Reforesting the banks of the Zio River is a positive response to environmental challenges

Hello dear listeners, welcome to our show. In recent years, the lower reaches of the Zio River between Tonoukouti and Fidokui, not far from the capital of Togo, Lomé, have been exposed to regular cycles of flooding due to climate change. With our guests today, we will talk about the Zio Riverbank Reforestation Project, an initiative of a local youth NGO, which aims to reforest the banks of the Zio River to preserve agricultural practices and the local population.

We’re going to talk to three resource persons. The first is Mr. Sylvain Akati. He is the executive director of the a local youth NGO and the project leader in the Tonoukouti locality. He will explain his role in this reforestation project.

Then, we’ll talk to Mrs. Adjo Sename, a resident of Tonoukouti who is directly impacted by the degradation of the banks of the Zio River. She will talk about how her community is coping with the environmental challenges of erosion and flooding while participating in the reforestation project. Finally, we welcome Sébastien Balouki, an expert in reforestation and natural resource management technician. We’ll discuss the same topic with him, but from the point of view of bank stabilization and the preservation of local biodiversity.

SIG TUNE UP, THEN FADE OUT

Hello and welcome Mr. Sylvain Akati, executive director of the NGO Action des Jeunes pour le Développement Intégral. What motivated you to start this reforestation project on the banks of the Zio River?

The banks of the Zio River, particularly in the Tonoukouti region, are seriously threatened by erosion, frequent flooding and the loss of natural vegetation. This degradation weakens the ecosystem and reduces local biodiversity, while making the soil unstable and vulnerable to landslides and sinking. The implementation of a reforestation project is essential to stabilize the soil, increase the resilience of the banks, and restore lost ecological services, such as water regulation and the preservation of local flora and fauna.

What form does the project take and what are its advantages?

The Zio River Bank Protection Project in Tonoukouti is an initiative of the West Africa Coastal Zone Program, supported by the World Bank and the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry. Between 2021 and 2024, depending on the demand and community commitment, we have reforested around one hundred and twenty (120) hectares with various species such as kaya, also known as torreya nucifera, gmelina and cola gigantea. These species were carefully selected by the project’s experts for their ability to adapt to the specific conditions of the river-lagoon zone.

These trees were chosen for their resistance to flooding and their ability to stabilize the soil. This is essential for preserving the riverbank ecosystem in the villages of Tonoukouti and Frikpui. They also contribute to the restoration of biodiversity and play a role in regulating local hydrological cycles, i.e. the continuous circulation of water between the earth’s surface, the atmosphere and groundwater through processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation and infiltration.

In addition to protecting the riverbanks, the introduction of these species will also help to make the ecosystem more resilient to the effects of climate change.

Thank you, Mr. Sylvain. We’d now like to welcome Mrs. Adjo Sename, whose community has experienced major flooding in recent years, with devastating consequences for the land and livelihoods of the inhabitants. Can you describe how riverbank erosion has affected your life and your community?

Our homes, built close to the riverbanks for access to water and fertile land, are now threatened by sudden riverbank collapses. Every rainy season, we live in fear of losing our roofs. The river has engulfed much agricultural land, reducing our ability to grow crops and feed our families. This has created permanent uncertainty in the community and undermined our food security. Erosion has also isolated certain areas, making access to basic services such as schools and health centers more difficult.

The erosion of the banks of the Zio River began affecting local communities about two decades ago. Several metres of land are lost every year, and it is estimated that several dozen hectares of agricultural and residential land have been engulfed to date, with a notable acceleration in the last ten years, especially during the intense rainy seasons.

The visible effects of erosion began in the early 2000s. But the damage became a real cause for concern around 2010, with an increase in landslides and the subsidence of riverbanks, making access to essential infrastructure such as schools and health centers more complicated. Today, erosion continues to weaken homes and create growing insecurity for families living along the river.

How has riverbank erosion affected your way of life?

Before, we used to farm close to the banks, fish in the river, and use the water for our daily needs. Now we have to travel for miles to find land that is still safe to farm. Fishing has become more difficult as the river has silted up. Erosion has also increased our expenses. In fact, one hundred and eighty-two million five hundred thousand CFA francs (182,500,000 FCFA) have been paid in compensation to sixty-four (64) people affected by erosion.

What are the main challenges you face with regard to coastal erosion?

The biggest challenge is the loss of our farmland, which is our main source of livelihood. The river has engulfed about a quarter of the community’s farmland, reducing production capacity and directly threatening families’ food security. Several houses near the riverbank also had to be abandoned or are in constant danger of collapsing, forcing families to move. Local biodiversity has declined sharply, with a visible loss of many plant and animal species that played a key role in the ecosystem. These losses undermine the livelihoods of the community and complicate stabilization efforts without external financial support.

Then there’s the constant threat of erosion washing away our homes. The situation makes long-term planning difficult, as we don’t know what the future holds. Finally, the loss of biodiversity in the region due to erosion affects our natural resources.

Has this affected the health of your living environment, your health and that of your children?

: Flooding due to erosion has made sanitation very difficult. Stagnant water encourages the proliferation of mosquitoes, which increases the number of malaria cases. Our wells and other sources of drinking water are regularly contaminated when the river overflows, increasing the risk of water-borne diseases. The latrines we have built are often destroyed or rendered unusable by flooding, creating hygiene problems in the community that have led to a few cases of cholera in the locality.

