will be a need to again expand firefighting
capability.
Prevention and Community Education
This will be an area needing long-term patient efforts, as we are basically trying
to change the local attitudes and culture related to fire. We will need to develop
acceptance that it is to village benefit to help prevent fires.
• Further coordinate with Niassa Diocese community forestry program to
identify opportunities to use their network and extensionists to reinforce the
fire prevention messages with all villagers. Fire prevention can be built into
the written materials for literacy groups.
• Coordinate with Bishop to provide message to his church contacts throughout
the area.
• Consider coordination for school based programs to reach children for fire
prevention messages to reduce child-caused fires from playing with matches.
This could work in the Lichinga area. Could an African fire prevention mascot
for children (like Smokey the Bear) be effective? Reference South African
poster (attached) and other materials for fire education available at
http://www.firewisesa.org.za/firewise_for_educators.asp
• Consider whether fire prevention/awareness signs could be helpful in and
around Lichinga.
• Investigate rewards for districts with successful fire prevention and
suppression. These could either be competitive between Districts or for all
who have less than x fires or xx hectares burned. Reward could be anything
from fruit trees or trees for community forest to a celebration or some sort of
monetary reward.
• Consider annual meetings with villages at start of fire season to update on
Chikweti happenings and reiterate fire prevention message.
Page 38
•
•
•
Investigate whether there any steps that can be taken to strengthen, or
publicize enforcement efforts.
Continue to prompt the Niassa province or Mozambique government to get
more involved in fire prevention efforts. They should be mindful of the
potential economic losses to the Province caused by fire.
As part of community education, stress that use of fires in and around
households and machambas should be limited to wet season or early dry
season.
Fire preparedness
• Consider early season “readiness reviews” by District Manager and/or
Operations leader to assure each district has completed needed actions.
Include inspection and operation of pumper trucks and water cannons to
assure equipment is operable and operators ready.
• As map of concession plantations is completed, it may be useful to map
plantations vs. low value or reserve lands, and map locations of fuelbreaks &
lookouts. This may help to identify any “gaps” or needs for additional fire
lookout or fuelbreak locations.
• Consider purchase of small “pocket” weather instruments for wind,
temperature and humidity so that District Manager can gauge critical fire
conditions and alert Supervisors.
• Future staffing needs for fire management as well as other Chikweti
management activities should be reviewed. Fire suppression duties are
already taking away from the productivity of nursery workers now during the
sowing season. Competing priorities for worker’s time may increase, as the
acreage of plantation needing tending, as well as protecting from fire
increases. At a future date, workers who’s primary job is “fire brigade” may be
needed to adequately protect the Chikweti investment in the forest.
Highest Fire Danger Season Actions
• Consider sufficient radios so that each work group can have a radio for
quickest dispatch. Not sure how many different locations within a district may
have workers – this may already be in place when ordered radios arrive.
• Consider conducting periodic radio checks during high fire danger periods to
be sure radios are working and all Supervisors, lookouts and guards can be
contacted.
• Inform all Supervisors of fire activity within Chikweti and share information on
fire size and difficulty in control. This can help improve Supervisor awareness
of conditions they may face on the next fire.
• Consider moving additional personnel into high risk Districts (Lichinga area).
This might mean re-organizing work so that there is regular work available for
additional personnel. Or this could mean hiring additional people during the
high fire danger time.
Fire Detection
Highest Fire Danger Season Actions
• Consider positioning additional lookouts for increased coverage.
• Consider adding additional workers on patrol, either by adding additional
personnel just for this job, or by changing assignment of existing workers
within district.
Page 39
Fire Suppression
• Fire Records – Consider having District Supervisor keep track of the location,
date, size, cause, number of people and time needed to control fires within
their district. This may show some trends over time which would be useful to
refining fuelbreak locations or staffing needs.
• Consider end of season review with Operations Forester, District Manager
and Supervisors to see how to improve fire fighting efforts next season.
