The village of Sonssogona winner of the “River Kou Reforestation Competition”
11 March 2019A contest was organized on 19 February for the best river bank protection committee in the Kou river basin. The village of Sonssogona was selected as the best the best bank protection committee by the Jury.
By Etienne Nacoulma, Project Coordinator Faso Koom & World Waternet in Burkina Faso
Faso Koom is currently developing a number of Blue Deal pilot projects in Burkina Faso. One of these pilots is the "Reforestation & Water Safety", implemented by the Local Water Committees of the river Kou and Djenkoa, and Agence de l’Eau du Mouhoun. The aim of this pilot is planting a total of 700 trees including non-fruit species carapa procera, bamboo and acacia and fruit species like mango trees and the oil palm alongside the rivers. Some zones have been identified as high risk erosion zones and planting trees is a proven solutions that can prevent erosion. Another advantage is that planting trees on the river bank contributes to the recovery of the ecosystem. The selected tree species have good soil conservation properties and, the mango trees, oil palm and bamboo will be used for food production and as construction material.
Example of vegetation destruction
The river banks have been subjected to bad practices
Bush fires occur occasionally alongside the river bank
In addition to the reforestation project, a contest was organized on 19 February for the best river bank protection committee in the Kou river basin. A Jury made up of a specialists from the river Kou water committee and sub-basin actors was established with the task to nominate winners for good sustainable and integrated water resources management practices in the Kou River Basin.
Nine villages located alongside the river Kou competed in the contest: Bama, Nasso, Kokorowé, Koumi, Sonssogona, Dindinteresto, Diarradougou, Badara and Sandimisso.
The village of Sonssogona was selected as the best bank protection committee by the Jury. The 2nd place was won by the village of Kokorowé and the 3rd by the village of Dindéresso.
The three winners received materials needed for good practices in order to protect the water resources. Such as wheelbarrows, Dabas, shovels, picks and machetes. The acknowledgement will encourage and motivate the riverbank protection committees to keep up to good work!
Reforestation Contest Ceremony
Following the awards ceremony, participants visited the achievements of the Sonssogona Village Bank Protection Committee. The village has distinguished itself in its attempts to plug the breaches of the river Kou.
Three winning teams Reforestation Contest