Page 70 - 80 YEARS OF VOLUNTEER IMPACT WITH FAO

Forestry Protecting forests, rebuilding balance

Fatoumata Ka

In the Kaffrine region, UN Volunteer Fatoumata Ka engaged people, especially
women, to understand and take part in sustainable practices. She strengthened
ties among women’s associations and led awareness sessions on reforestation
and plant nursery techniques. Her efforts changed habits. She sensitized 25
percentof the 1,500 agricultural producers to abandon slash-and-burn practices,
with 10 percent now using assisted natural regeneration.

This simple but powerful method, letting native trees grow back naturally,
yielded results. Farmers in Kaffrine are now protecting 5,000 forest plants each
year. Agricultural yields have increased by more than five per cent, showing that
restoring nature can also improve livelihoods.

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Fatoumata Ka, UN Community Volunteer, sensitizing communities
in Diounto Village on the reforestation and plant nursery
production. [UNV, 2023]