Training
• Training program will likely need to be expanded as plantations grow and
trees get above grass level, with crowns near touching. Planned thinnings at
approximately year 7 and 12 will temporarily increase fuel loadings, until
villagers remove the thinned material for use as fuel wood. Appropriate tools
and techniques for fighting fires in these evolving conditions will need to be
considered:
o Expand fire training to include use of additional tools – chainsaws,
rakes, McLeods for tree versus grass fires.
o Expanded understanding of fire behavior, and fireline characteristics
needed to stop crown fire vs. ground fire.
o Expanded understanding on where to build fireline in conditions of
larger fuels.
• More advanced training for supervisors.
• A study tour to observe fire fighting techniques and use of prescribed fire may
be helpful for someone in Chikweti leadership. In the USA, there is a large
prescribed fire program in the south-east in fast growing pine plantations. This
might be informative in anticipating future needs. There may be other
opportunities within Africa, where plantations are well established.
Fuels Treatment
• Widen existing fuelbreaks to 10 meters or more, beginning with the areas
facing predominant winds.
• Continue to expand fuelbreak system and road access, as areas in plantation
are expanded. Fuelbreaks will require annual maintenance to remain
effective.
• As plantations age, the fire risk will transition from grass fire risk to crown fire
risk. Pruning at the time of tree thinning will increase the height of lowest
branches and reduce the likelihood of fire spreading from ground into crowns
of trees (aka increase the wind speed required for fire to move up into the
crown of the trees.)
Prescribed Fire
• Consider whether/how to do periodic burning in natural forest and reserve
areas.
• Specific recommendations for use of prescribed fires as part of preparation for
planting:
o Consider purchase of a half-dozen drip torches for reliable ignition.
o Burn as early in the dry season as is feasible to lower the intensity of
the fire and the risk of fire escape.
Page 40
o Create fuelbreaks at the perimeter of the area prior to burning.
Mechanical clearing of fuels is preferred. Mechanical clearing can be
reinforced with fire to create a 30 meter black perimeter prior to lighting
the large area of clearing
o Lacking that, a black perimeter can be established by careful use of fire
in the early morning when fire is least active. If possible, use areas of
tree cover with lighter fuels to create a fuelbreak. Hand tools can be
used to scratch a 30 cm line of bare ground to work from. Or water
can be used to douse the area outside your burn unit immediately prior
to ignition. Choose wind/weather when you can burn towards the
fuelbreak, rather than towards the area to be burned. Light small strips
(5 meters) at a time, letting the first area cool before lighting addition
areas. With gradual ignition of small strips, create a black area 30
meters wide. This may take hours, up to several days, to establish. It
will greatly increase your likelihood of keeping your burn within the
desired area.
o Begin with a test ignition of a small area to assess fire behavior, wind
effects and rate of spread prior to full ignition of the unit.
o For the larger burn, on flat ground, use the wind to dictate the burning
pattern. On a slope, begin at the uphill edge of the opening, and burn
in strips parallel to the slope, downhill.
o Again, light relatively narrow strips until you have a good idea how the
fire is behaving. It may be easiest to start with one person lighting, and
then you can add others as you progress. Long strips perpendicular to
the wind will be the easiest to control. After a few strips, you may be
confident to widen the distance between strips and use more people to
light. Patience is the key to controlling your results.
o Monitor downwind areas during ignition to assure no sparks are
transported to start spot fires. Monitor completed unit after ignition to
assure no smoldering areas re-ignite.
Page 41
South African Firewise Poster
Page 42
DRAFT Work Plan Activity Chart
PROPOSED FOR 4 MONTHS -- SEPT – DEC 2007
Edits to Themes 1&2 require direction from and coordination with Chikweti
Edits to 3.2 require input of literacy program coordinator Jaime
Theme
1. Professional and
technical management
training of Chikweti
staff and Forestry
Graduate Internship
Program
2. Establishment of
protected areas and
responsibly managed
native ecosystems
3. Founding trade
cooperatives with
special attention for
gender, and working
with adult literacy
groups
Bold numbering under activity indicates proposed change in priorities
Activity
Timing
1.1 Internship program with Chikweti for forestry graduate students On-going through
Dec 2007
Lead
Dr. Asa Tham
and USFS
1.2 & 1.4 Training for 50 Chikweti employees
On-going through
Dec 2007
2.1 Concession boundaries exacted
2.2 Environmental Protection guidelines established
2.3 Further plans for Reforestation with endangered species
2.4 Land use mapping of 100,000 ha, including software and
training
3.1 Continue to develop marketing associations for maize
collection and redistribution. 2007 purchase was based on
individual participation vs. communities as a whole; need to build
on that to foster more community-based system. Work to establish
and formalize guidelines and structures to work towards
associations that can be self supporting.
