Theme pack
Dear broadcasting partner,
Forests are vital for energy and food security, providing fuel for cooking, as well as fruits, seeds, and wild meat. Forests also benefit agriculture by hosting pollinators, like bees, improving soil fertility, and regulating the climate. But forests also contribute greatly to biodiversity and the overall health of the ecosystem. Forested watersheds supply freshwater to more than 85% of the world’s major cities.
Yet forest ecosystems are threatened by deforestation and fires, with nearly 80 million hectares lost each year worldwide. This is why reforestation is so important.
This month’s theme pack is all about communities protecting their forests. This is part of our campaign on Nature-based Solutions, but is also a great topic for the International Day of Forests, March 21.
This theme pack includes 4 scripts and 13 stories from across the continent, sharing the experiences of communities managing a variety of forests with a variety of benefits. It also includes a backgrounder, which has two case studies. Use these information resources to produce an episode on how communities can benefit from forests and how they can better manage their forest. To get an idea on how to produce a series of episodes on this issue, see our suggested design plan
If you do produce an episode on community forest management or another topic related to Nature-based Solutions, tell us by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/J3rNSxChMA9i6d5cA
The campaign runs until March 30, 2025 and we are offering 20 prizes of up to $200 CA. Prizes will be determined by a random draw.
Backgrounder
Interview scripts
Beekeeping protects forests and sweetens income for farmers in Mzimba, Malawi
Rehabilitating mangroves in Ghana
Forest communities generate income while conserving their environment
Butterfly farming generates income for rural community and protects the forest
Barza Wire stories
Tanzania: Communities use cultural practices to manage mangroves, reefs, and freshwater resources
Togo: Participatory management of the Asrama forest creates benefits for local communities
Malawi: Restored forests sweeten lives through apiculture
Nigeria: Ogoni women lead reforestation efforts in the Niger Delta (Mongabay)
Ethiopia: Community-led conservation revives Wof Washa Forest
Burkina Faso: Empowering communities to protect the Comoé-Léraba forest
Côte d’Ivoire: Communities organize to protect the ecosystem by planting mangroves
Malawi: Reforestation champion promotes tree planting and natural regeneration
Kenya: Community forest association helps to protect Mount Kenya forest (Mongabay)
Côte d’ivoire: NGOs help communities combat deforestation
Zimbabwe: Beekeepers protects forests (Global Press Journal)
Tanzania: Communities conserve trees and forests by planting indigenous species
We hope this package helps you to address one of the themes of Nature-based Solutions. Let us know if you produced an episode using one of these resources by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/J3rNSxChMA9i6d5cA
We will share more resources related to Nature-based Solutions in future editions of Barza Wire and future theme packs.
Happy broadcasting!
The campaign and accompanying resources are produced through the “On Air for Gender-inclusive Nature-based Solutions” project.
