Reforestation with Fertilizer Trees in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a country in West Africa whose economy depends on agriculture, livestock, forestry, and fishing. The development of these sectors relies on the quantity and quality of water resources. In recent years, the country has increasingly faced the consequences of climate change, which has put further pressure on the natural environment. This is most acute in the west, specifically in the region around Cassou. Here, rainfall is decreasing, the desert is advancing, and the rivers are silting up.

Bazoulé is a village 100 km from Cassou. In this village, the community is remarkably resilient to climate change. A study from the University of Ouagadougou shows that the Bazoulé community is using nature-based solutions. As much as 82% of the population uses so-called fertilizer trees (nitrogen-fixing trees) in their fields because they improve soil quality, increase crop yields, and combat erosion. The wood from these trees is also used as fuel and building material, the leaves serve as animal feed, and they contribute to CO2 reduction.

Given these benefits, a project has been launched to replant these fertilizer trees in other parts of Cassou with support from the NWB Fund, Wereld Waternet, Waterschap Hunze en Aa's, Faso Koom, APAF, Nakanbé Water Agency, and IGEDD Institute. The project runs from 2023 to 2025 and consists of two components: reforestation led by APAF and research by the IGEDD Institute. The stakeholders benefiting from this are primarily young women and men from poor families.

By the end of the project, the results will have a significant impact for Burkina Faso:

An area of 45 hectares will have improved soil quality.
45 families will have higher incomes due to increased crop yields on their fields.
Land degradation will be limited by the presence of tree hedges.
CO2 emissions will have decreased in the region.
Farmers will have more feed for their livestock through the trees' leaves.
Households will have more wood for cooking.
The fruits and leaves of some trees will be suitable for consumption, increasing the availability of food.

In 2024, the first results have been achieved in the project. Farmers have received support in setting up tree nurseries, planting the trees, and monitoring the effects. The aim is to initiate continuous reforestation, as farmers see the benefits. Measurements show that fertilizer trees indeed contribute to soil improvement and higher agricultural yields. The research results indicate that fertilizer trees produce and introduce nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and calcium into the soil. Additionally, the trees improve the soil structure.

According to the research, fertilizer trees are an effective nature-based solution with a significant impact in the fight against climate change. An article will be published to share the scientific results of this technology. Further research into all aspects of this innovation is needed.

APAF aims to strengthen the dissemination of knowledge about planting these trees by establishing a training center. This will help promote reforestation throughout the country.

The contact person for this project is Henk Wolven (henkwolven0@gmail.com).

An PDF version of this article is also available.