3.1 Conserve app. 40 tons of maize stored at Kuchjinji in Lichinga
for redistribution or sale based on need in 2008 before next
harvest. Further develop plans for system of distribution and sale
of stored maize and short-term centralized management (by the
Com. Dev. Team) of finances. Develop plan for training/education
for future transition to management by the communities
associations – financial management for association & individuals,
strategy for selection of best seeds and how much to keep for food
Sept - Dec 2007
Sept - Dec 2007
Sept - Dec 2007
Sept - Dec 2007
Chikweti
Sept - Dec 2007
Community
Development
Team
Page 43
Sept - Dec 2007
Theme
4. Improving
agricultural techniques:
Enhanced farming
systems package,
taking into account that
farming is mainly
women´s work (gender)
Activity
vs. sell.
3.2 Continue to strengthen Adult Literacy groups
3.2 Incorporate aspects of fire prevention and food security into
teaching materials for literacy groups. Set up meeting to review
current topics in literacy materials and provide technical input for
any desired updates.
3.3 Baseline study to clearly establish current agricultural farming
system, stresses and challenges and analyze alternatives and
possible impact of plantation forestry. Recommendations for
sustainable alternatives would be tested under Theme 4.
Immediate need, as fields are currently being cleared for planting
which will start in the rainy season, possibly beginning in October.
4.1 Promote improving soil fertility and machambas´s yield. Begin
planning and preparation for demonstration fields for testing and
example of sustainable agriculture alternative techniques
(coordinate with Activity 3.3 above and other activities below). Hire
somebody with knowledge of low input soil fertility. Anticipate
testing of composting grass, fertilization, use of green manure, etc.
Demonstration fields could be used for trials for agro-forestry and
alternative crops which may be beneficial to local diet (vegetables,
soybean, moringa, fruit trees). Educate people as to benefits and
means with intent to improve soil productivity in machambas. Work
with Chikweti to demonstrate grass composting as an alternative to
burning machambas, and to pursue option to sell fertilizer to their
employees via salary deduction.
4.2 Continue distribution and testing of efficient stoves to reduce
need for fuelwood and depletion of natural resources. Complete
firing of 30 stoves & distribute (among some exemplary families to
promote their use) in September/October. Provide stoves for
extensionists´ home use as examples. Have prototype larger stove
Page 44
Timing
Sept - Dec 2007
Nov - Dec 2007
October 2007
Lead
Community
Development
Team with
Chikweti
input
USFS &
Community
Development
Team
Nov- Dec 2007
Community
Development
Team with
Chikweti
Sept - Dec 2007
Community
Development
Team
Theme
Activity
built for use in kitchen at Diocese. Continue testing & education
over 4 month period, evaluate for later program expansion to sell at
cost. Need to demonstrate that there is a true fuel saving, for ex.
compare money spent on fuel by families using an improved stove
and others not. Develop final recommendation by December
regarding expansion or continuation of this activity
4.3 Continue storage and conservation of maize seed. Develop
means to selectively collect best seed. Explore need and desire for
seed collection or distribution of other species.
4.4 Demonstrate means to improve diet, via aquaculture, small
animal husbandry, vegetable gardens and agro-forestry.
(combination of prior activities 4.5, 4.6, 4.8) Strong tie to Activities
3.3 and 4.1. Would seed/fertilizer “starter kits” be beneficial to
diversify diet?
4.5 Develop plan to procure or propagate and distribute fruit tree
seedlings or cuttings (Implement in 2008).
