It is with pride and excitement that we announce a significant milestone for Lignaverda. On April 30th, 2024, we officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Namibian government in a prestigious ceremony held at the State House in Windhoek. This momentous event marks a new chapter in our ongoing commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
A Partnership for a Sustainable Future
The signing of this MoU represents a strategic partnership paving the way for advanced reforestation and land management practices in Namibia. Together, we will work to combat desertification, restore degraded lands, and foster biodiversity. This collaboration is a testament to our shared vision of a greener, more sustainable future for all. Immediately following the MoU signing, we held a photo exposition, showcasing Lignaverda’s impactful reforestation projects across Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Namibia. We had the immense honor of presenting this exposition to H.R.M. King Filip and H.E. the President of Namibia. The photo exposition provided a visual journey through our projects, highlighting the lush greenery sprouting from once-barren lands, the revitalized ecosystems, and the empowered communities benefiting from these initiatives.
Namibia Reforestation Pilots
During the second half of our Namibian journey, we kick-started two reforestation pilots in the Kavango region, in the north of Namibia. One project (in Siya) is executed on 40 ha of a degraded governmental orchard where we test whether our state-of-the-art Vallerani waterharvesting technique is as effective in the Kalahari sands of Namibia as it is in the West-African Sahel. Namibian tree species are quite different from Senegalese ones and therefore have different seed germination behavior. The other project (in Divundu) is a 20 ha degraded plot adjacent to a commercial blueberry farm. In both Siya and Divundu, we test the potential of integrating commercial fruit trees with drought-tolerant native trees. We do this as the Namibians have indicated that reforestation should be integrated in commercial sector and food production initiatives. Both pilots are Lignaverda’s living lab in Namibia. Lessons learned will be used to upscale landscape restoration activities in Namibia’s semi-arid areas.
Why Reforestation Matters
Reforestation is more than just planting trees. It’s about restoring balance to our ecosystems, supporting local communities, and contributing to the global fight against climate change. Our projects in Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Namibia are living proof of what can be achieved through dedication, collaboration, and innovative approaches. Stay tuned for more details about our ongoing and future projects. Together, let’s continue to make a difference, one tree at a time.
