In the south of Burkina Faso, many women depend on the harvest and processing of shea nuts, a raw material for food, but also for many care products. However, the habitat of the shea trees is deteriorating rapidly.
Climate change and pressure on the land as a result of the use of pesticides and overgrazing has affected the landscape of the shea trees. But the processing of shea nuts by the local women also has an impact on the environment. Cooking the nuts on a traditional “three stone fire” in particular means that a lot of wood is used. Soils have become less fertile and more susceptible to erosion from disappearing trees. All this has major consequences. The people who live there see their harvests, from agriculture, but also from shea nuts and other crops, are declining. For the migratory birds, which arrive in this area after a long journey, this means that there is little to eat. There are fewer insects in the sparse lands- cape. Insects are not only needed as food for the millions of migratory birds, but also for the pollination of the shea trees.
Since 2018, Vogelbescherming and Cordaid/FairClimateFund have been working together on a rich landscape for people and nature in the south of Burkina Faso. We plant new trees, protect existing trees against logging, stimulate biodiversity and promote sustainable entrepreneurship. This provides more food for people and birds, more insects and more yields from agriculture and the production of shea nuts.
FairClimateFund offers local women the opportunity to use improved cookstoves. These so-called F3PA cookstoves are made from local materials and reduce wood consumption by 23.4% and thus the pressure on trees. The CO₂ reduction is certified as carbon credits. However, using the cookstoves offers even more benefits to the local women. They spend less time collecting firewood and living conditions improve because harmful smoke is reduced. Women are trained in producing and maintaining the cookstoves and in return receive a micro loan that allows them to set up other income generating activities.
We also train women in a Climate Academy. Examples of activities are planting different trees, which leads to a more diverse landscape. This attracts bees and other insects, which in turn leads to better pollination and agricultural production. Women will benefit from an increase in the yield and sales of shea nuts and other (tree) products. With this we offer future generations of women a chance for a sustainable income.
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1. No poverty