4.6 Promote bee-keeping. Bring in expert in honey collection to
assess capability of local forests to support industry. If favorable,
develop plan for training villagers in building hives, obtaining starter
colonies and placing them in communal forests.
4.7 Build interest in and understanding of community woodlot
benefits. A balance has to be struck between profitability and
manageability. A large area will be more profitable but the labor
input must be able to manage it. For that reason the individualistic
owners wanting to plant trees have to join their fields and work
together in associations. Village preference for planting &
management by individuals may not be feasible.
Page 45
Timing
Lead
Sept - Dec 2007
(long term – not
feasible till planting
season?)
(long term – not
feasible till rainy
season)
Sept - Dec 2007
Sept - Dec 2007
Community
Development
Team with
consultant
Community
Development
Team &
Chikweti
Tabela da Proposta do Plano de Actividades PROPOSTO PARA 4 MESES -- SET. – DEZ. 2007
Temas 1 & 2 precisam ser dirigidas e coordenadas por Chikweti
Os objectivos sob 3.2 necessitam a colaboração do coordenador Jaime do programa de alfabetização
Tema
1. Treinamento profissional
e técnica para gestores de
Chikweti e o programa de
Estágio de Silvicultura para
os licenciados.
2. Delimitação de áreas
protegidas e maneio dos
sistemas ecológicos nativos
3. Iniciar a criação
Associacões para a
comercialização de milho
com attenção para género e
trabalho com grupos de
alfabetização de adultos
Números negritos sob actividades indicam uma mudança proposta na prioridade
Actividades
Período
1.1 Programa de Estágio no Chikweti para licenciados na silvicultura.
Continuando até
Dez 2007
1.2 & 1.4 Treinamento para 50 trabalhadores do Chikweti
Continuando até
Dez 2007
2.1 Limites das concessões exactamente determinados
2.2 Estabelecer um guião de protecção do meio âmbiente
2.3 Ampliaçao do plano para Reflorestamento de especies indígenas em
perigo de desaparecimento
2.4 Mapeamento para uso de terra de 100,000 ha, incluindo software e
treinamento
3.1 Continuar a criação das associações para a comercialização de milho e a
sua redistribuição. A procura do milho em 2007 baseou-se na participação
individual em vez de participação comunitária; é necessário ampliar este
processo com o fim de fomentar um sistema mais comunitário. Deve-se
estabelecer e formalizar directrizes e estruturas a fim de estabelecer
associações sustentáveis.
3.1 Conservação de 40 toneladas de milho armazenadas no centro
Kuchijinji, Lichinga, destinadas para redistribuição ou venda, baseada nas
necessidades das comunidades em 2008 antes da próxima colheita.
Suplementar planos para um sistema de distribução e venda do milho
armazenado e gestão centralizada (pela Equipa de Desenvolvimento
Comunitário) das finanças no curto prazo. Desenvolver um plano para
treinamento/educação de uma transição no futuro para uma gestão pelas
associaciões comunitárias – gestão financeira para associação & indivíduos,
uma estratégia para seleccionar as melhores sementes e a quantidade de
milho a conservar ou vender...
Set – Dez 2007
Set - Dez 2007
Set - Dez 2007
Page 46
Responsáveis
Dr. Asa Tham e
USFS
Chikweti
Set - Dez 2007
Set – Dez 2007
Set - Dez 2007
Equipa de
Desenvolvimento
Comunitário
Tema
4. Melhorar as técnicas de
agricultura: Propostas de
sistemas de Agricultura
avançada
Actividades
3.2 Continuar a reforçar os grupos de Alfabetização de Adultos
3.2 Incluir aspectos para a prevenção de incêndios, e segurança alimentar
dentro do material educativo dos grupos de alfabetização. Marcar uma
reunião com o coordenador do programa de alfabetização com o fim de
ampliar assuntos correntes tratados nos materiais educativos de
alfabetização e fornecer dados técnicos para qualquer actualização desejada.
