The Pays Dogon Sustainable Tourism Alliance

As a part of Counterpart International's (Counterpart) Forest Garden program, the Pays Dogon Sustainable Tourism Alliance Project worked to recover the natural health of human impacted rural ecosystems. The areas of focus, ones that are biologically significant and at the most risk, were determined by the Malian Ministry of Environment, the US Forest Service and United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s Community-Based Natural Resource Management.
 
The objectives for this project were to:

• Conduct biodiversity research
• Protect and restore local eco-systems 
• Provide technical assistance
• Customize Analog Forestry Manual for sustained use by government and non-governmental officials
• Provision of Pharmaceutical Products and Medicine 

The region's ecosystems are reaching a chronic state of degradation. Natural re-vegetation is a virtual impossibility due to the existing land use pressure. The changes in climate with the seasons of wind and rain shifting also provides a greater degree of uncertainty as is the continued use of traditional and unsustainable land use practices. In addition, a great lack of knowledge exists regarding the biodiversity of the Dogon Plateau. While there is a good knowledge of food species and medicinal plants, the knowledge of non-utility fauna and flora is very poor.
 
Counterpart's first goal was to conduct landscape assessments and evaluate the natural health of human impacted ecosystems. Based on this data, sites were identified for establishment of nurseries. The farmers were then trained on the techniques of Analog Forestry, after which they could begin to contribute to the conservation and further development of their community. Pharmaceuticals and medicines were rewarded to participating villages for implementing sustainable Natural Resource Management activities.
 
The project demonstrates how to use Analog Forestry practices to help stabilize, slow the rate of decline and improve biodiversity by conducting on-site training in four villages in the Pays Dogon region. The villagers, educated on proper care of their natural resources, can then apply this knowledge to help conserve the available resources in their communities. 

A French version of the Dogon Country Analog Forestry Manual was produced for the community's continued long-term education on sound agricultural techniques, and use by the Ministry of the Environment and Department of Forestry and Agriculture.