About 71% is the survival rate of young plants planted with the Waterbox method in the protected area of Oronjia (DIANA Region, North of Madagascar), compared to 61% with a traditional method.
In 2020, experts from the Tsimoka Association and Missouri Botanical Garden supported by their partners experimented the Waterbox method as part of a restoration plan for the Oronjia site, that has been funded by FAPBM since 2012. The forest ensures maintenance of the water sources that provide water to the local communities (for domestic needs).
A quantum leap for the restoration of the degraded forests in Oronjia
The principle of the waterbox consists in placing a plastic container, the waterbox, around the trunk of the young plant. This container is filled with water at the time of planting and will continue to capture rainwater and collect condensation water. The reservoir thus formed can provide water to the young plants over an extended period, especially during the first year, when they are still very fragile.
After two years of experimentation, the results are very conclusive: the 150 plants planted in the ground have grown strong, reaching an average of 65 cm compared to 47 cm for the witness. In this region of northern Madagascar, the young plants are particularly confronted with the dry wind, the aridity of the substratum and the low rainfall, during a large part of the year. The Oronjia reforestation plan foresees using the method especially for highly threatened indigenous plants.
Scaling up to be supported
All that remains is to scale up this good practice. Jérémie Razafintsalama proposes that the waterbox tool be made accessible in order to significantly increase the number of trees planted and that the community’s farmers can also benefit from it. “Access to this device is very difficult due to its cost, a national production could alleviate the cost and facilitate access to this device so useful for the success of restoration or reforestation activities” he pleads.
The waterbox method is suitable for forest restoration or reforestation in arid areas with a sandy substrate such as Oronjia, if the planting period is during the wet season. It could be replicated in protected areas in the southwestern landscape of Madagascar.