3.3 Estudar e estabelecer claramente os sistemas actualmente existentes de
agricultura, as faltas e as necessidades e desafios; analisar alternativas para
a agricultura existente e o impacto da silvicultura comercial.
Recomendações para alternativas sustentáveis podem ser aplicadas e
testadas nas actividades do Tema 4. Existe uma urgência por que as
machambas já estão a ser limpadas para serem semeadas no início das
chuvas que podem começar em Outubro.
4.1 Promoção de técnicas para melhoramento da fertilidade do solo e do
rendimento das machambas. Iniciar a planificação e execução de um campo
de demonstração para ensaios de variedades e técnicas de agricultura para
ser um exemplo de agricultura sustentável e técnicas alternativas (a
coordenar com a actividade 3.3 acima e outras actividades abaixo).
Contratar um agrónomo para coordenar esta actividade. Prever e examinar
as possibilidades de preparar adubos orgânicos (de capim e outras plantas),
uso de estrume verde, etc. O campo de demonstração deve ser usada para
ensaios de agro-floresta, e novas culturas que podem ser beneficiais para a
dieta diária das famílias (soja, moringa, a árvore chamada neem). Educação
dos membros das comunidades sobre os benefícios e os métodos usados
para melhorar a produtividade da terra das machambas e dos recursos
naturais. Em parceria com a Chikweti mostrar a produção de adubos
orgânicos, sendo uma das alternativas para o combate às queimadas
descontroladas nas comunidades e a introdução da opção de venda de
adubo químico por Chikweti aos trabalhadores, o valor sendo subtraido do
vencimento deles.
4.2 Continuar o treinamento dos membros interessados na técnica de
construção e demonstração de estufas melhoradas (fugões melhorados
feitos de barro) que usam menos lenha/carvão. Completar a queimadura de
30 estufas (este não é possível no período da colheita) & a distribuição em
Page 47
Período
Set - Dez 2007
Nov - Dez 2007
Responsáveis
Equipa de
Desenvolvimento
Comunitário junto
com Chikweti
Outubro 2007
USFS & Equipa de
Desenvolvimento
Comunitário
Nov- Dez 2007
Equipe de
Desenvolvimento
Comunitário junto
com Chikweti
Set - Dez 2007
Equipa de
desenvolvimento
comunitário
Tema
Actividades
Setembro/Outubro. Fornecer este tipo de estufas às famílias dos
extensionistas para monstrar o seu uso nas suas casas. Construir um
exemplo de uma grande estufa melhorada na cosinha do centro Kuchijinji
(Diocese). Continuar ensaios & educação durante operíodo de 4 meses,
avaliação para uma ampliação do programa no futuro para a venda destes
fugões. É necessário provar que estes fugões poupam combustível lenhoso.
Dar recomendações no mês de Dezembro no que diz respeito a expansão e
continuação desta actividade.
4.3 Continuar a conservação de sementes de milho no armazem. Procurar
maneiras para recolha e selecção das melhores sementes. Examinar a
necessidade e vontade de recolha de sementes ou a sua distribuição de
outras culturas.
4.4 Mostrar maneiras para melhorar a dieta, piscicultura, criação de
pequenas especies de animais e agro-floresta. (incluir no período das
actividades anteriores 4.5, 4.6, 4.8) Está ligado às actividades 3.3 e 4.1.
Sugere-se a distribuição/venda de “kits de insumos agrícolas” adubo
químico com várias sementes de novas culturas para melhorar a dieta das
famílias.
4.5 Planificação , multiplicação e distribuição de plantas ou estacas de
árvores de frutas (Implementação em 2008 e combinar com item 4.1)
4.6 Promoção de apicultura. Necessita um especialista para determinar a
capacidade da floresta indígena de suportar um número de colmeias ainda
desconhecido. Depois de ser determinada a viabilidade da promoção de
apicultura desenvolver um plano para os membros da comunidade que
desejam participar na construção de colmeias, para obter populações de
abelhas e para identificar sítios para colocar colmeias.
