Environmental research

Chengaose Foundation Trust is an NGO that was registered in 2008. It seeks to minimize land degradation by offering alternatives to stream bank cultivation and promotion of fuel efficient stoves. In terms of the climate change focal area the community will install wind driven pumps for water extraction. 1.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT One of the major problems is deforestation as people in this area gather firewood for domestic purposes. Even the nearby Mupfurudzi Game Park is under threat and this has resulted in extensive gully formation. The community is also involved in stream bank cultivation which has further worsened the issue of land degradation. 2.0 OBJECTIVES a) To build local capacity to effectively manage environmental challenges like land degradation and food security threats b) To increase household water supply through wind-mill driven pumps c) To introduce conservation agriculture as a measure against stream bank cultivation d) To minimize land degradation by establishing woodlots, orchards, and planting vertiva grass e) To reduce the demand for fuel wood through promotion of energy efficient stoves 3.0 ACTIVITIES a) Community Mobilization and awareness creation b) Training all the 1511 households on water harvesting techniques and conservation farming c) Site exploration of wells, establishment of wind-mill pumps and construction of water harvesting structures further away from streams d) Relocation of stream-bank gardens to designated areas and preparation of 1 hectare plots for conservation farming e) Establishment of woodlots and planting of vertiva grass in degraded areas f) Training and construction of fuel saving stoves 4.0 ANTICIPATED RESULTS a) a well informed and capacitated community able to solve environmental and food insecurity challenges in its district b)increased household water supply c) improved moisture levels d) improved food security and community livelihoods f) reduced land degradation and soil erosion g) regeneration of vegetation and forests i) surface run off and soil erosion minimized j)enhanced survival of woodland biodiversity

Zimbabwe