Land, water and biodiversity are the most vital natural resources bestowed on earth. Unfortunately we continued to exhaust these resources without even thinking to restore. Degradation of land and ecosystems as a result of human activities and climate change threatens and undermines the very basis of peoples’ livelihoods. Also, with a future of climatic uncertainty, no amount of effort can actually make natural resources management possible unless communities are engaged and there comes the role of sustainable livelihoods. We strive to diversify livelihoods and income sources of the rural communities. At the core of ECoDAs’ work is improving food security and livelihoods of the communities and contributing to poverty alleviation.
We focus on:
- Promoting afforestation and re-afforestation programs with fast and climate change-resistant growing trees and fruit tree plantations to enhance ecosystems and combat soil erosion;
- Promoting climate-smart agriculture techniques, water harvesting and soil conservation;
- Enhancing and integrating traditional and indigenous knowledge to strengthen climate-smart agriculture;
- Increasing farmers’ adoption of climate-smart eco-agriculture practices to increase farm productivity and incomes, and make agriculture more resilient to climate change, while also contributing to mitigation.
- Promoting the application of local and indigenous know-how and innovations in supporting climate change adaptation and combating desertification;
- Documenting and disseminating good practice including indigenous practices used to address droughts and desertification.
The work breaks the unhealthy dependency on rapidly depleting natural resources as it helps save wildlife, conserve the forest and stabilize the environment. Thus, ECoDAs integrates wildlife conservation and forest rehabilitation with agriculture, sustainable Non-Timber Forest Products collection and marketing, beekeeping and livestock breeding. Additionally, we assist communities establish savings in groups to ensure that all beneficiaries have access to a small supply of disposable income to invest or use in emergency, and also important means to provide beneficiaries with the ability to purchase necessary materials for continuation. This approach empowers rural communities with choices over their livelihoods, natural resources and futures.