4.7 Aumentar o interesse e compreensão dos benefícios das plantações
comunitárias . Quando maior for a superfície plantada, maior será o
rendimento, por isso as machambas individuais devem ser ligadas a fim de
aumentar a superfície plantada contínua de árvores de valor comércio.
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Período
Responsáveis
Sept - Dec 2007
No longo prazo
No longo prazo
Set - Dez 2007
Set - Dez 2007
Campo de
demonstração
Equipa de
Desenvolvimento
Comunitário
junto a um
especialista
Equipa de
Desenvolvimento
Communário &
Chikweti
DRAFT 2008 Work Plan
POTENTIAL ACTIVITIES FOR 12 MONTHS -- JAN – DEC 2008
Edits to Themes 1 & 2 require direction from Chikweti
Edits to 3.2 require input of literacy program coordinator Jaime
Bold items under Activity indicate substantially new item to be considered in 2008
Theme
1. Professional and
technical management
training of Chikweti
staff and Forestry
Graduate Internship
Program
2. Establishment of
protected areas and
responsibly managed
native ecosystems
NEW ITEM. Promote
community
collaboration in
development priorities
and projects
Activity
1.1 Internship program with Chikweti for forestry graduate
students
Timing
Lead
Dr. Asa Tham
and USFS
1.2 & 1.4 Training for 50 Chikweti employees
2.1 Concession boundaries exacted
2.2 Environmental Protection guidelines established
2.3 Further plans for Reforestation with endangered species
2.4 Land use mapping of 100,000 ha, including software and
training
NEW.1 Sponsor one or more meetings in each Chikweti
affected village to clearly identify and prioritize needs and
potential development opportunities best suited for each
village. (Need to determine number of villages, number of
participants per village. Encourage other participants –
govt, NGOs or missions. Should not be totally open ended
– need to present some sense of what might be available &
balance with what may be wanted…
NEW.2 Sponsor regular round table forum for NGOs,
various church missions, government officials to discuss &
coordinate on-going community development efforts, and
how to match development projects to village desires and
capacity. Identify opportunities for shared or
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Chikweti
Jan – Feb 2008
Twice a year.
March 2008 &
September 2008
Community
Development
Team &
others
Theme
3. Establish trade
cooperatives and
further work with adult
literacy groups
4. Improving
Activity
complimentary community education efforts. Frame
implementation of remainder of work plan based on results
of these discussions.
NEW.3 Promote regular coordination meetings for Chikweti
and Community Development Team. Provide updates on
respective activities, look for ways to work together on
education/outreach, assure that forestry-related efforts are
complementary.
3.1 Coordinate re-distribution of available 40 tons of maize to
communities in need, expected prior to next harvest in June.
Profit for sale at higher price will be used to support
administration of the program, with the balance returned to
individuals who sold grain last year. Work towards a more
community-based system in 2008. Develop local storage
facilities to allow greater participation, and minimize transport
costs. Begin purchase of excess again in June.
3.1 Continue to provide training in participating villages to
assure associations are well established and guidelines
understood. Work with each village to identify specific
individuals to lead associations and receive training in financial
aspects. Centralized management of finances should continue
until villages are ready to run this aspect on their own. Continue
education regarding strategy for selection of best seed and how
much to keep vs. sell…
3.1 Expand association model to additional Chikweti villages.
Work to establish and formalize guidelines and structures to
work towards associations that can be self supporting. Tie
successful association experience to promote community forest
development (see 5.2)
3.2 Continue to strengthen Adult Literacy groups
4.1 Promote improved soil fertility and machambas yield.
Page 50
Timing
Lead
Jan – Dec 2008
Community
Development
Team &
Chikweti
Maize distribution
Jan – June 2008
Re-distribute profits
by June 2008
Purchase grain
June – July 2008
Storage thru Dec
2008
Jan – Dec 2008
Community
Development
Team
Jan – Dec 2008
Jan – Dec 2008
Jan – Dec 2008
Community
Theme
agricultural techniques:
Enhanced farming
systems
Activity
Complete cycle for demonstration farm for testing and example
of sustainable agriculture alternative techniques. Show results
and comparison of composting grass, fertilization, use of green
manure and other alternatives. Farm to be used for trials for
agro-forestry, and alternative crops which may be beneficial to
local diet (soybean, Marenga). Continue work with Chikweti to
demonstrate grass composting as an alternative to burning
machambas, and to establish and provide education on system
to sell fertilizer to employees via salary deduction.
