In the Simalaha Community Conservancy, Peace Parks Foundation is an ardent promotor of conservation agriculture. The aim is to provide people with food security and balanced nutrition, while assisting in the restoration of the ecology. This strategy relies heavily on communities being able to access water all year round. Water, after all, is Africa’s most precious resource.
Many of the households in Simalaha that are not on rivers or natural water bodies depend on wells or natural pans to provide enough water for their domestic livestock and agriculture. Through a generous donation from DPF, Peace Parks has procured earth-moving equipment for the community – a four-wheel drive tractor, JCB, dam scoop and a levelling grader – in order to move earth and further dig out existing wells so that for the community can harvest greater amounts of water needed to sustain their livelihoods.
Through the system of VAGs (Village Action Groups), the communities have identified natural pans and wells that can be further opened up to provide this vital, extra water. Each VAG consists of representatives – both men and women – from a particular region within the Simalaha Community Conservancy, which comprises ten VAGs. Each has their say in their governance and each is included in decisions around the development of the region. Village Action Groups (VAGs) meet regularly, accessing voices and opinions from the whole community. In this case, each VAG was tasked with identifying 3 major pans in their areas that support people, livestock and agriculture.
Today, some wells in Singoma are being widened to allow more water to be brought to six villages. This water is essential for supplying drinking water to livestock, allotments and household water.
Through collaborations like this one, slowly, community lands are coming alive with environmentally-friendly activities, ranging from honey production to the regeneration of community forests. The communities are increasingly aware of the importance of protecting their wildlife, and protecting their precious natural resources.
