Bujumbura

The Diocese of Bujumbura is based in and around Burundi’s largest city. Like much of Burundi, is marked by rolling hills and valleys – in that respect alone, it is not unlike Derbyshire.

But Burundi is poor. Very poor.

In fact, it is rated as the world's poorest country.

On the edge of Bujumbura in the Commune de Kanyosha there are two ‘Collines’ (colline is French for a hill) greatly at risk, Colline Gisovu and Colline Nyamaboko. There is currently no agroforestry there.

Erosion

The impact of climate change is felt by those who try to make a living by cultivating the hillsides.

Recent years have seen particularly dry dry seasons, and torrential rains in the wet season.

This often causes flooding and devastating mudslides.

One minute the land is there; the next it has disappeared, washed down the hillside by the rains.

Devastation

The administrator of the Commune de Kanyosha says that following recent torrential rain and strong winds:

■ more than ten dwellings were washed away,

■ a church and a school were destroyed,

■ many fields were damaged,

■ animals were swept away by landslides.

These hills’ inhabitants have not yet been able to take action to secure resilience to the effects of climate change.

Losing crops = no vegetables

Losing animals = no meat or milk, no pets

Losing your home = no family space, no safety

Losing the school = no education, probably no job, no income

The roots of trees hold hillsides in place, prevent erosion, and protect lives and livelihoods.

Bujumbura is working to mitigate the effects of climate change and the seasonal rains by helping local residents plant trees.

They make all the difference locally,  and contribute globally to carbon capture.

Trees are good for wildlife.

The focus of the Diocese of Bujumbura’s work, with our support, will be:

To reduce soil erosion by 20% on Gisovu and Nyamaboko hills by marking out the contours of the hillsides and planting trees strategically to offer the best protection to the land.

and

To initiate 20 climate resilience local economic groupings amongst women and young people, with a savings and credit approach to enable beneficiaries to set up a fund to help them purchase tree nursery equipment to sustain a tree planting project for the long term.

Trees = hope