The REGUA reforestation programme is occurring at a rate not thought conceivable just ten years ago.    We first planted an area of three hectares and thought it was hard work. We had no experience and every time the sun came out, we thought the trees would die. Nethertheless we persevered and every year we gained more experience and became better and better at this work.

Today we are planting twenty times that area in a year and the REGUA team is divided in three sectors.    We have the seed team that procures seeds in the forest, picking up seeds of close to 180 species.    The nursery team that is getting wiser at breaking seed dormancy and getting great uniformity in the production of seedlings, and there is the field team that transports the seedlings to the field and looks after them, nurturing them with patience and care.

The sad picture of destruction of the 1920s is slowly reverting to forests of the future.   Just a century after areas were cut down to make way for pastures, the same areas are being restored to forests.

These forests now generate employment within the local community; act as new buffer areas to the large forest of the escarpment, forming an ever larger forest block that offers new habitat for the biodiversity around, which in turn leads to more research opportunities and potential tourism.

Gradually the small fragments of fading forest value can make it back and through forest corridor planting those islands can be reconnected offering a safer future for the species found here at REGUA.

This is the most rewarding work REGUA can do!

Nicholas Locke