FINAL REPORT
Presented by Sociedad Agroecologica Kati Raya
Savana Verde, Nicaragua

Sociedad Agroecologica Kati Raya provides assistance to poor families in the Watershed Quebrada Grande to help them find solutions to environmental, economic and social problems. SKAR organizes activities such as pig production, tree nurseries and technical assistance to raise funds to support its projects.

Context: The Quebrada Grande Watershed and its inhabitants are experiencing rapid and continuous degradation of their environment. This problem became more serious after Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Soil erosion caused by deforestation is responsible for a loss of agricultural productivity and for recurrent flooding, affecting poor communities.

Project Antecedents: SKAR works on reforestation projects with communities living in the watershed area. The Las Minas community requested technical and financial support to establish a tree nursery and to design a reforestation plan. The Savana Grande community also requested support for reforestation work.

Project Description: SKAR works with a network of local promoters in many communities in the region. SKAR staff works closely with local promoters to design reforestation projects and evaluate their feasibility. The objective of this project was to grow 10 000 trees (Bombacopsis quinatum, Tabelula rosea, Lysiloma, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocefala) to be planted by the communities on river banks, contributing to watershed and biodiversity protection, and decreasing the risks of flooding downstream. Tree planting and follow-up activities to ensure the adequate growth of trees were to be carried out with community volunteers, 16 Canadian and Nicaraguan students and SKAR staff.

Results: Sociedad Agroecologica Kati Raya (SKAR) met with local promoters interested in reforesting parts of the Quebrada Grande Watershed that were seriously affected by Hurricane Mitch. 8.89 acres (3.6 hectares) were identified as priorities for reforestation, 1.95 acres (0.79 ha) in the community Las Minas and 6.89 acres (2.79 ha) in the community Savana Grande.

A group of 16 Canadian and Nicaraguan students participating in a cultural exchange in the region helped SKAR members to establish a tree nursery. 24 000 seedlings were produced and will be used next year to reforest other areas in the watershed. Tree species represented in the tree nursery (2000-3000 seedlings per species) include: Caoba, Madero Negro, Roble, Cedro, Pachote, Teca, Acacia and Neem. Community volunteers, Canadian and Nicaraguan students and SKAR members planted trees on the communities Las Minas and Savana Grande. They also returned to the planting sites and tree nursery to ensure their survival.

Virtual Foundation financial support enabled SKAR to purchase tools for reforestation and nursery production, as well as posts, wires and other materials for fencing. Community volunteers established the fencing. Some of the tools used in this projects were given to volunteers who actively participated in this project. Funds were also used to purchase gasoline for the transportation of material and the volunteers.

The objective of reforesting 5 hectares has not been reached, mainly because of a drought that affected the region between May and August. However, a tree nursery was established to grow more trees to be planted next year. The Las Minas and Savana Grande communities and SKAR members appreciate the support provided by the Chenango Forks Model UN participants. This support resulted in the execution of concrete activities to improve the environment in the Quebrada Grande Watershed. The support of local initiatives allowed for a greater awareness of environmental issues and the involvement of inhabitants in the solution of their problems.

Funds were spent as follows: