Equator Prize 2004

Full Nomination

Description: Chibememe Earth Healing Association's work takes place in the Sangwe Communal Lands surrounding the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTFP). The forest forms an ecological base for CHIEHA projects. CHIEHA promotes sustainable livelihoods from non-timber forest products (NTFPs), markets products, conserves traditional crops and seeds, and engages in awareness-raising activities.

Key Activities and Innovations: CHIEHA operates four main programmes: "earth healing" and landcare, income generation, food security, and environmental and cultural awareness.  CHIEHA's biodiversity conservation activities involve reforestation, watershed protection, and the conservation of traditional crops and seeds. CHIEHA engages in eco- and ethno-tourism activities as well as beekeeping, worm collection and sustainable agriculture. To raise awareness, CHIEHA sponsors an Annual Community Bicycle Ride that highlights the need for environmental conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity.

Key Impacts

Biodiversity

• Protection and rehabilitation of catchment area has resulted in stabilization of the soil and restoration of soil fertility

• More than three species of cowpeas and three traditional species of sorghum and groundnuts have been restored and are currently grown in the area

Socio-economic

• The growing of traditional crops (sorghum, cowpeas, millet and groundnuts) has resulted in over double the amount of food for each household

• Ecotourism activities provide a source of income diversification

Replication

• The conservation and sustainable use of approximately 10,000 km² has been enabled by CHIEHA's awareness raising programmes and government advocacy efforts

Partners

• UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEFSGP) Africa 2000 plus
• Network (A2+N)
• Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
• Chiredzi Rural District Council (RDC)
• Africa Resources Trust (ART)
• Malilangwe Conservancy and Development Trust

In the News

Chieha: The Chibememe Earth Healing Association

Research

Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the Conservation of Small Grains Seeds: A case of Sangwe Communal Lands of Chiredzi in Zimbabwe
Enabling Local Communities to Develop and Scale up Ecoagriculture: A Grassroots Perspective
Communities managing commons for biodiversity conservation and the enhancement of their livelihoods and strategies for communicating resource management knowledge and skills in Sangwe Communal Lands

Contact

Gladman Chibememe
CHIEHA C/O Takunda Sec School
P Bag 7110, Chiredzi
Masvingo
Zimbabwe
Tel: 263-04- 698399, 263-04 -700939, 263-04-732254
Fax: 263-04 700946, 04 728695
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