4.1 Educate people as to benefits and means of altering
agricultural techniques with intent to improve soil productivity in
machambas. Provide tours of demonstration farm to show
results. Stress best means to improve diet based on experience
at demonstration farm.
4.2 Promote fuel efficient stoves. Contingent on results of 2007
evaluation of stoves in sample villages. If favorable, expand
stove production by training additional women, to allow
production of 200 stoves (two firings of large kiln) as well as 10
larger 2 burner stoves. Continue education in extensionist work
with communities. Use results from 2007 use to demonstrate
that there is a true fuel saving. Establish system for sale of
stoves at cost, to create self-sustaining program.
4.5 Encourage fruit trees to improve diet and livelihoods.
Identify villages most interested in fruit tree project. Use
education program to addresses nutritional as well as financial
benefits. Obtain or propagate fruit tree seedlings/cuttings and
target 4 villages for distribution in 2008. Train villagers for
methods for future propagation. (Could this be partnership with
PROGRESO?)
4.6 Promote bee-keeping. Contingent on results of 2007
technical feasibility consultation. Identify villages most
Page 51
Timing
Lead
Development
Team with
Chikweti
During/after June
harvests
Community
Development
Team
Production Jan –
April 2008
Education and
Distribution through
June (prior to
harvest season)
Community
Development
Team
Preparation &
Education Jan –
Dec 2008
Planting Nov 2008
Jan – Dec 2008
Community
Development
Theme
5. Pursue opportunities
to use carbon
sequestration and fire
prevention as a basis
for community
development
6. Improve livelihoods
through community
forestry
Activity
interested in bee keeping. Provide training in how to build and
propagate hives, obtaining starter colonies and place them in
target local communities. Provide instruction on care for colony,
and proper harvest and further propagation.
5.1 Investigate options for villages to participate in forestry
carbon credit programs in association with Chikweti.
Possible tie to both tree planting and fire prevention.
Develop proposal, feasibility study in conjunction with
supporting expertise (European or USFS/USDA)
5.2 Possible activities for pilot project in Bandeze, focused
on protection of 8000 ac natural Miombo forest:
Provide materials, education packages and material
compensation to villages that succeed in preventing fires.
Forest mgmt activities to prevent fires in natural forest;
establishment of fire corridors and removal of underbrush.
Equipment, training, salary for a fire brigade. 10 people
with bicycles, beaters, backpack water tanks. A collapsible
tank would be set up near water source and water
transported by bicycle to the scene of the fire.( how does
this fit with ongoing Chikweti operations??)
5.3 Implement system to tie in to South African fire
detection and notification satellite system to support fire
detection and rapid fire fighting response to reduce area
burned. Contact is Dr. Bob Scholes
6.1 Continue to advocate community woodlot benefits and
agro-forestry in discussion with village leaders. Initiate
demonstration project in 1 or 2 villages by planting on xx ha.
6.2 Expand agro-forestry component. Investigate what
research is available from Government Agriculture
Research Station to determine best mix of crops/trees. Use
Page 52
Timing
Lead
Team
Jan – Mar 2007
Community
Development
Team &
Chikweti
Jan – Dec 2008
Community
Development
Team &
Chikweti
Target May 2008
Chikweti
Discussions Jan – Community
Development
Dec 2008
Planting Nov-Dec Team
2008
Jan – Dec 2008
Theme
7. Mitigate Gender
Equity changes due to
employment associated
with Chikweti
Activity
Timing
results from Diocese test farm to inform appropriate mix of
trees and crops.
7.1 Do sensing within affected communities to see if this is Jan – Mar 2007
a problem and determine what, if any, activities should be
proposed
Page 53
Lead
Community
Development
Team