In the long term, flooding and erosion seriously affect our health. Children in particular suffer from diarrhea and other illnesses caused by contaminated water. Adults often suffer from respiratory problems due to the constant humidity and mold that develop in our flooded homes. The constant stress caused by the fear of losing our homes and land also affects our mental well-being and quality of life.

How did you get involved in reforestation and how has it changed your community?

I actively participated in reforestation by planting trees along the riverbanks with other community members. We received training on the types of trees to plant and the importance of stabilizing the banks to prevent erosion. This effort not only reduced land degradation, but also strengthened solidarity among the inhabitants. We have all become aware that preserving our environment is essential to our survival.

The positive effects of the initiative are now visible: the trees are firmly rooted and strengthen the stability of the banks. At the same time, young people in the community are showing a growing commitment to environmental issues, reinforcing the sustainability of the actions.

This vegetation has also encouraged the return of local wildlife species such as birds and small mammals that use the trees for nesting and feeding. In addition, the quality of the soil has improved, with better moisture retention, helping to preserve farmland around the banks.

Thank you very much, Mrs. Adjo Sename. We now turn to Sébastien Balouki, reforestation expert and natural resource management technician. What is your role in the Zio River banks reforestation project?

I provide technical support to the local teams to ensure that reforestation practices are adapted to the specific environmental conditions of the region. This includes assessing soils, selecting appropriate plant species and monitoring plant growth to ensure sustainability. Our reforestation efforts aim to stabilize riverbanks, reduce erosion and promote water retention. This benefits the community by creating a natural barrier against flooding and restoring farmland that is vital to their livelihoods. Reforestation also helps to increase local biodiversity, restore river ecosystems and build resilience to climate change.

What are the main technical aspects to consider when reforesting riverbanks?

First of all, it’s important to understand the hydraulic dynamics of the watercourse, i.e. how water flows along the banks, according to the seasons and extreme climatic events. This allows us to identify the areas most prone to erosion and give them priority.

Next, the choice of plant species is essential. We must give preference to endemic species, i.e. local plants adapted to the climate and soil conditions, with deep root systems to effectively stabilize the banks. Establishing a diversified vegetation, including trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, also promotes the resilience of the ecosystem in the event of flooding. Last but not least, the long-term management of this reforestation project is essential: regular monitoring and maintenance of young plants, as well as the ongoing involvement of the local communities, are sine qua non conditions to ensure the sustainability of the project.

How can we identify the most suitable plant species to stabilize the banks and preserve local biodiversity?

We conducted an ecological study to assess the soil, hydrological and climatic conditions specific to the region. Based on this data, I was able to recommend tree and plant species that would be suitable to bank stabilization. For example, trees such as the kaya are favored because of their root system, which is particularly well suited to managing banks and unstable soils. Other local species, such as certain fast-growing grasses, are used to increase vegetation cover and prevent runoff. By favoring native species, we also contribute to the preservation of local biodiversity, as these plants create natural habitats for local wildlife and improve soil and water quality, while minimizing environmental impact.

What were the technical challenges you faced during the implementation of this project and how did you overcome them?

The main technical challenge we faced was the advanced degradation of the riverbanks in certain areas, which required urgent intervention.

In these cases, simply planting trees was not enough. We therefore had to resort to physical stabilization techniques, such as the use of gabions, which are metal cages filled with stones to reinforce the most critical areas prior to reforestation.

Another challenge was climate variability, with prolonged periods of drought affecting the survival of seedlings. To address this, we installed a small-scale irrigation system using water from the river, as well as agroecological practices to improve water retention in the soil.

The involvement of local communities also helped to overcome certain obstacles. They helped monitor and maintain the facilities. This strengthened the project’s resilience in the face of climatic constraints.

What exactly is the involvement and participation of women in the reforestation of the riverbanks?

The involvement of women in reforestation

is essential to ensure the sustainability of ecological restoration initiatives. They play a key role in the nursery, planting, and maintenance of trees, while raising community awareness of the need to protect natural resources. Their proximity to local ecosystems enables them to share good conservation practices and ensure rigorous monitoring of plantations. However, to strengthen their involvement, it is crucial to provide them with technical training and access to resources, so that they can fully contribute to ecosystem resilience and the fight against riverbank erosion.

How can natural resource management play a crucial role in solving the problems of coastal erosion and flooding in the region?

Natural resource management is at the heart of solving erosion and flooding problems. An integrated management approach helps to restore a balance between human activities, environmental needs, and ecosystem resilience.

By reforesting riverbanks and strengthening local capacity for sustainable land management, we are significantly reducing erosion and limiting flooding.

Plant cover prevents soil degradation. It also regulates the hydrological cycle, facilitating water retention in the soil and reducing flood peaks.

Sustainable resource management also means reducing destructive agricultural practices that exacerbate erosion. Examples include slash-and-burn farming and intensive land clearing. Environmental education and community involvement also play a major role. These efforts will ensure that conservation efforts are sustainable and that future generations can live in stable ecological conditions.

Thank you, Mr. Balouki.

Dear listeners, we’ve come to the end of today’s program. The localities of Tonoukouti and Fidokui in Lomé are facing the growing challenges of riverbank erosion and the degradation of the river ecosystem. These situations affect the farming practices of the local population. Taking their fate into their own hands, the affected communities, particularly women and young people, have mobilized to respond according to their capacities. This includes the planting of certain plant species and other actions that have led to some of the training received.

Given the progress made, these communities are working to intensify their actions. They will need better training, support from public authorities and the necessary financial resources to pursue this effort in the long term.

With these words, we conclude today’s program. Thank you for listening. Thank you to my guests for their availability. We will be back soon for another program.