The project has involved erecting a fence along a 7km stretch of the riverbank, 100m from the river itself, thereby creating a protective barrier for the community members and their crops from nightly incursions from hippo coming up from the river, but at the same time providing protection for the newly planted trees from livestock. Both within the fenced-in area and at one of the local schools, a total of 10,000 trees were planted. The trees that were planted are all indigenous to the area and were sourced from a local nursery.

The project has employed four women on a full-time basis and employs a further 8 on a seasonal basis – providing a vital source of income for members of the community. In addition to this, the tree planting exercises involved children from the local school as a means of educating them on the need to protect the environment and in particular the river bank.

This is the first stage in a longer-term initiative where the Foundation is looking to extend the reach of the protective area, and then working with the local community in the rehabilitation of the extended length of the riverbank.