In a collaborative effort to promote environmental sustainability, community engagement, training, and research activities, the Department of Environmental Science at Ogongo Campus in partnership with the University of Turku – Finland, recently offered a tree planting workshop and planted indigenous timber/fruit trees in Ohangwena Region.
Under a project titled “Community Driven Tree Planting in Namibia” a series of activities such as surveys, workshops and tree planting took place at Omundaungilo, Oshikunde and, Okongo Constituencies since July 2024.
This project was funded by the Global Seed Funding in Finland through the University of Turku to the tune of 67 700 Euro (N$1.3 million). Community engagement activities, which took place in a collaborative nature, have engaged several stakeholders including UNAM staff and students; staff from the University of Tuku, the Directorate of Forestry in Ohangwena Region, the Offices of the Regional Councils and Traditional Authorities.
The project took a bottom-up approach, beginning on a small scale and working closely with local communities to develop practical methods for tree planting in Namibia’s drylands. Insight from local communities were sought through an initial survey with 69 respondents. Some of the key challenges the project aims to address include watering techniques suited for arid conditions, protecting young trees from grazing animals, and finding sustainable ways to improve soil fertility, organic matter, and water retention.
By providing resources and technical expertise, the initiative is helping communities to plant trees, protect ecosystems, and make Namibia’s woodlands more resilient to climate change.
To ensure that community members have the necessary knowledge and skills, training workshops were held in three constituencies in close collaboration with the Directorate of Forestry under the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Forestry and regional offices. Under the leadership of Dr. Albertina Ndeinoma from UNAM and Prof. Sanna Huttunen from the University of Turku, the workshops combined both theoretical and practical sessions. The training team comprised of Lecturers from UNAM-Ogongo Campus (Dr. Albertina Ndeinoma, Mrs. Kamuhelo Lisao, Dr Elizabeth Ndeunyema), UNAM MSC students ((Ms. Anna-Maria Haufiku and Ms. Ndapandula Amuthenu), Staff of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (Mr. Moses Moses, Mr. Abel Uushona and Ms Maria Kasera), community experts in forestry (Mr. Jericho Mulofwa) and Compost trainer (Mr. Erickson Mwanyangapo). The team from Finland comprised of Prof. Sanna Huttunen, Dr Ayu Pratiwi and Mr Ville Myllynpaa
A significant number of timber and fruit indigenous tree seedlings sourced from the nursery at Ogongo were distributed to community members to plant in two models i.e. individually at household level and communally on a communal plot allocated by the headman. Seedlings were planted in December 2024 timing the onset of the rainy season for better survival.
The seedlings will continue to be monitored, and community members will receive ongoing support to ensure their successful establishment. Many community members expressed gratitude for the training and seedlings, emphasizing that indigenous trees are often overlooked in favour of exotic species. Moreover, it is difficult to find indigenous seedlings in nurseries. This project has demonstrated that indigenous seedlings can be easily propagated. This is critical to restore indigenous woodlands while enhancing ecosystem services.
Over the years, Ogongo Campus has established itself as a hub for bridging scientific research and local knowledge, fostering practical and sustainable collaborations between academic researchers and rural communities. The success of projects like this one depends on a combination of rigorous academic research and direct community engagement. In this case, sharing knowledge about soil amendment techniques, such as composting and the use of biochar, plays a key role in promoting sustainable agricultural and forestry practices.
Trees are vital for carbon sequestration, helping to mitigate climate change while also supporting biodiversity, providing habitats for wildlife, regulating water cycles, preventing soil erosion, and improving air quality. By blending traditional knowledge with modern scientific research, local communities can implement more effective tree-planting and soil enhancement strategies, ensuring long-term environmental sustainability and economic resilience.
Monitoring the growth and health of the planted trees will be an essential part of the project’s long-term success. An MSc student Ms Ndapandula Amuthenu, who is registered for her Master of Science in Biology will be actively involved in this process, working closely with the Okongo community to track progress and address any challenges that arise. Their participation will not only provide valuable data for research but also strengthen local engagement in reforestation and restoration efforts in dry land ecosystems efforts.
“Planting a tree is an act of hope for today and a promise for the future.”
Original article by: Kamuhelo Lisao, Albertina Ndeinoma and Ndapandula Amuthenu (Department of Environmental Sciences-Ogongo Campus)
