Full swing for the restoration of the "Mindaï" stream watershed in the BÄ tribe in Houaïlou / WAA WI LUU
A busy start to the year 2022 for the restoration of the "Mindaï" creek watershed in New Caledonia in which PROTEGE is involved. On the agenda: mangrove restoration, awareness-raising among the population, deforestation of Pinus caribeae, and reforestation of degraded areas.
Since early 2022 numerous actions are carried out and solicit the participation of the population, including the youth.
PROTEGE and HO-ÜT association, have organized a day of training and exchange with the youth of the tribe. After a presentation of the association, a program about the different workcamps to implement for the mangrove restoration was established:
-Harvesting at the propagule nursery,
-Cutting of mangroves in the blocked waterway,
-Planting of propagules on selected sites,
-Waste collection,
-Raising awareness and inviting local schools to participate in the actions.
La zone est également sujette à des opérations de déboisement et de reboisement. En effet, les Pinus caribeae acidifient les sols, et forment une accumulation d’épines au sol très inflammable en saison sèche ce qui favorise les feux de forêt. Ainsi certaines zones sont éliminées pour être reboisées par la suite. Une visite avec le gérant de JARDINORD Elagage a été réalisée sur le site du chantier d’élimination des Pinus sur le captage 2 d’AEP du creek « Mindaï ». Cela a permis un constat du terrain permettant l’organisation de la logistique de déboisement et de reboisement. Une formation sera d’ailleurs effectuée auprès des jeunes recrues.
The area will be subject to future deforestation and reforestation operations. Indeed, Pinus caribeae acidifies the soil, and forms an accumulation of thorns on the ground which is very flammable in the dry season and causes forest fires. Thus, some areas are eliminated to be reforested later. A visit with the manager of JARDINORD Elagage was carried out on the elimination of Pinus site on the catchment 2 of AEP of the creek "Mindaï". This allowed for an assessment of the site, in order to organize the logistical aspects of clearing and reforestation. Training will be carried out with the young recruits.
An economic interest grouping (EIG) called "Cipawârö" (Keeping Life Alive) will soon be created. It will bring together several individual companies specializing in the revegetation of degraded areas and biodiversity management. The objective of the EIG is to respond to calls for projects from communities and provinces concerning reforestation and watershed restoration.
These operations are part of the Shared Water Policy (SWP) in which PROTEGE intervernes to support watershed restoration. Among the project leaders, the commune of Houaïlou / Waa Wi Luu is implementing several activities for the protection of water resources such as the restoration of forests upstream of the Bâ catchments, in the Mindaï creek watershed, which serve the costal tribes in the customary district of Waraï. It is therefore a strategic water resource for the commune supplying more than 2,000 people. Beyond the district of Waraï, this resource reinforces the drinking water of the village in times of water shortage.
