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afrol News, 24 April - In the Kita district of south-western Mali, harvesting the forestal resources is combined with conserving the resource base by local communities. Large forested areas have been protected without infringing the local need for forestal products. According to the UN development agency, UNDP, communities in the Malian district of Kita are selling wood, honey and other products from local forests to increase their earnings "while improving forest management to ensure that future generations can enjoy the bounty." A project supported by UNDP and other international partners has helped set up more than 90 rural groups to manage marketing of wood from the forests. The groups cooperate closely with the Ministry of Rural Development on sustainable use of forest products. These efforts have helped put more than 110,000 hectares of forest under management and set up seven protected forest areas, UNDP reports from Mali. The project also aided 15 villages in setting up land management plans. - The project helps people understand that sustainable management of the forests can add to their income, Daouda Touré, the mayor of Kita, was quoted saying by UNDP. Their earnings from selling wood go to the local savings and loan association, and "everyone is satisfied," he said. Dembélé Aïda Mbow, UNDP Programme Officer, calls the project "a good example of poverty reduction in coordination with management and commercial use of the resources of the forests." - Through the initiative, UNDP reports, "more than 100 women's organizations earn money by producing soap and charcoal, bee keeping, farming, and marketing shea nuts - used to make shea butter, a cosmetic product." - We are earning a great deal by capitalizing on the resources of the forest through the sale of fire wood, honey, soap and honey pomade, Siblem Keita, president of the Federation of Rural Forest Management Organisations told UNDP. The proceeds have helped finance schools and health centres and provided resources for the savings and credit association that supports the activities of the forest management federation and women's organisations. The project supports these activities through training - conducted in Bambara, the local language - in management, forestry, sustainable charcoal production, and soap making. The project has also provided training for elected officials from local communities and the district in public administration to promote decentralisation and natural resources management, according to UNDP. Other partners in the initiative include the International Labour Organisation, along with the Malian Ministry of Rural Development. The governments of Mali and Norway and UNDP have provided US$ 1.7 million for the project, begun four years ago. Sources: Based on UNDP
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